Chapter 7: The Nurse Who Knew Too Much
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph of Ethan standing beside Danielle's hospital bed, holding her wedding ring.
For two years, I'd believed that ring had been placed on her finger before she was buried.
I'd even remembered touching it during the funeral.
Now I knew someone had lied to me.
At 6:30 the next morning, Daniel arrived at my father's old office with two cups of coffee and a folder.
"You look terrible," he said.
"Thanks.""
"I'm serious, Marcus. You need to be careful today.""
I showed him the photograph again.
He studied it.
"Have you contacted the hospital?""
"Not yet. The person who sent this wants me to meet them.""
"That could be a trap.""
"I know.""
Daniel put down his coffee.
"Then we're not going alone. I'll arrange for an investigator to accompany us.""
I nodded.
Noah was staying with my longtime friend, Robert, who had agreed to look after him while we sorted out the situation.
Before leaving, I called Noah.
"Hey, buddy. How are you doing?""
"Good, Daddy.""
"Did you eat breakfast?""
"Yes. Robert made pancakes.""
I smiled.
"With chocolate chips?""
"Two!""
For the first time in days, I heard genuine happiness in his voice.
Then he became quiet.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Are you coming back?""
"Always, buddy.""
He paused.
"Can you bring my red truck?""
I looked at the USB drive on the desk.
"I'll bring it.""
At 8:55, Daniel and I arrived at a small coffee shop near Grady Memorial Hospital.
A woman sat alone in the back corner.
She wore a gray cardigan, dark glasses, and a silver necklace.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
"Mr. Williams?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Patricia Reed. I was a nurse at Grady Memorial.""
I recognized her immediately.
She was the woman in the photograph.
I sat across from her.
"Why did you send me that picture?""
Patricia looked toward the window.
"Because your wife asked me to.""
My heart began pounding.
"When?""
"Two days before she died.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small envelope.
"Danielle gave me this. She said I should only contact you if certain people started asking questions about her medical records.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Danielle wearing her wedding ring.
On the back, she'd written:
If Marcus sees this, tell him I never gave up.
My eyes burned.
"Why was Ethan holding her ring?""
Patricia took a breath.
"Because he took it from her room after she died.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"He claimed it belonged to the family and that he was responsible for handling her personal belongings.""
"Did you see him take it?""
"I did.""
"Did you report it?""
Patricia looked down.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I was afraid.""
She explained that Ethan had visited Danielle several times during her final hospitalization.
He always arrived carrying documents.
Sometimes Vanessa accompanied him.
They claimed they were helping with insurance matters and family arrangements.
But Danielle had repeatedly refused to sign anything.
"Your wife was very clear," Patricia said.
"She didn't want either of them making decisions for her.""
"What happened the day she died?""
Patricia folded her hands.
"Danielle experienced a sudden medical emergency. Her condition deteriorated rapidly. I wasn't the nurse assigned to administer her medication, but I noticed something unusual afterward.""
"What?""
"Her medication chart had been altered.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Do you have evidence?""
Patricia nodded.
"I made a copy before the original was replaced.""
She opened her handbag and produced several folded pages.
I looked at the medication names, dosages, and timestamps.
I didn't understand most of the medical terminology.
But one thing was obvious.
A medication had been administered that Danielle had previously reacted badly to.
"Who authorized this?""
Patricia pointed to the bottom of the page.
A signature.
Ethan Williams.
My brother.
I felt sick.
"Could this have been an accident?""
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
"That's what I wanted to believe. But there's another detail.""
She opened a second document.
"Danielle's medication was changed shortly after someone accessed her patient file using an external authorization.""
Daniel examined the page.
"Who?""
Patricia looked at me.
"Your brother.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Did Ethan have the authority to do that?""
"No. But he presented paperwork claiming you had granted him permission to handle family medical matters.""
I shook my head.
"I never signed anything like that.""
"I believe you.""
Patricia reached for her coffee.
"There's something else you should know. Danielle wasn't the only person who questioned Ethan.""
She showed us a photograph of a second nurse.
The woman looked familiar.
I couldn't place her.
"Who is she?""
"Angela Morris. She was the nurse who administered the medication.""
"Where is she now?""
"She left the hospital shortly after Danielle died.""
"Why?""
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"She received a settlement from someone connected to your family.""
Daniel immediately sat straighter.
"Do you know who paid her?""
Patricia shook her head.
"But I kept something else.""
She removed a tiny memory card from her purse.
"Danielle gave me this too. It contains a recording she made during one of Ethan's visits.""
I stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
"Because the recording includes something that could destroy more than your brother.""
"What does that mean?""
Patricia leaned closer.
"Your wife knew Vanessa wasn't just involved in the financial arrangements.""
She glanced toward the coffee shop entrance.
"Vanessa was the person who introduced Ethan to the nurse.""
Before I could ask another question, Patricia suddenly stood.
Her face had turned white.
"What is it?"" Daniel asked.
She pointed toward the street.
A black SUV had pulled into the parking lot.
The driver's door opened.
Ethan stepped out.
He looked directly through the window.
Then he raised his phone and called me.
I answered.
His voice was cold.
"Marcus, I told you to stop digging.""
I stood.
"How did you know I was here?""
He smiled through the glass.
"Because the woman sitting with you has been lying to you too.""
Then he ended the call.
Patricia grabbed my arm.
"Don't trust her," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Who?""
May you like
Patricia looked at me with terror in her eyes.
"Your wife wasn't the first person Ethan tried to silence.""
