CHAPTER 2 – THE DOCTOR’S SECRET

The next morning Amara Quinn reached her office early. She placed the papers on the desk and read the notes again. The bills were too high. The medicine names were strange. Something was not right. She thought that maybe Mr. James was correct.

Verena came with her little notebook. She sat down and said she had thought about the case all night. She said she could not believe a doctor would do this. Amara said she also wanted to believe doctors were always honest. But her work was to search for truth, not to trust words.

Verena asked how they would begin. Amara said they would first talk to people who had visited the clinic. She said that when many voices repeat the same thing, the truth starts to shine.

By noon they were sitting with an old woman in her home. The woman said her son had been sick and had gone to Doctor Peterson. The doctor gave him very costly medicine. The son did not get better. The doctor then asked for more money. The old woman cried and said she had nothing left. Amara wrote every word in her notebook.

Later they met a young man outside the shop. He said he had gone to the same doctor. He also paid too much, but the medicine was the same as cheap tablets sold in town. He felt cheated.

Verena looked at Amara and whispered that this was worse than she had thought. Amara only nodded. She knew they needed proof, not only words.

The two women went to the small pharmacy near the bus stop. Amara showed the medicine names. The man behind the counter laughed. He said the same tablets were sold at a very low price. He even showed the box. Amara compared it with the clinic paper. It was the same.

Amara asked the man to write the real price for her. He agreed. She now had a paper to show that the clinic had lied.

Verena asked what they would do next. Amara said they would give Doctor Peterson one chance to speak. She believed in facing the person before telling the world. Verena agreed but said she was scared. Amara smiled and said fear was normal, but truth was stronger.

That evening they went to the clinic. Doctor Peterson was a tall man with a proud face. He looked angry when he saw them. Amara introduced herself as a detective. She placed the papers on his desk. She said she wanted to understand why his bills were ten times higher than the real price.

For a moment the doctor said nothing. Then he laughed loudly. He said people had no idea how costly his work was. He said if they wanted health, they had to pay. Verena whispered that this was wrong. The doctor heard her and shouted that he was saving lives and had the right to take money.

Amara kept her voice calm. She said he was not saving lives by lying. She said he was stealing from sick people who trusted him. She said she had proof and would give it to the sheriff.

The doctor’s face changed. He looked worried. He asked Amara not to go to the police. He said he would change, he would stop. Amara stood up and told him that people like him did not change with words. They only changed when someone showed their true face to the world.

The two women walked out of the clinic. Verena was still shaking. She said she had never spoken to such a man before. Amara told her to remember one lesson. She said when people respect you, they also test you. She said they had to stand strong.

The next day the sheriff called Amara. He said he had received the papers. He said he was surprised by her work. He said maybe her little agency had some power after all. Amara only said that truth was power.

When she put down the phone, Verena clapped her hands. She said their first case was done. Amara smiled but said it was only the beginning. She said Riverbend had many secrets. She said they had to be ready.

The two women sat at the desk. They were tired but happy. Amara looked at Verena and said she had done well. Verena said she was learning from the best.

The telephone was silent again, but their hearts were not. They had opened the door of truth for the first time. Now they waited for the next knock.