Chapter 13: My Uncle Finally Told the Truth
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my uncle standing beside Vanessa outside the hospital.
Dr. Samuel Carter had been more than a relative to me.
He had been my father's younger brother, my godfather, and the person who held my shoulder at Sarah's funeral while I struggled to stand.
He had told me that Sarah hadn't suffered.
He had told me everything possible had been done.
He had looked directly into my eyes and said, "Daniel, you can rest knowing she was in good hands.""
Now I wondered whether those hands had helped destroy her.
At eight the next morning, Detective Harris called.
"We located Dr. Carter.""
"Where?""
"His private clinic.""
"I'm coming.""
"Mr. Carter, don't confront him alone.""
"I'm not going to hurt him. I want answers.""
"Then let us handle the questioning.""
I agreed.
But before leaving, I went upstairs to check on Maya.
She was sitting on her bed, arranging photographs of Sarah across her blanket.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She looked up.
"Are you going somewhere?""
"Yes. I need to talk to someone about Mommy.""
"Will you find out what happened?""
I sat beside her.
"I promise I'll do everything I can.""
She handed me a photograph.
It showed Sarah holding her when she was a baby.
"Mommy always smelled like flowers," Maya whispered.
I smiled sadly.
"She loved lavender.""
Maya nodded.
"Can we plant flowers for her?""
The question nearly broke me.
"Yes, baby. We can plant as many as you want.""
She hugged me.
Then she whispered, "I hope Mommy knows I remember her.""
I kissed her forehead.
"I think she knows.""
At the clinic, Detective Harris was waiting with two officers.
Dr. Samuel Carter was in his office.
He was seventy-one, with silver hair and a neatly pressed white shirt.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
"Daniel.""
I didn't sit.
"Did you change Sarah's medication?""
His face went pale.
"Where did you hear that?""
"From Dr. Morris.""
He slowly closed the folder on his desk.
"I see.""
"Did you?""
He looked toward the officers.
"I'd prefer to speak privately with my nephew.""
Detective Harris shook his head.
"That won't be possible.""
My uncle sighed.
Then he looked at me.
"Sarah was very ill, Daniel. You need to understand that.""
"Don't.""
"Her condition was deteriorating.""
"Don't tell me what I need to understand. Answer the question.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa came to me several times. She said Sarah was refusing medication and becoming increasingly confused.""
"That wasn't true.""
"She showed me medical notes.""
"Forged notes?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Did you authorize a different medication?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
The room went silent.
I felt my knees weaken.
"Why?""
"Vanessa told me Sarah was suffering. She said the prescribed treatment was making things worse.""
"Did you verify that?""
He shook his head.
"Not properly.""
"You're a doctor!""
His voice rose.
"I know what I am!""
"Then you should have known better!""
Detective Harris intervened.
"Dr. Carter, we need you to explain exactly what medication you authorized and under whose instructions.""
My uncle sat down.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he began speaking.
"Vanessa came to me with Richard. They claimed Sarah had signed a document allowing them to coordinate her treatment.""
"She never authorized them to change her prescriptions.""
"I know that now.""
"Did you know then?""
He looked at me.
"I suspected something was wrong.""
I stared at him.
"You suspected it?""
He nodded.
"And you still signed?""
He covered his face.
"Richard had evidence of a financial arrangement involving your father. He said if I refused to cooperate, he would expose me.""
"What arrangement?""
My uncle looked up.
"Your father had transferred money into a private account years earlier. Richard discovered it and used the information to pressure him.""
I frowned.
"Why would my father have a private account?""
"Because he was trying to protect Sarah's inheritance.""
I went still.
My uncle continued.
"Your father discovered Vanessa was planning to gain control of Sarah's trust. He wanted to stop her, but Richard threatened to reveal that he had fathered a child outside his marriage.""
I thought of the birth certificate.
"Richard.""
My uncle nodded.
"Your father was ashamed. He thought the scandal would destroy your family.""
"And Sarah?""
"Sarah found out about the arrangement. She threatened to report everyone involved.""
My hands curled into fists.
"So you helped them silence her?""
He began crying.
"I didn't understand how far they were willing to go.""
"Did you give Vanessa the medication?""
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
"I approved the altered prescription. I believed it would stabilize Sarah.""
"Did you know it could kill her?""
"No.""
"Did you check?""
He lowered his head.
"No.""
Detective Harris placed a document on the desk.
"Dr. Carter, we have the hospital's original medication records. We also have a statement from Dr. Morris.""
My uncle looked at the paper.
Then he whispered:
"I have something else.""
He opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"I kept this because I couldn't bring myself to destroy it.""
Inside was a photograph of Sarah's original medication bottle.
A handwritten dosage appeared on the label.
It was different from the altered prescription.
Behind the photograph was a hospital inventory record.
One medication container had been removed from Sarah's room after her death.
The signature authorizing its removal belonged to Richard Lawson.
"Where is the bottle?"" I asked.
My uncle shook his head.
"I don't know. Richard took it.""
"Why?""
"To prevent anyone from testing it.""
Detective Harris took the documents.
Then my uncle looked directly at me.
"Daniel, there's something else you should know.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"Your father confronted Richard after Sarah died. He threatened to report him.""
"And?""
"Richard told him that if he did, Vanessa would make sure you lost Maya.""
I closed my eyes.
My father had been trapped.
He had chosen silence, believing he was protecting us.
But his silence had allowed Vanessa to remain in our lives.
My uncle continued.
"Your father regretted it every day.""
I looked at him.
"And what about you?""
He couldn't meet my eyes.
"I regret it too.""
I turned toward the door.
"Regret doesn't bring my wife back.""
"Daniel—"
I stopped.
He reached into another drawer.
There was a folded piece of paper.
"Sarah gave me this.""
I stared at it.
"Why?""
"She asked me to deliver it to you if she died.""
I took the envelope.
It had never been opened.
My name was written across the front.
I unfolded the letter.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, something has gone terribly wrong.
Please don't let your anger destroy you. Maya needs her father. She needs someone who will believe her, even when the truth is difficult.
There is something I haven't told you about the trust.
The money isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is who Sarah chose to protect it.
I stopped.
The next paragraph contained a name.
*Margaret.*
I looked up.
"Why did Sarah mention Margaret?""
My uncle swallowed.
"Because your wife changed the trust before she died.""
"Changed it how?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I read the final sentence.
Ask my sister what she promised me.
I immediately called Margaret.
She answered on the first ring.
"Daniel?""
"Sarah left me a letter. She says you know something about the trust.""
Silence.
Then Margaret whispered:
"She made me promise to keep Maya safe.""
"From whom?""
"From Vanessa.""
I gripped the phone.
"Margaret, what did Sarah put in that trust?""
Her answer stunned me.
"She made Maya the sole beneficiary. But she also appointed someone to take control if you ever became unable to protect her.""
"Who?""
Margaret paused.
May you like
Then said:
"Me.""
