Chapter 5: The Hospital Record
Dad read the hospital document three times.
His fingers trembled.
"Why would my wife ask the hospital to keep something from me?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Perhaps because she didn't trust you.""
The words landed harder than a slap.
Dad looked at Daniel.
"Is this real?""
Daniel studied the document.
"I've never seen that page.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Of course you haven't.""
I stepped forward.
"What's the date?""
Dad checked the top.
"October fourteenth.""
My mother's final night in the hospital.
I remembered that evening.
I'd been sitting in the waiting room with a school textbook on my knees, pretending to study. Dad had gone home to shower because he'd been sleeping in the hospital chair for days.
Vanessa had offered to stay with Mom.
I'd thought she was being kind.
I'd even thanked her.
Now I felt sick.
"Who gave you this?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Your mother's nurse.""
"Which nurse?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
She rolled her eyes.
"You're still a child, Ethan. You don't understand medical decisions.""
"I'm eighteen.""
"Congratulations.""
Dad placed the paper on the table.
"Vanessa, who gave you this document?""
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Your mother's nurse. Patricia.""
I recognized the name.
Patricia Miller had been Mom's night nurse during her final week.
She was kind, with short blond hair and a habit of bringing Mom warm blankets even when the room was already hot.
I remembered Mom telling me that Patricia was one of the few people in the hospital she trusted.
"Patricia wouldn't give you private medical records," I said.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You don't know what she would do.""
Dad picked up his phone.
"I'm calling the hospital.""
Vanessa immediately reached for his arm.
"Don't make this worse.""
He stepped away.
"Why are you so desperate to stop me?""
She didn't answer.
Dad called the hospital's records department and explained that he needed to verify a document related to his late wife's medical file.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
"They'll have someone contact us.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"You've lost your mind.""
Dad looked at her.
"Maybe. But I'm finally asking questions.""
Daniel checked his watch.
"We should leave for the bank before it closes.""
I nodded.
But as I reached for my jacket, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
One message.
Ethan, this is Patricia Miller. Please don't open the safety deposit box until you hear what happened that night.
I stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
Your mother asked me to protect you. I failed.
My stomach tightened.
I showed Dad.
He immediately called the number.
It rang several times before a woman answered.
"Hello?""
"Patricia? This is Marcus Carter. I'm Ethan's father.""
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered, "Is Vanessa there?""
Dad looked toward the living room.
"Yes.""
Patricia's breathing changed.
"Then don't discuss anything in front of her.""
Vanessa had been pretending to examine her purse.
But when she heard Patricia's name, she stopped.
Dad moved into the hallway.
"What happened to my wife?""
Patricia began crying.
"Mr. Carter, I need you to understand something. Your wife was not confused or unaware of what was happening. She was fully conscious when she signed those documents.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Which documents?""
"The ones authorizing the investigation into the financial transfers.""
"Why would Vanessa tell me she signed away control of the trust?""
"Because she didn't.""
My father gripped the wall.
Patricia continued.
"Your wife asked me to make copies of the original paperwork. She believed someone would try to replace the documents after she died.""
"Who?""
"I can't say over the phone.""
Dad's voice cracked.
"Patricia, was my wife afraid of someone?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
Patricia whispered a name.
"Your brother.""
Dad looked through the doorway at Daniel.
My uncle was standing perfectly still.
He had heard enough to know something was wrong.
Dad continued.
"Why would my wife be afraid of Daniel?""
"Because he came into her room that night and threatened her.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"What?"" I whispered.
Patricia heard me.
"Ethan?""
I took the phone.
"Patricia, what did he say to my mom?""
She hesitated.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Your mother told him she had already sent copies of the financial records to someone outside the family. Daniel demanded to know who had received them.""
"Did he hurt her?""
"No. But he told her that if she didn't cooperate, you would lose everything.""
My eyes burned.
"And what did Mom say?""
Patricia started crying harder.
"She told him that he could take every dollar she owned, but he would never take away your future.""
I couldn't speak.
Then Patricia added something that made my blood run cold.
"After Daniel left, your mother asked me to call the police. But before I could, another person entered the room.""
"Who?""
Patricia went silent.
"Patricia?""
"Vanessa.""
I looked toward the living room.
My stepmother was standing near the staircase, staring at me.
Patricia whispered:
"She brought your mother a glass of water. And when she left, your mother's condition suddenly deteriorated.""
Dad snatched the phone from my hand.
"Are you saying Vanessa poisoned my wife?""
"I'm saying I saw something placed inside that glass. I reported it, but the hospital administration told me there was no evidence of wrongdoing.""
Dad's face went white.
"Why didn't you tell the police?""
"I tried. Then someone threatened my daughter.""
The call disconnected.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Daniel slowly backed toward the front door.
Dad noticed.
"Where are you going?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I need some air.""
Dad stepped in front of him.
"You're not leaving.""
Daniel's eyes moved toward Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
I saw it.
Dad saw it, too.
He turned toward her.
"What did you put in that glass?""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"Nothing!""
"Then why is Patricia afraid of you?""
"She's lying!""
Dad moved closer.
"Did you hurt my wife?""
Vanessa suddenly screamed.
"YOUR WIFE WAS DYING ANYWAY!""
The room went silent.
Even Robert stopped moving.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Dad stared at her.
"What did you just say?""
She backed away.
"I didn't mean—"
Dad's voice dropped.
"Finish that sentence.""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
But my uncle had already pulled his phone from his pocket.
He was typing something.
May you like
And when I looked down at my own screen, a message appeared from an unknown number.
Your uncle is not the only person who visited your mother that night. Check the hospital's visitor log. Look at the name listed at 11:42 P.M.
