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Dr.Brewster’ssuicidetakesaparticulartwistwhenthepathologistdeterminesthathehadalsobeenboundandgagged.TheBrewsters,bothmedicaldoctors,ranaprivateclinicandtheirsonJohn,wholivedathome,isdoctoralcandidateinphilosophy.OnepossiblesuspectisMichaelSteppingswhothreatenedtheBrewstersandtheirnurseafterhisdaughtersufferedsevereside-effectsandisnowinavegetativestatefromabotchedoperationtwoyearspreviously.TheforensicslabdeterminesthatoneofSteppings’sthreateningletterswasalteredandMorselearnsthatBrewstermayatonetimebeenhavinganaffair,sohemustconsideranotherpossiblemotiveformurder.