Chapter 13: The Photograph at the Hospital
Daniel didn't sleep.
By sunrise, he was sitting at Ben's kitchen table with Rachel's letter in front of him.
One sentence kept returning.
Protect our daughter.
Lily wandered into the kitchen wearing borrowed pajamas and carrying both stuffed dogs.
The new one Daniel had bought.
And Rachel's old brown one.
"Daddy?""
Daniel immediately folded the letter.
"Morning, sweetheart.""
She climbed onto his lap.
"Are we going home today?""
The question hurt.
Daniel kissed her hair.
"Not to that house.""
"Why?""
"Because we're going to find somewhere that feels safe.""
Lily thought about that.
"Can Noah come?""
Daniel almost smiled.
"Always.""
"And Uncle Ben?""
Ben, standing by the coffee maker, laughed.
"I think your daddy might want his own house eventually.""
Lily looked at Daniel.
"Can it have a yellow room?""
"Absolutely.""
"And no big dishes?""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
He hugged her tighter.
"No big dishes.""
Someone knocked.
Daniel stiffened.
Ben checked the security camera.
"It's Harris.""
Detective Harris entered carrying a folder.
Daniel sent Lily to the living room with Ben.
Then he faced the detective.
"Tell me.""
Harris placed several photographs on the table.
The first showed Eric outside the hospital.
The second showed Dr. Keller approaching him.
The third captured the envelope changing hands.
Daniel stared at Keller.
"Where did these come from?""
"Eric's archive.""
"Why would Eric keep evidence against himself?""
"Leverage.""
Daniel looked up.
"Against Keller?""
"Possibly.""
Harris opened another folder.
"Dr. Keller left the hospital eighteen months after Rachel died.""
"Where is he?""
"Retired.""
"Where?""
"We located him.""
Daniel stood.
"Take me there.""
"No.""
"Harris—"
"Sit down.""
Daniel didn't.
Harris continued.
"Keller agreed to an interview.""
Daniel froze.
"He did?""
"At first.""
"What does that mean?""
"After we mentioned Eric Wallace, he requested an attorney.""
Daniel sat.
Harris pushed another document forward.
"We also received preliminary laboratory results on the bottle.""
Daniel's mouth went dry.
"And?""
"The contents don't match the prescription label.""
Daniel stared at him.
"What was inside?""
"We're waiting on complete analysis.""
"But it wasn't Rachel's medication.""
"No.""
Daniel looked toward the living room.
Lily was making the stuffed dogs dance for Noah.
"What did the hospital give Rachel?""
"That's complicated.""
"Make it simple.""
Harris took a breath.
"According to her records, Keller changed one of her medications after admission. There were inconsistencies between the electronic order and the nursing notes.""
Daniel felt sick.
"Did that kill her?""
"We cannot say that.""
"Could it have?""
"That's what medical experts need to determine.""
Daniel stood and walked to the window.
For three years, he'd imagined Rachel's final days as terrible luck.
An infection.
A sudden decline.
Doctors fighting unsuccessfully to save her.
Now every memory felt contaminated by questions.
He remembered Keller placing a hand on his shoulder.
We're doing everything we can.
Had that been a lie?
Daniel turned.
"Where's Eric?""
"Still missing.""
"And Greg?""
"Cooperating.""
"Melissa?""
"Also cooperating.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Because she wants a deal.""
"Her attorney will handle that.""
"She abused Lily.""
"That investigation is separate from the financial case.""
Daniel looked toward his daughter again.
"Don't let the money make anyone forget what happened to her.""
"It won't.""
Harris's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His expression changed.
"What?""
"Eric's vehicle.""
"Where?""
"Found abandoned.""
Daniel's pulse increased.
"Where?""
"Near the old construction yard.""
Daniel knew it immediately.
Carter Development had used that yard before moving operations two years earlier.
"Why there?""
"We don't know.""
Harris stood.
"Stay here.""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You know I'm not going to.""
"You have children who need you.""
That stopped him.
Harris was right.
Daniel sat back down.
"Call me.""
"I will.""
Three hours passed.
Then four.
Daniel made lunch for Lily.
He fed Noah.
He helped Lily color a picture of four people holding hands.
"Who's that?"" he asked.
"Me.""
"And that?""
"Noah.""
She pointed.
"You.""
The fourth figure had long hair.
"Mommy Rachel.""
Daniel swallowed.
"That's beautiful.""
Lily looked at him.
"Can Mommy see it?""
Daniel's eyes burned.
"I think she'd love it.""
His phone rang.
Harris.
Daniel answered.
"Did you find Eric?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
"We found something in the construction yard.""
Daniel's stomach tightened.
"What?""
"A locked office had been built inside one of the storage buildings.""
"I didn't know about any office.""
"Apparently Eric did.""
Harris paused.
"We found documents. Cash. Multiple identities.""
"So he was planning to run.""
"Looks that way.""
"Anything about Rachel?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
Daniel stood.
"What?""
"A recording.""
His heart stopped.
"What recording?""
"Eric speaking with Dr. Keller.""
"When?""
"Two days after Rachel entered the hospital.""
Daniel gripped the counter.
"What did they say?""
Harris's voice became careful.
"Keller says, 'This wasn't the agreement.''"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"And Eric?""
"He says, 'Then fix it before she wakes up and starts talking.''"
Daniel nearly dropped the phone.
"No.""
"Daniel—"
"No.""
"Listen to me.""
Daniel struggled to breathe.
"Did Keller kill her?""
"We still don't know exactly what happened medically.""
"But Eric wanted her silent.""
"The recording supports that interpretation.""
Daniel leaned against the counter.
Then Harris said, "There's more.""
"What?""
"The recording didn't come from Eric.""
Daniel frowned.
"Then where?""
"We found the original device hidden inside the office wall.""
"Who recorded it?""
"We don't know.""
Daniel heard another voice near Harris.
Then the detective said, "Wait.""
Silence.
"Harris?""
Nothing.
Then:
"We just got Eric's location.""
Daniel straightened.
"Where?""
May you like
Harris's answer made his blood run cold.
"He's outside Ben's neighborhood.""
