Chapter 11: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
I couldn't understand what Patricia had just told me.
Emily had survived the crash.
She'd been conscious.
She'd asked for me.
And James had signed a document using my name.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Patricia shook her head.
"He said the transfer was unnecessary. He claimed Emily had already expressed her wishes.""
"She was asking for me!""
"I know.""
My hands began shaking.
Daniel took the authorization document and examined it carefully.
"Mrs. Cole, do you still have the original?""
Patricia nodded.
"It's in my safe.""
She stood slowly and disappeared into the hallway.
I stared at the family photograph on the wall.
Emily was smiling at her sister.
I had spent three years believing that my wife died before anyone could save her.
Now I was learning that she had fought to survive.
And someone had made decisions that prevented her from getting the help she needed.
Patricia returned carrying a brown envelope.
Inside were three documents and a small flash drive.
"These are copies of the original hospital records," she said.
"I kept them because I knew something was wrong.""
Daniel examined the papers.
The first was the unauthorized transfer form.
The second was a nursing note.
The third was a medication administration record.
He stopped at the third page.
"Michael, look at this.""
I leaned closer.
A medication had been administered to Emily shortly after James arrived.
Daniel pointed to the signature.
"Do you recognize this name?""
I shook my head.
"Dr. Alan Mercer.""
Patricia nodded.
"He was the physician on duty that evening.""
"Was he involved?"" Daniel asked.
"I don't know. But he argued with James about the transfer. I heard them shouting.""
Patricia opened the flash drive folder on her laptop.
There were several audio files.
She clicked one.
A man's voice filled the room.
"Mr. Carter, I cannot approve this without the husband's consent.""
James answered.
"I'm her brother-in-law. Her husband gave me permission.""
The doctor replied, "I need written authorization.""
James said something that made my blood run cold.
"Then use the form I brought.""
There was a pause.
The doctor spoke again.
"This signature doesn't look right.""
James lowered his voice.
"Do you want to lose your position?""
The recording ended.
I stood abruptly.
"That bastard.""
Daniel raised a hand.
"Michael, we need to let the investigators handle this.""
I paced across the living room.
"Three years. Three years I've been visiting her grave, telling Lily that Mommy couldn't come home because of an accident.""
Patricia began crying.
"I'm sorry.""
I turned toward her.
"You tried to help her.""
"I should have done more.""
I knelt in front of the woman.
"James was my brother. I believed him. I didn't even know you existed. He made sure I wouldn't question anything.""
She gently touched my shoulder.
"Emily never blamed you.""
I looked down.
"She should have.""
"No," Patricia said firmly.
"She loved you.""
For the first time since the wedding, I allowed myself to cry.
Not because I'd lost my brother.
Because I'd lost years with the truth.
Daniel's phone rang.
He stepped into the hallway to answer.
When he returned, his face was serious.
"Michael, the police have located Dr. Mercer.""
"Where?""
"At his home in Alpharetta. He's agreed to speak with investigators.""
"Then let's go.""
Patricia reached for my hand.
"There's something else.""
I turned.
"What?""
She hesitated.
"Before Emily died, she told me she was afraid James would try to take Lily.""
I nodded.
"She wrote that in her letter.""
Patricia continued.
"But she also told me something about Lily's birth.""
I frowned.
"What about it?""
"Emily discovered that someone had altered the original hospital records.""
I felt the room shift.
"Why would anyone do that?""
"She didn't explain everything. But she said there was a discrepancy involving the emergency contact and a document signed shortly after Lily was born.""
I stared at her.
"Are you saying Lily isn't my daughter?""
Patricia immediately shook her head.
"No. Emily never questioned that. She loved you both.""
"Then what was changed?""
"I don't know. But she kept searching for the original birth records.""
Daniel looked up from his phone.
"That's important. We'll need to investigate it.""
I took a breath.
"One mystery at a time.""
Before we left, Patricia gave me a small envelope.
"Emily asked me to give this to you if you ever came looking for the truth.""
My name was written across it.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a photograph of Emily holding newborn Lily.
On the back, she had written:
The truth about James is only the beginning.
I turned the photograph over again.
A tiny note had been folded beneath it.
Ask Michael why he wasn't allowed into the delivery room.
I stared at it.
I remembered Lily's birth.
I remembered standing outside the hospital room while James told me there had been complications.
I remembered being told Emily needed rest and that I couldn't enter.
But I had never questioned it.
Why hadn't I been allowed to see my wife?
And why had James been the person explaining everything?
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Mr. Carter, this is Dr. Alan Mercer. I understand you're asking about your wife's medical records.""
"Yes.""
He took a shaky breath.
"I need to tell you something. But I cannot do it over the phone.""
"Where can I meet you?""
"Not at my house.""
"Why?""
His voice dropped.
"Because someone was here last night asking about the same records.""
"Who?""
There was a pause.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Your brother.""
