Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Introduction
The black SUV came straight at us.
"GET DOWN!"" Robert screamed.
I grabbed Evelyn's arm and threw myself behind a concrete pillar. The SUV clipped the side of our parked car, sending its side mirror flying across the pavement.
For a moment, all I could hear was the screech of tires and Evelyn's frightened breathing.
Then the SUV reversed.
The driver's window was still open.
I caught a glimpse of the man's face.
Dr. Harrison.
He looked directly at me before speeding toward the exit.
"THAT WAS HIM!"" I shouted.
Robert pulled out his phone.
"Marcus, don't chase him! We need the police!""
Evelyn was trembling so badly she could barely stand.
I looked down at the blue envelope.
It was still in my hand.
"Are you hurt?""
She shook her head.
"No. But now they know I gave it to you.""
"Who are these people?""
Evelyn looked toward the exit.
"There's something Danielle discovered about Vanessa. Something that connects all of us.""
Robert helped her into our car.
We drove to his office, where he immediately contacted the police and arranged for the envelope to be photographed and preserved as evidence.
I sat across from Evelyn.
"Start from the beginning.""
She took a long breath.
"Vanessa first appeared at the hospital about six months before Danielle died. She claimed she was a family friend of Dr. Harrison.""
I frowned.
"Danielle never mentioned knowing her.""
"That's because Danielle didn't know her. At least, not initially.""
Evelyn opened her purse and removed a folded sheet of paper.
"Dr. Harrison introduced them. He said Vanessa was helping coordinate some paperwork for families dealing with serious illnesses.""
"What paperwork?""
"Insurance claims. Estate planning. Medical authorization forms.""
I leaned forward.
"And you thought that was normal?""
"No. I questioned it. Dr. Harrison told me to mind my own business.""
Robert examined the medication log.
"These entries are concerning. Several medication changes appear to have been entered after the scheduled administration times.""
I looked at him.
"Does that mean someone changed Danielle's medication?""
"It means we need an independent medical review. We cannot establish what happened from this document alone.""
Evelyn nodded.
"Danielle noticed the inconsistencies, too. She started keeping notes.""
"Where?""
"In her personal journal.""
I remembered the hospital inventory.
The journal had been taken by Dr. Harrison.
"Did Danielle ever tell you what she found?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"She said Vanessa had been asking questions about your life insurance and whether Nia would inherit the house.""
My hands tightened into fists.
"Why would Danielle tell a nurse that?""
"Because she was afraid, Marcus. She told me she didn't trust the doctor anymore.""
Robert looked up.
"Who introduced Vanessa to Dr. Harrison?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"His former administrative assistant.""
"Name?""
"Patricia Wells.""
My stomach dropped.
"Vanessa's sister?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Patricia worked in the doctor's office for several years. She was the one who first brought Vanessa into the hospital.""
Robert slowly closed the medication file.
"That explains the connection between the medical records and the fraudulent insurance paperwork.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
Vanessa's sister had been involved.
The doctor had been involved.
And Danielle had apparently discovered something before she died.
Then I remembered the photograph.
"Why did Danielle write that Vanessa was already visiting Dr. Harrison before she and I met?""
Evelyn looked down.
"Because Vanessa wasn't a stranger to your family, Marcus.""
I turned.
"What?""
"She had been asking about you for months before your wedding.""
Robert frowned.
"How would she have known about him?""
Evelyn reached into her purse again.
This time, she removed a printed photograph.
It showed Danielle sitting in a hospital garden.
Vanessa stood behind her, holding a bouquet of flowers.
On the back was a date.
Fourteen months before my wedding.
I recognized the location.
It was the hospital courtyard.
"Danielle told me Vanessa had visited her several times," Evelyn explained.
"At first, she thought she was a volunteer. Later, she discovered Vanessa had been asking about you.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Did Danielle know Vanessa was interested in me?""
"She suspected something.""
Robert picked up the photograph.
"Do you know why Vanessa approached Marcus?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. But Danielle told me she had discovered a connection between Vanessa and someone in your wife's family.""
"My wife's family?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Your brother-in-law.""
I stopped breathing.
Danielle's younger brother, Andre, had disappeared from our lives after her funeral.
We had argued because he accused me of abandoning Danielle during her final months.
I hadn't spoken to him in almost three years.
"Where is Andre now?""
Evelyn looked directly at me.
"He's been living in Charlotte.""
Robert reached for his phone.
"I'll try to locate him.""
Before he could make the call, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed a name I hadn't seen in years.
*Andre Williams.*
I answered.
"Andre?""
His voice was barely audible.
"Marcus, I heard you found the envelope.""
"How do you know about that?""
A long silence followed.
May you like
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because I was the one who helped Vanessa find you.""
