Chapter 8: The Doctor Who Was Already Dead
The police separated us immediately.
Two officers entered the house while another stood outside with Vanessa.
She was no longer smiling.
Her expensive makeup had begun to run, and her carefully arranged hair was coming loose.
"Officer, this is a family misunderstanding," she insisted.
"My stepdaughter is emotionally unstable.""
I stood beside Caleb.
"She has been hiding forged documents, insurance policies, and evidence concerning my mother's death.""
The officer looked at the documents on the desk.
"Ma'am, we're going to need everyone to remain here.""
Vanessa pointed at me.
"She stole those files from my office!""
Brielle stepped forward.
"I found them.""
Vanessa turned toward her daughter.
"Brielle, don't you dare.""
For the first time, Brielle didn't look away.
"You told me Emily was dangerous. You told me her mother abandoned her. You told me Richard wasn't really her father.""
Her voice trembled.
"You lied about everything.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You're my daughter. You will not speak to me like that.""
Brielle removed my angel wings.
She carefully placed them on the desk.
"Then stop making me ashamed to be your daughter.""
I looked at her.
The crystals along the wings caught the light.
One small feather was missing.
I reached out and touched the damaged edge.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Brielle nodded.
The officers began photographing the documents.
I showed one of them the hospital authorization.
He examined it carefully.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Vanessa's laptop.""
He looked at the name.
"Dr. Samuel Whitmore?""
"Yes. But he died before my mother was hospitalized.""
The officer exchanged a glance with his partner.
"How do you know that?""
"My mother attended his funeral. I was there.""
He wrote something in his notebook.
"We'll need to verify the records.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Officer, I want to cooperate. I never authorized any medication changes.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
"Oh, Richard. Don't pretend you're innocent now.""
He turned toward her.
"You're the one who brought me those papers.""
"And you signed them!""
"Because you told me they were routine!""
The officer raised his hand.
"Both of you, stop.""
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice sounded through the speaker.
"Emily Bennett?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Dr. Aaron Lewis. I was an assistant physician at Dallas Memorial Hospital six years ago.""
My heart started racing.
"What do you want?""
"I received your mother's records request. Someone contacted the hospital asking questions about the medication authorization.""
"Who?""
There was a pause.
"That's why I'm calling. I recognized the case number.""
I stepped away from the officers.
"Can you tell me what happened?""
"Not over the phone. But I can tell you this: Dr. Whitmore never signed that document.""
"Then whose signature is it?""
Another pause.
"Someone used his credentials after his death.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was watching me.
"Do you know who?""
"I have a copy of the original record. It contains a digital access log. The person who submitted the change used a hospital administrator's account.""
"Who?""
Dr. Lewis lowered his voice.
"Margaret Hale.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who is she?""
"She was the hospital's director of patient services. She resigned shortly after your mother's death.""
"Where is she now?""
"I don't know. But she left something in the archive that I think your mother intended you to find.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What?""
"A sealed envelope.""
"What's inside?""
"I haven't opened it. It's addressed to you.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't anyone give it to me?""
"Because someone instructed the hospital to destroy it.""
I looked at the documents on the desk.
"Who?""
Dr. Lewis hesitated.
Then he said:
"Your stepmother.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Caleb approached.
"What happened?""
I explained everything.
His expression became serious.
"Emily, if this doctor is telling the truth, we need to get that envelope before Vanessa does.""
I turned toward the officer.
"Can you help us contact him?""
The officer nodded.
"We'll arrange that through the proper channels.""
Vanessa suddenly shouted from the hallway.
"She's lying!""
Everyone turned.
She had overheard enough.
"Margaret Hale is dead!"" Vanessa screamed.
"You can't trust anything that woman left behind!""
I froze.
"How do you know Margaret?""
Vanessa's mouth closed.
The officer stepped closer.
"Ma'am, do you know this person?""
"No.""
"Then why did you say she was dead?""
Vanessa looked toward Richard.
He was staring at her.
Then, very quietly, he said:
"Because you told me you killed her.""
The entire room went silent.
Vanessa's face lost every trace of color.
An officer immediately moved between them.
"Mr. Bennett, explain exactly what you mean.""
Richard swallowed.
"Six years ago, Vanessa came home one night covered in mud. She said she'd had an argument with someone from the hospital. She told me the woman would never cause trouble again.""
I stared at him.
"And you never reported it?""
"I was afraid.""
Vanessa started screaming.
"He's lying! He's trying to save himself!""
But Richard kept talking.
"She said her name was Margaret. She said the woman had copies of the medical records.""
The officer took out his handcuffs.
"Mrs. Bennett, you're going to need to come with us.""
Vanessa suddenly lunged toward the desk.
Her hand closed around the black notebook.
She ripped out several pages and shoved them into her mouth.
"Stop!"" I screamed.
The officers grabbed her.
But one page floated to the floor.
I picked it up.
There were three names written across it.
Margaret Hale.
Daniel Cross.
And a third name.
*Michael Carter.*
Beside Michael's name, my mother had written:
*ALIVE. KNOWS WHO CHANGED THE MEDICATION.*
I stared at the page.
May you like
My biological father had been alive all along.
And suddenly, I understood why Vanessa had been so desperate to keep me away from him.
