Chapter 10: The Doctor Who Signed My Death Sentence
I recognized the physician's signature immediately.
Dr. Michael Harlan.
He had been my father's personal physician for almost fifteen years. He had attended family Christmas dinners, treated me when I had pneumonia as a teenager, and stood beside Samuel Reed at my father's funeral.
He had also signed the medical report confirming Vanessa's supposed death.
Now his signature appeared on a document claiming I needed emergency psychiatric hospitalization.
I looked at the date.
Tomorrow.
“This is fake,” I whispered.
Vanessa took the paper from my hands.
“Let me see.””
She studied the document, then looked at Ellis, who had arrived at the house twenty minutes earlier.
“Can they actually do this?””
Ellis adjusted his glasses.
“Not without proper medical and legal procedures. But if they've fabricated records suggesting Corinne is a danger to herself or her child, they could attempt to initiate an emergency evaluation.””
“Based on what?”” I demanded.
Ellis turned another page.
“According to this report, you have demonstrated paranoid behavior, financial delusions, and an inability to distinguish reality from imagined threats.””
I stared at him.
“They're describing me as crazy because I discovered they were stealing money?””
“That's what it appears to be.””
Trevor stood near the fireplace, rubbing his forehead.
“Corinne, nobody wants you hospitalized. This is just a precaution.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew about this?””
He didn't answer.
“Trevor!””
His jaw tightened.
“Samuel said it was the easiest way to protect the company.””
I felt something cold settle inside my chest.
“Protect the company?””
He stepped closer.
“You don't understand what's at stake. If the trust collapses, we're finished.””
“So you decided to have your wife declared mentally incompetent?””
“That's not what I wanted!””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Then why did you sign the supporting statement?””
Trevor looked at her.
“Stay out of this.””
I picked up my phone and called my attorney.
Her name was Rebecca Collins. Ellis had arranged for her to represent the trust several years earlier.
She answered immediately.
“Corinne?””
“I need emergency legal protection. Someone has submitted false medical documents claiming I need psychiatric hospitalization tomorrow.””
Her voice became sharp.
“Do not sign anything. Do not attend any medical appointment arranged by these people. Send me every document.””
I photographed the pages.
Rebecca received them within seconds.
“I'm requesting an independent review and preservation of the original records. We also need to notify the appropriate authorities about the suspected fraud.””
“What about June?””
“I'll have someone prepare an emergency custody protection filing. Keep your daughter with you.””
I ended the call.
For the first time that day, I felt I had someone standing beside me.
Then Ellis's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds before looking at me.
“Mrs. Bascombe, our investigators have accessed Dr. Harlan's office records.””
“What did they find?””
“A payment of $180,000 from a company connected to Samuel Reed.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Of course.””
Ellis continued.
“But there's something more troubling. The medical assessment was supposedly conducted in your home three weeks ago.””
I frowned.
“I never saw Dr. Harlan three weeks ago.””
“Exactly.””
He showed me the appointment record.
The address was correct.
The date was correct.
But the signature of the patient receiving the examination was not mine.
It belonged to someone named Caroline Bascombe.
I stared at the spelling.
“Caroline?””
Rebecca, still on the phone, heard me.
“Corinne, don't assume it's a clerical error. Send me that page too.””
Then Vanessa suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
She pointed to the bottom of the form.
There was a second signature.
A witness signature.
Darlene Bascombe.
I turned toward my mother-in-law.
She had gone completely still.
“You were there?”” I asked.
Darlene shook her head.
“I didn't know what he was going to do.””
“You signed a medical report about me?””
“I was told it was paperwork to protect June!””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You signed a document claiming your daughter-in-law was mentally unstable.””
Darlene began crying.
“Samuel said Corinne was going to destroy everything!””
I looked at Trevor.
“And you believed him?””
Trevor said nothing.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
*You should stop digging. Your father made the same mistake.*
A second message followed.
*Ask Vanessa what happened during the final forty-eight hours before his death.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Vanessa was staring at the screen.
Her face had lost every trace of color.
“Vanessa?””
She took a step backward.
“Don't listen to them.””
“What happened to Dad?””
She shook her head.
“Not here.””
“Tell me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Corinne, your father wasn't supposed to die that night.””
