Page 47 of Cameron's Contract

“Mr. Malt has Alzheimer’s?” said Mia softly.

Susan’s gaze rose.

“We realize this is extraordinarily private,” I said.

“We understand,” said Mia. “We know how difficult this is.”

“Understand?” said Susan.

“We empathize.” I gestured to the stack of leather bound photo albums. “A visual aid?”

“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, standing. “I have family heading into town.”

“Those visual aids do help in bringing him back to you, but what then?” I said softly. “His moments of clarity bring him distress. He’s fully aware in that moment of his diagnosis.”

“It’s so hard,” she whispered.

“I’m so sorry,” said Mia.

“Who told you?”

“As a doctor…” I said. “Well, it’s intuitive.”

I left out we’d utilized Shay’s hacking skills.

“You can’t truly comprehend what the last year has been like,” said Susan.

“When Doug’s present, you savor those few minutes,” I said.

She conceded with a nod.

I leaned forward. “There’s new clinical research results coming out of Zurich. Their findings are extraordinary. The drug has just been approved. If you like, I can arrange for Doug to receive it.”

She sat back down, her face marred with confusion. “With Doug’s connections, you’d have thought it would be easy.”

“The FDA is a wary gatekeeper.”

“The trials have proven effective?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head woefully. “The one man in my life who could understand those results and make the decision based on his experience. Maybe run his own tests.”

“Doug’s a brilliant scientist,” I said.

“He was.”

I’d known him as a quiet man, obsessed with medical research, having married into money yet determined to leave his own mark on the world. A friend of my father’s who’d come onto the board at his behest to inspire loyalty among the others.

“I’ll have the medication delivered by a specialist in the field,” I said. “They’ll guide you through the process and measure its efficacy.”

“You’ll do that?”

“Of course.”

“You always did prefer medicine.”

I sat back. “Yes, taking care of my patients became a priority. Taking care of their families who needed me just as much has consumed my time. I’m sure you’re finding such dedication from your own doctors reassuring at this time?” I placed my hand on my heart. “I’m still my father’s son.”