[preliminary introductions, explanations of police processes and procedures, notification that the session would be videotaped]
Mark Epstein: John and I had been arguing on and off for the better part of the previous month. Along with Edward—you know, Dr. Kramer. Edward and I were eager to bring on more associates so we could grow the business through increasing the volume of cosmetic procedures. John refused. But we felt very strongly that it wasn’t fair to take us on as partners and then force us to leave so much money on the table.
John hadn’t shown up at the clinic for two days. It was quite unprecedented, really. Whatever the man’s faults, he never shirked work. But he cleared his calendar with a call to our intake director, first Thursday morning, then again Friday morning. He wasn’t answering his cell phone, returning any texts, or replying to his emails. I asked Dr. Fanning where he was.
Samantha Adams: Did you know they were involved?
Mark Epstein: Not officially. Though it didn’t take half a brain to guess. They were always around each other, and although they never left the clinic together, each one always seemed to leave within five minutes of the other. But it was none of my affair. I didn’t know about all the women, of course. Just that he was married to a woman named Deborah. And if that’s the way he wanted to play it, who was I to interfere? So Claire—Dr. Fanning—told me he’d checked in to the Westin, and gave me his room number. Frankly, that surprised me. For two reasons. First, why would he check in to a hotel in his own hometown? And, secondly, why would Claire give me what was clearly privileged information? She always took John’s side of things. But I took it they’d had a fight as well, and she was as frustrated with him as the rest of us.
Samantha Adams: Dr. Fanning willingly told you that Dr. Taylor was at the Westin?
Mark Epstein: Yes, that’s right.
Samantha Adams: Please go on.
Mark Epstein: So I went to the Westin Friday evening after dinner.
Samantha Adams: What time was this again?
Mark Epstein: I told you, 7:40, perhaps a little later. I knocked on his door. There was no answer, but I noticed it was ajar. I walked in and found him, already dead, on the floor. It was quite a shock, I have to tell you.
Just then there was a knock at the door. I’d shut it all the way behind me, and whoever it was couldn’t get in. I panicked. I thought, I can’t be found here with a dead body, so I kept quiet. The knock came again, and this time a man’s voice identified himself as room service. I held my breath and waited, and, after calling a couple more times, he went away. Once I was sure he was gone and the corridor empty, I left the room myself and drove home. I told my wife what had happened, and we agreed that there was no need to explain that I’d been there; it would only complicate matters. When we found out later that foul play was suspected, we felt it was too late to speak up.
Samantha Adams: You didn’t struggle with John Taylor?
Mark Epstein: No! I’m telling you he was dead already!
Samantha Adams: How did you know he was dead?
Mark Epstein: I’m a doctor.
Samantha Adams: So you examined him?
Mark Epstein: Yes. I felt for his pulse. I was quite satisfied that he was dead.
Samantha Adams: You didn’t inject him with potassium chloride?
Mark Epstein: He was dead already.
Samantha Adams: But with John Taylor dead, your way forward at the Taylor Institute was clear. You could expand the cosmetic part of the practice. You could take all that lovely money off the table as you put it.
Mark Epstein: Look, I know that sounded kind of flippant. Even callous. But that doesn’t mean I would kill someone for a bigger paycheck!
Samantha Adams: What about the fact that your fingerprints weren’t anywhere in the room?
Mark Epstein: Once I understood the situation I was careful not to touch anything. And I wiped down everything I had touched coming in, the door, the doorknob, the lock. I know, I know, that seems suspicious. But I was trying to avoid what is happening now—the police making a grave mistake.
Samantha Adams: Mistake or not, I’ve been instructed to book you for the murder of John Taylor.
53
Samantha