Chapter 9 - Nathan Vale
Nathan Vale was respected neurologist at St. Vincent’s.
He treated Margaret night of collapse.
Order in question:
intravenous medication used to control severe vascular spasm.
Appropriate in some cases.
But Margaret had documented contraindication.
Could order have triggered reaction?
Independent review said yes, potentially.
Was it intentional?
Unknown.
Nathan’s notes claimed allergy list incomplete.
Yet paper chart included warning.
Someone overlooked it.
Medical negligence possible.
Not proof of attempted murder.
Then Laura Cole’s diary changed picture.
MARGARET SAYS NATHAN KNOWS FILE 27.
HE ASKED HER TO STOP.
Why would neurologist care about guardianship file?
Nathan Vale sat on Bennett Medical Foundation advisory board.
He helped arrange emergency placements.
File 27 could expose him.
Did he deliberately harm Margaret?
Again evidence insufficient.
He died before investigation.
Then Gregory Vale, Eleanor’s husband, became relevant.
He had access to father’s papers.
Claire had barely seen Gregory since separation from Eleanor three years ago.
He lived in Chicago.
He agreed interview.
Claimed he knew nothing of Margaret survival.
But Ethan reacted to photograph.
“That’s him.”
Claire’s blood chilled.
“Who?”
“The man who came to Mara’s house.”
When?
Three months ago.
Gregory.
Why visit Margaret?
He claimed impossible.
Travel records showed he had been in Albany.
Lie.
Confronted, Gregory admitted.
Margaret summoned him.
Why?
She wanted Nathan’s old medical archive.
Gregory brought it.
What did she find?
Evidence Nathan had not personally entered dangerous medication order.
His credential was used remotely while he was in surgery.
So another suspect removed.
Who used it?
System administrator override.
Operator:
G. VALE.
Gregory went pale.
He had been twenty-seven, working hospital IT compliance.
Did he order drug?
“No.”
He said he unlocked Nathan’s credential for nurse at emergency desk after computer malfunction.
Which nurse?
Laura Cole.
That meant Laura may have entered order herself.
But Laura later saved Margaret.
Why would she harm then save her?
Unless order was accidental.
Or intended to create opportunity to fake death.
Claire considered.
Could Margaret and Laura have orchestrated medical crisis to make Margaret disappear?
That seemed extreme.
Then Gregory produced Nathan’s handwritten note:
MARGARET ASKED US TO PREPARE EXIT PLAN IF THOMAS MOVES ON FILE 27.
So Margaret had contemplated disappearing before collapse.
Hospital event may have become opportunity.
But was it planned?
Still unknown.
Then Ethan handed Claire another message Mara had made him memorize:
“Tell Claire I didn't fake dying.”
May you like
Pause.
“I only decided not to correct them.”
