Chapter 5: The Woman Who Signed My Medical Report
I left the hotel through a private exit with two security officers accompanying me.
The November air felt colder than it should have.
I stood beside the waiting car, staring at the insurance documents in my hands.
My husband had forged my signature.
Someone had impersonated me at a medical clinic.
And a report now existed claiming I had a serious heart condition.
I was seven months pregnant.
I had never felt more vulnerable.
"Nia?""
Mr. Bennett approached, carrying his overcoat.
"I've arranged transportation. The company driver will take you wherever you need to go.""
"Thank you.""
He hesitated.
"There's something I need to tell you.""
I looked at him.
"Go ahead.""
"The board is conducting an internal investigation. But given the nature of these documents, we are also notifying our legal department and the appropriate authorities.""
"Will Daniel be arrested?""
"I can't promise that. The investigation needs to establish exactly what happened.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
He looked uncomfortable.
"One more thing. Daniel had access to certain confidential employee records through his department.""
My stomach tightened.
"Which records?""
"Insurance information, emergency contacts, benefit elections, and some personal financial documentation.""
I stared at him.
"Could he access my records?""
Mr. Bennett paused.
"Possibly. Especially if he used his position to request them.""
The answer followed me into the car.
I called my obstetrician, Dr. Rachel Morgan, before the driver had even started the engine.
She answered immediately.
"Nia? Is everything okay?""
"I need to ask you something. Have I ever had a heart condition listed in my medical records?""
There was a brief silence.
"No. Why would you ask that?""
"Someone submitted an insurance medical report under my name. It says I have a serious cardiac condition.""
Rachel's voice became firm.
"Where are you right now?""
"Leaving the Sterling Grand.""
"Go directly to the hospital. I want you evaluated, and I want to review the report myself.""
"Is the baby okay?""
"I have no reason to believe otherwise, but I don't want you taking unnecessary risks. Let me arrange for you to come through the maternity entrance.""
I looked down at my stomach.
The baby moved gently.
"Okay.""
The hospital was twenty minutes away.
As we approached the entrance, my phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel.
*We need to talk. Don't make this worse.*
I deleted it.
Another message arrived.
*You're letting Vanessa manipulate you. She has always wanted my position.*
I locked the screen.
Then another.
*Nia, please. Think about our child.*
I looked at those words for a long time.
He had finally remembered our child existed.
But only when he needed something from me.
At the hospital, Dr. Morgan met me near the maternity assessment unit.
She wore navy-blue scrubs and carried a tablet.
"Nia, come with me.""
She guided me into a private examination room.
After checking my blood pressure and the baby's heartbeat, she asked me to explain everything.
I told her about the policy.
The forged application.
The medical report.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she placed her tablet on the counter.
"Do you have a copy of the report?""
I handed it over.
She read the first page.
Then the second.
Her expression changed.
"Who signed this?""
I pointed to the bottom.
"Dr. Adrian Keller.""
Rachel shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because Dr. Keller hasn't worked at Westlake Medical Center in over a year.""
I stared at her.
"Are you sure?""
"Positive. He was suspended pending a licensing investigation. He no longer has hospital privileges.""
My mouth went dry.
"So someone used his name?""
"That's what it looks like.""
She examined the report again.
"There's another problem.""
"What?""
"The assessment lists your blood pressure as severely elevated and records symptoms of cardiac distress. If you had presented with these symptoms while pregnant, you would have been referred for urgent evaluation.""
"I never had those symptoms.""
"I know.""
She tapped the tablet.
"Your prenatal records show normal cardiovascular findings at every appointment.""
I felt a strange wave of relief.
At least the report wasn't real.
But Rachel wasn't finished.
"Do you recognize this address?""
She turned the screen toward me.
The medical assessment listed a home address beneath my name.
It was our old apartment.
The apartment Daniel and I had lived in before buying our house.
"Yes," I said.
"That's where we lived six years ago.""
"Who else had access to that address?""
"Daniel.""
Rachel nodded slowly.
"Someone knew enough about your personal history to make this document look credible.""
I looked down at my hands.
"Can you give me a copy of my actual medical records?""
"Of course. I'll also document that this report is inconsistent with your established medical history.""
She paused.
"Nia, I need you to answer something honestly. Have you been feeling safe at home?""
The question caught me off guard.
I thought about Daniel's temper.
The way he had started controlling our bank accounts.
The arguments whenever I questioned his late nights.
The time he had grabbed my wrist hard enough to leave a mark, then apologized by buying flowers.
"I don't know," I whispered.
Rachel pulled her chair closer.
"Then let's make sure you have somewhere safe to stay tonight.""
I nodded.
A few minutes later, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed an unfamiliar medical office.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Whitmore? My name is Dr.
Samuel Price. I'm a physician at Westlake Medical Center.""
I sat upright.
"Yes?""
"I understand you've been asking questions about a medical report submitted under your name.""
"Yes. I never attended that appointment.""
"I suspected that might be the case.""
My heart began racing.
"Why?""
"Because the person who submitted the paperwork contacted me last week.""
I looked at Rachel.
She immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Dr. Price continued.
"The individual requested that we confirm the diagnosis to an insurance company. When I asked for identification, he became very aggressive.""
"Was it Daniel?""
A pause.
"I cannot confirm that without reviewing our records.""
"Then who was it?""
"I have a visitor log. And Mrs. Whitmore, I believe you should see it.""
He lowered his voice.
"There's a photograph from the security camera.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who is in the photograph?""
Another pause.
Then he answered.
"Your husband.""
My stomach dropped.
Rachel reached for my hand.
Dr. Price continued.
"But he wasn't alone.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who was with him?""
"The woman accompanying him was introduced to our receptionist as his sister.""
I opened my eyes.
Daniel had no sister.
Not one who had ever been part of our lives.
Dr. Price said, "Mrs. Whitmore, there's something else. She used your identification to enter the clinic.""
My fingers went numb.
"Can you send me the photograph?""
"Yes. But I strongly recommend you don't confront either person until the police have reviewed the evidence.""
The call ended.
A moment later, a photograph appeared on my phone.
I enlarged it.
Daniel stood beside a woman wearing a beige coat.
Her face was turned slightly toward the camera.
I recognized her immediately.
She was the woman who had helped plan my baby shower.
The woman who had brought me soup when I was sick.
May you like
The woman who had kissed my cheek at our wedding.
My own mother.
