Chapter 8: The Hospital Recording
Eleanor walked to the office door and checked that it was locked.
Then she returned to the desk.
"Before Claire died, she spent two nights at Piedmont Hospital," she explained.
My father nodded.
"I remember. She was admitted because of severe abdominal pain.""
"That's what the hospital records say.""
"What do you mean?""
Eleanor opened another folder.
"Claire contacted me the evening before she was admitted. She said she had discovered something important about Daniel and needed to meet me urgently.""
My father leaned forward.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the next morning, she called again and told me she was afraid someone was listening to her telephone.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What happened at the hospital?"" I asked.
Eleanor looked at me.
"Your mother was conscious for most of her stay. She was able to speak, receive visitors, and make decisions. But shortly before she died, her condition deteriorated unexpectedly.""
My father rubbed his face.
"She had an allergic reaction. That's what the doctors told me.""
"Yes. But Claire's medical records contain an unusual medication entry.""
Detective Harris opened her notebook.
"What medication?""
Eleanor showed us a photocopy.
"An additional sedative was administered shortly before her condition worsened. It wasn't listed in the original treatment plan.""
My father stared at the page.
"Who authorized it?""
"That's unclear.""
"How can that be unclear?""
"Because the electronic authorization was entered using a staff account that had been deactivated months earlier.""
The room fell silent.
I remembered the last time I'd seen my mother alive.
She had been lying in a hospital bed, her face pale, her voice weak.
She had held my hand and told me to be brave.
I'd thought she was simply scared.
Now I wondered whether she had known she was in danger.
"Was Daniel there?"" I asked.
Eleanor nodded.
"He visited twice.""
My father stood up.
"I was there every day.""
"Yes, Michael. You were.""
"Then why didn't I see anything?""
Eleanor's expression softened.
"Because you were exhausted. And because someone had convinced you that Claire's illness was getting worse naturally.""
My father sat down again.
Detective Harris made a note.
"We'll need to request the complete hospital records and interview the medical staff.""
Eleanor opened another drawer.
"There is something else.""
She removed a small digital recorder.
"Claire gave this to me three days before she died. She said I should only play it if both Michael and Ryan were present.""
My father stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
"Because Claire specifically instructed me to preserve it until the trust was activated. I was waiting for Ryan to turn eighteen.""
Eleanor pressed the button.
A familiar voice filled the office.
"Michael, if you're listening to this, I'm sorry.""
My father immediately covered his mouth.
It was my mother.
Her voice was softer than I remembered, but unmistakable.
"I don't know how much time I have left. I need you to understand that I never wanted to hide anything from you.""
There was a pause.
Then she continued.
"Daniel has been stealing from the company for years. But I discovered something much worse. He's been using our family business to finance a second operation.""
My father frowned.
"What operation?""
My mother's recording continued.
"I found payments to a medical supply company. The company doesn't exist. The addresses are fake, and the accounts lead back to a person Daniel knows very well.""
Eleanor turned up the volume.
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Vanessa.""
My father looked at me.
The recording continued.
"Vanessa wasn't a stranger Daniel introduced to you. They were already working together when you met her.""
I felt cold.
"Daniel arranged your first meeting. He wanted someone inside the house. Someone who could monitor your decisions, access your documents, and make sure you never discovered what was happening.""
My father shook his head.
"No...""
Then my mother's voice became quieter.
"But there's something I haven't told you, Michael. Something I discovered about your accident.""
We leaned toward the recorder.
"Your brakes weren't the only thing they tampered with.""
A brief rustling sound followed.
"Someone accessed your medical records while you were unconscious. They changed the emergency contact information and attempted to transfer control of your business accounts.""
My father stood up.
"Who?""
My mother's recording answered.
"Daniel used your brother's access credentials. But the person who approved the transfer was someone you trusted more than anyone.""
The recording stopped.
Eleanor pressed the button again.
Nothing.
"That's it?"" I asked.
She nodded.
"That's the only recording Claire gave me.""
My father looked devastated.
"Who approved the transfer?""
Detective Harris closed her notebook.
"We'll investigate.""
But I couldn't stop thinking about my mother's final words.
Someone we trusted more than anyone.
My father looked at me.
"Ryan, I need to ask you something.""
"What?""
"Did your mother ever tell you about a woman named Susan?""
I frowned.
"No. Who is Susan?""
He looked toward Eleanor.
She appeared surprised.
"Michael, you never told him?""
"Told me what?"" I demanded.
My father swallowed.
"Susan was your mother's closest friend. She was the nurse who helped care for her during the final weeks.""
I waited.
"After Claire died, Susan disappeared. She stopped answering calls and eventually moved away.""
"Why are you telling me this?""
"Because Daniel once told me she had stolen money from the hospital.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"That accusation was never proven.""
Detective Harris looked up.
"Do you have her full name?""
My father nodded.
"Susan Miller.""
The detective wrote it down.
Then her phone rang.
She listened for several seconds before her expression changed.
"Where did you find that?""
She turned toward us.
"We just received a report from the hospital.""
"What report?"" my father asked.
Detective Harris lowered her phone.
"Someone accessed Claire's archived medical records this morning.""
"Who?""
"The system identifies the user.""
She looked at the screen again.
Then she turned it toward us.
May you like
The account belonged to Susan Miller.
And the access had occurred from a computer inside Piedmont Hospital.
