Chapter 11: The Man Who Stole My Identity
I couldn’t speak.
My name was on the screen.
My information.
My identity.
But I had never touched those records.
“That’s impossible,” I said.
The hospital employee nodded.
“I understand why you’re confused.””
“Someone used my name.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“I can’t tell you that without proper authorization.””
I wanted to scream.
After everything.
After three years of lies.
I was still being blocked by paperwork.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Can you at least tell us when it happened?””
The employee checked.
“Six months after Mrs. Carter passed away.””
I looked at Vanessa.
Six months.
That was the same time Rachel’s mother said Rachel had started suspecting something.
The same time money started disappearing.
The same time everything changed.
“Can we get a copy?””
The employee hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Request forms are required.””
I almost laughed.
More forms.
More delays.
More hiding.
But before I could respond, a voice behind me said:
“Michael?””
I turned.
Daniel stood there.
My brother.
I felt my entire body tense.
“What are you doing here?””
His eyes moved between me and Vanessa.
“You found out.””
Not “what happened?””
Not “why are you here?””
You found out.
That was all.
I stepped closer.
“You used my identity.””
Daniel looked away.
“I was trying to fix it.””
“You accessed Rachel’s medical records.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I needed to remove something.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“A report.””
“What report?””
“The report that proved Rachel wasn’t getting better because someone was making sure she didn’t.””
The hallway became silent.
Vanessa whispered:
“Daniel…”
He ignored her.
“I thought I could control it.””
“You thought you could control my wife dying?””
His face collapsed.
“No.””
“Then what did you think?””
Daniel looked broken.
“I thought I was protecting everyone.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.””
“I know.””
“But you never protected Lily.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
For the first time, he looked like my brother.
Not a liar.
Not a thief.
Just a man who knew he had destroyed everything.
“Who changed the medication?”” I asked.
Daniel looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“I don’t know.””
I stared.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“After all this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because the person who did it fooled me too.””
I went silent.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“Rachel wasn’t investigating me.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She was investigating someone else.””
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
Then said:
“The person who convinced you Rachel’s illness was natural.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the hospital entrance.
Then whispered:
“Her doctor.””
My stomach dropped.
“Her doctor?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
“Then why are you saying this?””
“Because Rachel found something.””
“What?””
“A hidden report.””
I stepped closer.
“Where is it?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
“She gave this to me the night before she died.””
I stared at it.
“Why didn’t you give it to me?””
His eyes filled with shame.
“Because Rachel made me promise not to.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the key.
“Because she said if anything happened to her…”
He took a shaky breath.
“…the wrong person would kill to get what was inside.””
I took the key.
“What does it open?””
Daniel looked at me.
“A safety deposit box.””
“Where?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then:
“The bank where Rachel kept Lily’s original trust documents.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
*You’re looking in the wrong direction, Michael.*
Another message appeared.
*The doctor didn’t kill Rachel.*
My heart stopped.
Then the final message arrived.
*The person who did was sitting beside you when you buried her.*
May you like
I looked up slowly.
At Vanessa.
