Little Girl Said She Could Help The Wealth Man Walk Again

CHAPTER 1 - The Water Basin

"Lily... what did you find?"

The words came out low and sharp.

Martin Hale leaned forward in his wheelchair, every muscle in his face suddenly rigid. Now the room had gone still.

Lily lifted her wet hand. In her palm sat a white pill, small and innocent-looking. She pointed toward the hallway where Dr. Evan Reed had just disappeared in his white coat, brown leather case swinging at his side.

"The doctor dropped it in the water," she said.

Behind Martin, his sister Helen went pale. Her fingers tightened around something hidden in her right hand. Beside her, Martin's younger brother Owen stopped smiling altogether.

Martin did not look at anyone else. He stared at the pill.

For three years, he had been told his legs would never respond again. A construction accident had crushed his spine. Since then, Dr. Reed had visited twice a week, always calm, always reassuring, always carrying his polished case and his careful little notes.

And yet, the moment Lily touched the basin, Reed had fled.

Martin held out his hand. Lily placed the pill in his palm.

It felt too dry to have been in the water long.

"Call him back," Martin said.

Helen took a step toward him. "Martin, please. Lily is only a child. She probably misunderstood."

But Lily shook her head. "No. He looked scared."

Martin looked up at his sister. "What did he give me today?"

Helen's mouth opened. Nothing came out.

From the doorway, Mrs. Grant, the head housekeeper, whispered, "Sir, the doctor said your afternoon medication was changed."

Martin turned the pill between his fingers.

His own medicine was upstairs. Unopened.

And now he could see that the bottle in Helen's hand was empty.

That was the first lie.

And before the truth could come, the front door opened again.

Dr. Reed had returned.