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Conrad was still staring “Is that what they’re saying?” he asked “That I tried to kill h “Of course they are Crest Haven is protecting itself and its ee Plus, I ht initiate a lawsuit Bad for them, either way”

“I told Forensic Instincts that you’d never do such a thing,” Madeline said “Casey agreed with me”

“I’lad to hear someone has the ability to read people” Conrad rubbed a hand over his jaw “I’ve been severely depressed—I’ve never denied that—but suicide? Never”

Patrick pulled a chair to the foot of the bed and sat down “What sequence of events do you remember?”

Conrad grew thoughtful “Nothing out of the ordinary I watched a httime meds, which I counted and identified, as always I took thehtstand Now that I think about it, I becay very quickly, but that didn’t raise any red flags forwell, so Dr Oberlin has increased e That’s all I recall”

Patrick processed that “The water itself—did the aide bring it in or was a pitcher of it already on your nightstand?”

“He poured htstand” Conrad paused, abruptly aze “I remember that the pitcher had been refilled when I returned to my room”

“When was that?”

“A little after ten, when I got ready for bed I’d been playing cards with a group ofthat sos?”

“That’s exactly what I’,” Patrick replied “Which means that whoever wants to kill Madeline, wants to kill you, too”

Marc was in the office by 6:00 am

He waited until a little before seven, and then called Ryan

“Hey” Ryan sounded wide-awake and a little breathless

“Did I interrupt so?” Marc asked drily “You sound winded”

“No, s’ soo to voice mail”