Chapter 9: The Recording That Changed Everything
The officer rushed upstairs.
Robert grabbed the notebook and USB drives while I moved toward the basement door.
"Marcus, stay behind me," he ordered.
But I couldn't stand still.
Someone had entered my home.
Someone who knew exactly what we had discovered.
The officer reached the staircase.
"Police! Show me your hands!""
A woman's voice answered.
"You're making a mistake!""
Then came the sound of a struggle.
Robert pulled me back.
"Don't go up there.""
I looked toward the ceiling.
"That's my house!""
"And that's an active police situation.""
A moment later, the officer called down.
"Suspect detained!""
I exhaled.
We climbed upstairs.
Patricia Wells was standing in the living room with her hands restrained behind her back.
Her handbag lay open on the floor.
A second officer was examining its contents.
I stared at her.
"What were you doing in my house?""
Patricia looked at me with cold eyes.
"Getting back something that doesn't belong to you.""
I held up Danielle's notebook.
"You mean this?""
Her expression changed.
"Give it to me.""
"Why? Afraid we'll discover how you helped Vanessa?""
She laughed bitterly.
"You don't know what you're holding.""
"Then explain it.""
Patricia looked toward the basement.
"Danielle was supposed to keep quiet.""
The words landed like a slap.
I stepped closer.
"What did you do to my wife?""
Her lips tightened.
"I didn't do anything.""
"Then why did you break into my house?""
"Because you're destroying everything!""
Robert intervened.
"Ms. Wells, you're under investigation for suspected evidence tampering and attempted unlawful entry. You should speak to an attorney.""
Patricia turned toward him.
"You think I'm the only one involved?""
I stared at her.
"Who else?""
She smiled.
"Ask Arthur.""
I turned.
Arthur had gone completely still.
"Why should I ask him?""
Patricia's smile widened.
"Because he knows what happened to Danielle's first husband.""
I looked at Arthur.
He lowered his eyes.
"Is there something you haven't told me?""
Arthur swallowed.
"Danielle's divorce from Harrison wasn't simple.""
"What does that mean?""
"After she left him, Harrison accused her of stealing confidential patient records. He tried to have her arrested.""
Patricia interrupted.
"And Arthur helped her hide those records.""
I turned back toward him.
"Is that true?""
Arthur nodded.
"I helped Danielle because I knew Harrison was lying.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted to protect her.""
I shook my head.
"Everyone keeps saying they wanted to protect Danielle. Yet she died frightened and alone.""
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
"I know.""
Patricia suddenly laughed.
"Do you really think Danielle's death was the only thing they were planning?""
Robert looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
Patricia glanced at the notebook.
"There's a reason Vanessa wanted Nia removed from this house. There's a reason Harrison needed the insurance documents. And there's a reason Charles was being paid.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me.""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said:
"The money wasn't meant to go to Vanessa.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who was it meant for?""
She looked directly at me.
"You.""
I stared at her.
"That makes no sense.""
"Charles was supposed to make sure you signed the documents. Vanessa was supposed to gain control of Nia's inheritance. Harrison was supposed to handle the medical records.""
Robert frowned.
"And what was Patricia's role?""
She gave a bitter laugh.
"Keeping everyone in line.""
I looked at the officers.
"Take her away.""
As they escorted her toward the front door, she suddenly turned.
"Marcus, ask your attorney to check the property records.""
"What property records?""
"Your house.""
I froze.
She smiled.
"Vanessa didn't just change your insurance beneficiary. She filed paperwork claiming the house was hers.""
The front door closed behind her.
Robert immediately called his office.
Twenty minutes later, he returned with a property search report.
My house had been purchased before my marriage to Vanessa.
It was legally mine.
But six months earlier, someone had filed a document attempting to add Vanessa as a joint owner.
The signature looked like mine.
Another forgery.
Robert shook his head.
"This is getting worse.""
I looked toward the staircase.
"How much did they steal?""
"We don't know yet.""
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID showed the police station where Vanessa was being held.
I answered.
"Mr. Johnson," a detective said, "we need you to come in.""
"Why?""
"We've discovered something in Vanessa's personal belongings.""
"What?""
"A second phone. It contains messages between Vanessa, Dr. Harrison, Charles Bennett, and another individual.""
"Who?""
The detective paused.
"Your wife's former attorney.""
I closed my eyes.
Danielle's former attorney had helped us prepare her will.
He had attended her funeral.
He had even advised me after her death.
"What was his name?""
"Richard Coleman.""
I felt my stomach sink.
"What's in the messages?""
The detective lowered his voice.
"Mr. Johnson, one conversation suggests that your wife's final medical decision may have been deliberately influenced.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"What does that mean?""
"We found a message sent by Dr. Harrison the night before Danielle died.""
I gripped the phone.
"Read it to me.""
The detective hesitated.
Then he spoke.
*'The dosage has been adjusted. Once she signs the final authorization, everything will be finished.''*
I couldn't breathe.
"What authorization?""
"We're still investigating.""
Then another message appeared on my phone.
This time, it was from an unknown number.
There was a photograph attached.
It showed Nia sleeping in her bedroom.
Taken from inside my house.
Beneath it were seven words:
*YOU FOUND THE FILES. NOW WE WANT THE GIRL.*
I looked toward the stairs.
May you like
And for the first time since Danielle died, I understood that the danger wasn't hiding in our past anymore.
It was standing outside my daughter's bedroom.
