Chapter 11: The Last Week of My Mother's Life
Dad insisted on coming with me to the hospital where my mother had died.
Detective Harris advised us not to investigate independently, but he agreed to arrange access to the archived records hospital where my mother had died.
Detective Harris advised us not to investigate independently, but he agreed to arrange access to the archived records through the hospital's legal department. Michael accompanied us, carrying copies of the documents already recovered.
Daniel stayed with me.
Before we left the hotel, he caught my hand beside the elevator.
“You don't have to do this today,” he said.
“I know.””
“Emily, we can through the hospital's legal department. Michael accompanied us, carrying copies of the documents already recovered.
Daniel stayed with me.
Before we left the hotel, he caught my hand beside the elevator.
“You don't have to do this today,” he said.
“I know.””
“Emily, we can postpone everything. Nobody would blame you.””
I looked down at the simple ivory dress waiting in our suite.
For years, I had imagined my wedding day as a celebration of the life I was building with Daniel. Now, I was afraid that if I walked away postpone everything. Nobody would blame you.””
I looked down at the simple ivory dress waiting in our suite.
For years, I had imagined my wedding day as a celebration of the life I was building with Daniel. Now, I was afraid that if I walked away from the questions surrounding my mother, I would never have the courage to return to them.
“I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering,” I said.
Daniel nodded.
“Then I'll be beside you.””
The hospital looked smaller from the questions surrounding my mother, I would never have the courage to return to them.
“I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering,” I said.
Daniel nodded.
“Then I'll be beside you.””
The hospital looked smaller than I remembered.
The entrance had been renovated, and the old reception desk was gone. But the antiseptic smell in the corridors was the same, sharp enough to pull memories from places I had tried to forget.
I remembered sitting beside my than I remembered.
The entrance had been renovated, and the old reception desk was gone. But the antiseptic smell in the corridors was the same, sharp enough to pull memories from places I had tried to forget.
I remembered sitting beside my mother's bed at sixteen, holding her hand while she slept.
I remembered Dad telling me that the doctors had done everything possible.
And I remembered Vanessa arriving with flowers, her face full of sympathy, promising that she would help us through the hardest days.
I had never questioned any of it.
A hospital records mother's bed at sixteen, holding her hand while she slept.
I remembered Dad telling me that the doctors had done everything possible.
And I remembered Vanessa arriving with flowers, her face full of sympathy, promising that she would help us through the hardest days.
I had never questioned any of it.
A hospital records officer met us in a private office.
“My name is Laura Whitmore,” she said.
“I've reviewed the preliminary request from Detective Harris. Some records are still available, but the hospital changed officer met us in a private office.
“My name is Laura Whitmore,” she said.
“I've reviewed the preliminary request from Detective Harris. Some records are still available, but the hospital changed its electronic systems several years ago. We'll need time to retrieve the archived medication logs.””
Michael placed a copy of the document on her desk.
“We understand. its electronic systems several years ago. We'll need time to retrieve the archived medication logs.””
Michael placed a copy of the document on her desk.
“We understand. We are particularly interested in medication changes during the final week of treatment.””
Laura studied the page.
“This signature appears to belong to Dr. Alan Brooks, the attending oncologist.””
Dad frowned.
“Dr. Brooks told me my wife was responding well to the adjusted treatment.””
We are particularly interested in medication changes during the final week of treatment.””
Laura studied the page.
“This signature appears to belong to Dr. Alan Brooks, the attending oncologist.””
Dad frowned.
“Dr. Brooks told me my wife was responding well to the adjusted treatment.””
Laura looked at him carefully.
“Do you remember the date?””
“October twelfth. She died on the nineteenth.””
Laura made a note.
“I'll check the physician's notes and medication administration records.””
WhileLaura looked at him carefully.
“Do you remember the date?””
“October twelfth. She died on the nineteenth.””
Laura made a note.
“I'll check the physician's notes and medication administration records.””
While she worked, I looked through the family photographs on my phone. I had saved several old pictures of my mother, including one taken a few days before she was admitted for the final time.
She was sitting on our back porch, wearing a blue she worked, I looked through the family photographs on my phone. I had saved several old pictures of my mother, including one taken a few days before she was admitted for the final time.
She was sitting on our back porch, wearing a blue cardigan, smiling at something outside the frame.
She looked tired, but happy.
I handed the phone to Dad.
“Do you remember this day?””
He studied the picture.
“Of course. She insisted on making breakfast even though I told her to rest. She burned the toast, laughed about it, and made me promise not to tell anyone.””
He smiled faintly.
Then the smile disappeared.
“She said she felt stronger that morning.””
I looked at the date.
October tw cardigan, smiling at something outside the frame.
She looked tired, but happy.
I handed the phone to Dad.
“Do you remember this day?””
He studied the picture.
“Of course. She insisted on making breakfast even though I told her to rest. She burned the toast, laughed about it, and made me promise not to tell anyone.””
He smiled faintly.
Then the smile disappeared.
“She said she felt stronger that morning.””
I looked at the date.
October twelfth.
The same day Dad remembered speaking to Dr. Brooks.
Laura returned with a file.
“I found the medication log for the final week,” sheelfth.
The same day Dad remembered speaking to Dr. Brooks.
Laura returned with a file.
“I found the medication log for the final week,” she said.
“There are several entries that require further review.””
Michael opened the file.
The first pages contained routine observations and treatment notes. Then he stopped at an entry dated October fifteenth.
“What's this?””
Laura leaned over.
“The medication order was amended at 4:32 p.m. The physician's signature is present, but the electronic authorization said.
“There are several entries that require further review.””
Michael opened the file.
The first pages contained routine observations and treatment notes. Then he stopped at an entry dated October fifteenth.
“What's this?””
Laura leaned over.
“The medication order was amended at 4:32 p.m. The physician's signature is present, but the electronic authorization was entered under a nurse's credentials.””
“Is that normal?”” Dad asked.
“It can happen during a system outage, but the record indicates there was no outage that day.””
Michael examined the next page.
“Was the medication administered?””
“According to the log, yes. But I was entered under a nurse's credentials.””
“Is that normal?”” Dad asked.
“It can happen during a system outage, but the record indicates there was no outage that day.””
Michael examined the next page.
“Was the medication administered?””
“According to the log, yes. But I can't interpret the clinical implications. That would require a qualified medical reviewer.””
Dad's hands began to shake.
“What medication was it?””
Laura read the name aloud.
I didn't recognize it.
Michael wrote it down and asked whether can't interpret the clinical implications. That would require a qualified medical reviewer.””
Dad's hands began to shake.
“What medication was it?””
Laura read the name aloud.
I didn't recognize it.
Michael wrote it down and asked whether the hospital could provide the complete administration record and the names of everyone who had accessed the file.
Laura agreed to preserve the relevant records for the investigation.
Then she turned another page.
“There's something else. The medication order was reversed two days later, but the reason field the hospital could provide the complete administration record and the names of everyone who had accessed the file.
Laura agreed to preserve the relevant records for the investigation.
Then she turned another page.
“There's something else. The medication order was reversed two days later, but the reason field is blank.””
Dad stared at her.
“Why would someone reverse an order after it had already been administered?””
“I can't tell you without reviewing the complete chart.””
Michael closed the file is blank.””
Dad stared at her.
“Why would someone reverse an order after it had already been administered?””
“I can't tell you without reviewing the complete chart.””
Michael closed the file.
“Please make sure nothing is altered or discarded.””
Laura nodded.
“We'll preserve everything requested by the detective.””
As we left the office, I felt as.
“Please make sure nothing is altered or discarded.””
Laura nodded.
“We'll preserve everything requested by the detective.””
As we left the office, I felt as if the hallway were tilting beneath my feet.
Daniel caught my elbow.
“Easy if the hallway were tilting beneath my feet.
Daniel caught my elbow.
“Easy.””
I leaned against him.
“What if someone changed her treatment?””
“We don't know that yet,” he said.
“A questionable record isn't proof that anyone.””
I leaned against him.
“What if someone changed her treatment?””
“We don't know that yet,” he said.
“A questionable record isn't proof that anyone deliberately harmed her.””
“I know. But someone wrote that we should investigate the medication records.””
“And now we are.””
Dad walked several steps ahead of us, staring straight ahead.
At the elevator, he stopped.
“I should have noticed,” he whispered.
I took his hand.
“You trusted the doctors.””
“I trusted everyone.””
His voice broke.
“And I deliberately harmed her.””
“I know. But someone wrote that we should investigate the medication records.””
“And now we are.””
Dad walked several steps ahead of us, staring straight ahead.
At the elevator, he stopped.
“I should have noticed,” he whispered.
I took his hand.
“You trusted the doctors.””
“I trusted everyone.””
His voice broke.
“And I let Vanessa into our lives without understanding what she wanted.””
“Dad, we don't know what happened yet.””
He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on let Vanessa into our lives without understanding what she wanted.””
“Dad, we don't know what happened yet.””
He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the elevator doors.
When we returned to the hotel, Michael received a call from Detective Harris.
The detective had visited the storage facility address Madison provided. The unit was registered to a company connected to the elevator doors.
When we returned to the hotel, Michael received a call from Detective Harris.
The detective had visited the storage facility address Madison provided. The unit was registered to a company connected to Grant Mercer, and investigators were seeking the necessary authorization to examine its contents.
There was also a development involving the missing amendment.
A former legal Grant Mercer, and investigators were seeking the necessary authorization to examine its contents.
There was also a development involving the missing amendment.
A former legal clerk had contacted the detective after seeing the report. She claimed that, several years earlier, she had copied a document from my mother's estate file at the request of an unidentified woman.
The clerk had kept a handwritten note recording the date and the recipient's initials.
Michael listened clerk had contacted the detective after seeing the report. She claimed that, several years earlier, she had copied a document from my mother's estate file at the request of an unidentified woman.
The clerk had kept a handwritten note recording the date and the recipient's initials.
Michael listened carefully.
Then he asked, “What were the initials?””
The answer made him go silent.
He ended the call and turned toward Dad.
“The clerk remembers the carefully.
Then he asked, “What were the initials?””
The answer made him go silent.
He ended the call and turned toward Dad.
“The clerk remembers the initials V.B.””
Dad stared at him.
“Vanessa Bennett?””
Michael nodded.
“She says the woman collected the copy in person.””
I felt my stomach drop.
Vanessa hadn't merely stumbled into Grant's scheme.
She had sought out initials V.B.””
Dad stared at him.
“Vanessa Bennett?””
Michael nodded.
“She says the woman collected the copy in person.””
I felt my stomach drop.
Vanessa hadn't merely stumbled into Grant's scheme.
She had sought out my mother's private legal records years before the attempted transfer.
And if the clerk was telling the truth, she'd been investigating the trust long before she married my father.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
I answered cautiously.
A my mother's private legal records years before the attempted transfer.
And if the clerk was telling the truth, she'd been investigating the trust long before she married my father.
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
I answered cautiously.
A woman's voice spoke.
“Emily Bennett? My name is Eleanor Mercer. I understand you've been asking questions about your mother.””
I gripped the phone.
“How did you get my number?””
“Because your stepmother has woman's voice spoke.
“Emily Bennett? My name is Eleanor Mercer. I understand you've been asking questions about your mother.””
I gripped the phone.
“How did you get my number?””
“Because your stepmother has been trying to reach me all morning.””
My pulse quickened.
“What do you know about my mother?””
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“More than I ever wanted to know. And if been trying to reach me all morning.””
My pulse quickened.
“What do you know about my mother?””
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“More than I ever wanted to know. And if you're going to marry Daniel today, there's something you need to hear first.””
I glanced at the ivory dress hanging in the suite.
“What?””
Her answer came in a whisper.
“Your mother discovered that Grant was using her trust to hide money before she you're going to marry Daniel today, there's something you need to hear first.””
I glanced at the ivory dress hanging in the suite.
“What?””
May you like
Her answer came in a whisper.
“Your mother discovered that Grant was using her trust to hide money before she died.””
