Max shifted and rubbed his chin. “Someone from the company I used to work for.”

“Marshbanks Pharmaceuticals,” Caden said.

Max nodded. “You’ve done your homework.”

“It wasn’t hard. I remember the wreck from the news. What about your family?”

“They know I’m alive but in danger. I sent them to London to stay with my sister-in-law until I could figure out how to bring down the company.”

The detectives exchanged a look. “Why do you want to bring it down?” Elliott asked.

“Because it killed my son.”

Silence fell, then Elliott cleared his throat. “Can you give us some details?”

“Terry, my son, was in Kabul. He was Army. A little over a year ago, insurgents bombed an orphanage and he was part of the rescue crew.” Tears pooled in his eyes and he blinked them away. “It nearly destroyed him. Fortunately for him, the psychiatrist there recognized his pain, put him on some medication, and sent him home.” He cleared his throat. “By the time he got home, he was doing so much better. It was wonderful and amazing. My wife and I decided it was safe to take a weekend vacation, and when we came home, we found Terry hanging by the neck in the garage.”

Caden closed his eyes. Then opened them. “My brother committed suicide when he jumped off the roof of the hospital where he was a psych patient. Brianne Davis, another psych patient who served in Kabul, shot herself. Helen Craft, a doctor in Kabul, jumped from her apartment window. What in the name of all that’s sacred is going on?”

“It’s the drug,” Max said. “And I helped create it.”

Heather let out a low gasp and Caden shot her a warning look. She bit her lip and sat back in her chair.

Max pressed his lips together, then said, “The company is marketing it as a PTSD drug, and they’re working the numbers so that the FDA will approve it.”

“Then why would you send Wilmont to Brianne’s house with more of it?” Caden asked.

“Because it’s a tricky drug—and it’s not fully developed. I saw them bring Brianne in. She was wounded in action and wound up here at the VA hospital. She was Terry’s best friend—and probably more. I think he loved her.” He sniffed and looked away for a moment. “I’d never met her in person before, but we’d FaceTimed several times a week. She was always with Terry before he was discharged and sent home.”

“I’m so sorry,” Caden murmured.

“When I saw Brianne, I slipped in to visit her when she was finally alone. She was in a really bad place emotionally. Two days later, she was doing well. I knew they were giving her the drug. I told her not to stop taking it, no matter what happened.”

“Why?” Elliott asked.