Chapter 10: The Payment Before My Father's Death
I didn't sleep that night.
At 2:17 a.m., I was sitting alone in my office, staring at the financial records Emily had collected.
A payment to a medical consulting company.
A company connected to my father's physician.
And an authorization bearing my brother's name.
For years, I'd believed my father died because his cancer had progressed beyond treatment.
Now I was beginning to wonder whether someone had interfered with his medical care.
At 3:05 a.m., Emily entered carrying two coffees.
"Mr. Reed, you need to see this.""
She placed a laptop in front of me.
"What did you find?""
"The consulting company received $185,000 three days before your father's death. The money originated from Arthur Bennett's private account.""
"Who owns the consulting company?""
"Dr. Samuel Carter.""
I recognized the name.
He had been my father's personal physician for eleven years.
"Where is he now?""
"Retired. He lives outside Savannah.""
"Contact him.""
"I already tried. His office says he's unavailable.""
I looked at her.
"That's convenient.""
Emily opened another document.
"There's something else. The payment wasn't recorded as a consulting fee. It was classified as a research grant.""
"Research into what?""
"Medication management.""
I leaned back.
My father had been receiving treatment at home during his final weeks.
I remembered the medication schedule.
The nurses.
The daily visits.
And Jonathan insisting that he handle some of the arrangements because I was overwhelmed with work.
I'd trusted him.
That realization hurt more than I expected.
"Emily, find the medical records. Every prescription, every dosage change, every visit.""
She nodded.
At 7:30 a.m., Mr. Harrison arrived.
He looked exhausted.
"Marcus, I spoke with the detective this morning.""
"And?""
"The police have taken Jonathan's statement. He's denying any knowledge of the fraudulent transfers.""
"Of course.""
Mr. Harrison placed a document on my desk.
"But he admitted that Arthur instructed him to access your father's banking credentials.""
I looked up.
"Why?""
"Arthur told him the money was needed to secure the family trust.""
I shook my head.
"Jonathan believed everything Arthur told him.""
"Perhaps. But belief doesn't erase responsibility.""
I agreed.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
"Mr. Reed?"" a man's voice asked.
"Speaking.""
"My name is Dr. Samuel Carter.""
I sat upright.
"Doctor. I've been trying to reach you.""
"I know.""
"Can we meet?""
"Today.""
"Not at your office.""
"Where?""
"The old St. Matthew's hospital. There's something I need to give you.""
He lowered his voice.
"Something your father asked me to keep.""
The call ended.
I looked at Mr. Harrison.
"He's willing to talk.""
Within an hour, I was driving toward the hospital with Emily and a security officer.
The building had been partially converted into a medical research center.
Dr. Carter was waiting in a small conference room.
He was in his late sixties, with silver hair and tired eyes.
When he saw me, he stood.
"Marcus. You look just like your father.""
I didn't sit.
"Did you take money from Arthur Bennett?""
He lowered his head.
"Yes.""
The answer came so quickly that I almost stumbled backward.
"Why?""
"Because he threatened to expose something from my past.""
"What?""
"An error I made early in my career. An error that could have ended my medical license.""
I stared at him.
"So you accepted $185,000 to help him?""
"I didn't know what he wanted at first.""
"And later?""
Dr. Carter sat down.
"Your father was receiving medication for severe pain. Arthur asked me to adjust the treatment schedule.""
My hands tightened.
"Did you?""
"I refused.""
"Then why did you receive the money?""
"Because I was afraid.""
He opened a leather folder and removed several documents.
"Your father's condition was worsening, but his medication was appropriate. Arthur wanted access to his medical records and requested changes that I considered medically unnecessary.""
"Did you make those changes?""
"No.""
"Are you certain?""
Dr. Carter looked directly at me.
"I have the original prescription records.""
He handed them over.
Then he produced another document.
It was an email printed on paper.
The sender was Arthur Bennett.
The message contained one sentence:
If the old man dies before signing, make sure the son understands what happens next.
I read it twice.
"Which son?""
Dr. Carter shook his head.
"I never found out.""
"Did you tell the police?""
"I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
"An innocent man died, and you were afraid of losing your reputation?""
He closed his eyes.
"I know.""
Before I could respond, Emily's phone rang.
She listened for several seconds.
Then her expression changed.
"Mr. Reed, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"The forensic team has finished examining Vanessa's flash drive.""
"And?""
"They found the recording she mentioned.""
"Play it.""
Emily connected her phone to the room's speaker.
Arthur's voice filled the conference room.
"Jonathan, your father has less than a week.""
My brother answered.
"What if Marcus finds out?""
"Marcus won't find out until it's too late.""
"And the doctor?""
"He's already been paid.""
Dr. Carter suddenly stood.
"That's not true!""
The recording continued.
Jonathan asked, "What happens to the trust?""
Arthur answered calmly.
"Once your father is gone, we take control. Marcus will have no idea what hit him.""
Then came a sentence that made the blood drain from my face.
Arthur said:
"And if Marcus becomes a problem, we'll make sure he meets the same fate.""
The recording stopped.
Nobody moved.
Dr. Carter looked horrified.
Emily covered her mouth.
I stared at the speaker.
My father had known someone was coming for his company.
And now I had evidence that someone had discussed killing me too.
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*You should stop digging. Your father wasn't the only one who died because he knew too much.*
May you like
A second message followed.
*Ask Jonathan what happened to your mother.*
