Chapter 8: My Brother's Confession
Daniel sat at the kitchen table without saying a word.
I stood across from him, holding the access report.
The silence between us was unbearable.
Finally, I asked, "Did you change Emily's medication?""
He looked up.
"No.""
"Then explain why your access code was used.""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"I went into the medication area because I was looking for something.""
"What?""
"A file.""
"What file?""
He glanced toward the hallway.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Emily's financial records.""
I stared at him.
"Why would you be looking for Emily's financial records in a hospital medication room?""
"I wasn't looking for them there. I was looking for the envelope she had asked me to collect.""
My anger faltered slightly.
"Emily asked you to collect something?""
Daniel nodded.
"Two days before she died, she called me. She said she had found evidence that someone had been using her identity.""
"Who?""
"She didn't know for certain. But she thought Vanessa had been involved.""
I sat down slowly.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Emily made me promise not to.""
I stared at him.
"She was my wife.""
"I know.""
"She was dying, Daniel!""
His eyes filled.
"I know, Marcus.""
"Then why did you keep secrets from me?""
Daniel looked down at his hands.
"Because she was afraid you wouldn't believe her.""
I felt a painful pressure in my chest.
"What do you mean?""
He swallowed.
"She said Vanessa had shown her a letter supposedly written by you. It said you wanted Emily declared mentally incompetent so you could take control of her finances.""
I stared at him.
"That's the letter Claire found.""
Daniel nodded.
"Emily believed it at first. Then she started questioning the details. She realized the handwriting didn't look right.""
"Why didn't she call me?""
"She tried.""
I looked away.
Daniel continued.
"Vanessa had been intercepting some of her calls. Emily thought you were ignoring her.""
I closed my eyes.
I remembered those calls.
I remembered seeing her name appear on my phone and telling myself I'd call back after the meeting.
Sometimes I did.
Sometimes I forgot.
And Vanessa had been there, telling me Emily was resting.
I felt the weight of those memories settle over me.
"What happened at the hospital?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Emily called me that evening. She said she needed a document from the hospital's administration office. She wanted to prove someone had accessed her records.""
"Why didn't she ask me?""
"She said you were with a client.""
I stared at him.
"I could have come.""
"I know.""
He paused.
"When I arrived, Vanessa was already there. She told me Emily had asked her to arrange a private meeting with Dr. Harris.""
"Did you believe her?""
"At first.""
"And then?""
"Then I saw Vanessa arguing with a nurse near the medication area.""
I leaned forward.
"What did you hear?""
Daniel looked at me.
"She said the dosage wasn't what they had agreed on.""
My blood ran cold.
"Agreed on with whom?""
"Dr. Harris.""
"Did you confront her?""
"Yes.""
"What did she say?""
"She told me to mind my own business.""
Daniel looked down.
"Then she said something that scared me.""
"What?""
"She said Emily would never be able to prove anything.""
I gripped the table.
"Why didn't you stop her?""
"I tried!""
His voice cracked.
"I went to the nurses' station. I told them I was concerned about the medication. They said everything had been approved by the attending physician.""
"And you did nothing?""
Daniel looked devastated.
"I went looking for the records. That's why my access code appears in the report.""
I stared at him.
"Did you touch the medication?""
"No.""
"Did you change anything?""
"No.""
"Then why didn't you tell the police?""
He covered his face.
"Because I found something else.""
He stood, walked to a cabinet, and returned with a small envelope.
"I took this from Emily's room that night.""
I opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Emily's handwriting.
Daniel, if I cannot speak to Marcus, tell him to check the original insurance beneficiary documents. Someone changed them without my permission.
I looked up.
"Insurance?""
Daniel nodded.
"Emily suspected the beneficiary had been changed.""
I remembered the life insurance policy.
After Emily died, I had received a payout.
I had assumed everything had been handled correctly.
"Who was the beneficiary?""
Daniel looked at me.
"That's what I was trying to find out.""
He pulled another document from the envelope.
It was a photocopy of an insurance amendment.
The original beneficiary was listed as Marcus Carter.
The amended beneficiary was Vanessa Reed.
I felt the room tilt.
The change had been made six weeks before Emily died.
But there was something even more disturbing.
The signature looked exactly like Emily's.
Except Emily's signature had a distinctive upward stroke at the end of her surname.
This one didn't.
I stared at Daniel.
"Did you tell anyone?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I wanted to verify it first.""
I stood.
"We're taking this to Rebecca.""
Daniel nodded.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face drained.
"Who is it?"" I asked.
He turned the phone toward me.
*MOM.*
I answered.
"Mom?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Marcus, where are you?""
"At Daniel's.""
A pause.
"Are you alone?""
I looked at my brother.
"No. Daniel is here.""
My mother began crying.
"Oh, God.""
"What's wrong?""
"Vanessa just called me.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What did she say?""
"She said you've found Emily's papers.""
I looked at Daniel.
"How does she know?""
"I don't know," Mom whispered.
"But she told me I need to keep my mouth shut.""
"About what?""
My mother was crying harder now.
"Marcus, there's something I never told you about the night Emily died.""
I sat down.
"What?""
She took a shaky breath.
"I was at the hospital too.""
I stared at the phone.
"Why?""
"Vanessa called me. She said Emily was asking for me.""
My chest tightened.
"What happened?""
"I went into the room. Emily was awake. She was frightened. She asked me to help her.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did she say?""
My mother's voice dropped.
"She told me Vanessa had brought her something to drink. She said she felt strange afterward.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone pale.
"Mom, did you see Vanessa?""
"Yes.""
"Did you see her give Emily anything?""
My mother hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Yes.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Vanessa threatened me.""
"With what?""
"She said she would tell you something about your father.""
I froze.
"My father has been dead for twelve years.""
"I know.""
"What could she possibly tell me?""
My mother began sobbing.
"Marcus, your father didn't die the way we told you.""
The room went silent.
I stared at Daniel.
He looked just as shocked as I felt.
"Mom," I said slowly.
"What are you talking about?""
She whispered:
"Your father was investigating Vanessa's family before he died. He found something, and he told me never to let her near you.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Why?""
My mother took a long breath.
"Because Vanessa isn't the person she told you she was.""
Before I could ask another question, the call disconnected.
I immediately called her back.
No answer.
Then Daniel's phone vibrated.
A text message appeared.
It was from Vanessa.
*Tell Marcus to stop digging. His daughter is already paying for his mistakes.*
I grabbed my keys.
"What does that mean?"" Daniel asked.
"I don't know.""
Then another message arrived.
This one included a photograph.
Maya was standing outside her school.
Someone had taken the picture from across the street.
May you like
Underneath it were four words.
*She looks just like Emily.*
