The house felt different when they got back. Quieter. Jolene moved slowly, still recovering, while Ricky stayed close—never too far from her side. Neither of them had said much. Not yet. A knock at the door broke the silence. Ricky opened it to find the same two officers standing outside. “We thought you’d want an update,” one of them said.
Jolene sat up slightly as they stepped inside. “We’ve arrested the doctor you mentioned,” the officer continued. “He’s been under investigation.” Ricky frowned. “For what?” The officer exchanged a glance with his partner. “He was running unauthorized trials,” he said. “Using experimental medical devices. Skipping approval processes.”
“On patients?” Jolene asked quietly. The officer nodded. “From what we’ve gathered… he selected people he knew would trust him. Patients already under his care.” Ricky felt his chest tighten. “He wanted results,” the officer added. “Fast. Thought he could get ahead of everyone else.”
“An ambitious fellow,” the other officer said flatly. “Just didn’t care how he got there.” The room fell silent. Jolene instinctively placed a hand over her stomach. Ricky looked at her. Neither of them said a word.