The Fallen (Amos Decker #4)(95)

“He got injured, was prescribed Percocet, then Vicodin. Then he got hooked on Oxy. From there it was a downward spiral. He died of a heroin overdose. Whoever he got it from had laced it with fentanyl. Keith probably had no idea what he was taking. It killed him instantly, I heard.”

“How old was he when he died?”

“Younger than me.”

“His mother was the named beneficiary. How much did she get?”

“Enough to open the bakery. She totally gutted the first floor of an old building and bought all-new equipment. So it was a lot of money.”

“Was she an addict?” asked Decker.

“Yeah, she was, actually. For many years before she finally kicked it. But what the hell are you getting at?” added Riley angrily.

“A lot of people have died in this town from drug overdoses. And I’ve found out that a lot of those people had life insurance policies. Now, you have to have an insurable interest in someone to be named a beneficiary. And you can’t get much of a policy benefit without taking a medical exam and swearing on an application that the information you’re providing is accurate. They may even do a criminal background check on you, access your medical records and make you undergo a physical exam.”

“How do they get around HIPAA?” asked Jamison, referring to the law guarding a person’s medical history from unauthorized third parties.

“I had a life insurance policy when I was a cop back in Ohio,” replied Decker. “On the application, you can waive HIPAA protections. In fact, most insurance companies won’t write the policy if you don’t waive that so they can dig into your medical background. And evidence of illicit drug addiction would be a red flag for a life insurance company.”

Riley looked confused. “I don’t understand. You’re saying if you’re an addict you can’t get a life insurance policy.”

“I think that’s right. At least not one they will pay out for a drug overdose death.”

“So—”

“So how did somebody know certain insured people were going to become addicts and then overdose and die?” Decker finished for her.





Chapter 54



IT WAS ONLY four for dinner. It should have been five.

But the fifth was six feet under.

Jamison sat next to Zoe.

Decker sat next to Amber.

They were in the kitchen at the small oval table in the center of the room.

“How was school, Zoe?” asked Jamison.

“Okay,” said Zoe, as she pushed food around on her plate without actually ingesting any of it.

Amber had lost weight, and she had been thin to begin with. Her features were strained, her eyes painfully red and her manner as though she had been drugged.

“Mommy, can I go to my room? My tummy hurts.”

Amber said absently, “Sure, sweetie. I’ll be up to check on you in a bit.”

Zoe got up from the table and hurriedly left. They could hear her shoes clattering up the stairs.

“She’s not eating,” said Amber miserably.

“Neither are you, sis,” said Jamison. “You’ve got to keep your strength up.”

Amber waved this off. “I’m fine. Just not hungry right now.”

Jamison glanced at Decker and then laid her fork down.

“What do you plan to do?”

Amber looked up from her plate. “What do you mean?”

“I mean will you stay here or move?”

Amber looked at her sister incredulously. “I haven’t gotten that far. For God’s sake, it hasn’t even been a week since Frank died, Alex.”

“I know. But I don’t think there’s anything keeping you here. You could move closer to family. They can help out.”

“I’ve thought about that,” Amber conceded. “And even with the life insurance, I’ll have to go back to work. I’m the breadwinner now.”

“You are going to bring legal action against Maxus, right?” said Jamison.

“Damn straight I am. But to uproot Zoe again, so soon? I’m just worried how that will affect her.”

“A fresh start somewhere else might be best for her and you,” replied Jamison.

“How can I be sure of that?”

“Have you talked to Zoe about this?” interjected Decker.

They both looked at him.

“Decker, she’s only six,” said Jamison.

“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have an opinion.”

“I’m not sure she can possibly understand the circumstances,” retorted Jamison.

“All I’m saying is that her mother should talk to her about it. If it’s going to affect her, why not?”

Amber and her sister exchanged a glance.

Amber said, “I actually think he might be right.” She rose from the table. “I’ll talk to Zoe and then I’m going to bed. I’m just very tired.”

Jamison rose too and hugged her sister. “I’m here for you, sweetie. Whatever you need, for as long as you need.”

“Alex, you have your own life, and you have a job. You can’t babysit us forever. Not that I’d want you to. I’ll get my life together. I have to, for Zoe.”

She glanced at Decker. “Thanks for the advice, Amos.”