Chapter 7: The Man in the White Coat
I stared at the photograph until the screen began to blur.
Richard.
Standing beside my father's hospital bed.
Wearing a white doctor's coat.
I enlarged the image again, hoping I had mistaken the face. But there was no mistaking the silver watch on his wrist. I had given him that watch myself for his fiftieth birthday.
The same watch he still wore at business meetings.
The same watch I had seen on his wrist less than an hour earlier.
"Marcus?""
My mother was watching me.
I turned the phone toward her.
She looked at the photograph.
Then she covered her mouth.
"Oh, my God.""
"You recognize him?""
She nodded slowly.
"That's Richard.""
"Why was he wearing a doctor's coat?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Mom, you said someone came into Dad's hospital room that night. Was it Richard?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I never saw his face clearly. I was standing near the nurses' station. Someone came out of your father's room, and I remember asking whether Thomas was all right.""
"What did they say?""
"They told me he was resting.""
"Did you recognize the voice?""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"I don't know, Marcus. Everything happened so quickly. I was exhausted. Your father had been in an accident, and I thought I was going to lose him.""
I sat down.
For twelve years, Richard had been the man who helped us survive my father's death.
He had attended every family gathering.
He had paid for the funeral arrangements.
He had stood beside me at the cemetery and promised my father would have been proud of the man I became.
Now I was looking at evidence that he might have been the last person to see my father alive.
My phone rang.
Richard.
I stared at the screen.
Mom grabbed my wrist.
"Don't answer.""
I shook my head.
"I need to hear what he says.""
I answered and put the call on speaker.
"Marcus.""
Richard's voice sounded unusually calm.
"Where are you?""
"Home.""
"Good. I need you to listen to me.""
"I'm listening.""
"Whatever Vanessa told you tonight, don't believe it. She's been manipulating you.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"Do you remember November 14?""
Silence.
Then Richard cleared his throat.
"Why are you asking?""
"Because I found a photograph of you at the hospital.""
His breathing changed.
"What photograph?""
"You're wearing a doctor's coat.""
Another silence.
Then he laughed.
It was a terrible sound.
"Marcus, that's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because I wasn't at the hospital.""
I stared at the screen.
"You weren't?""
"No.""
"Then who is the man in the photograph?""
Richard hesitated.
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"Why not?""
"Because there are things you don't understand.""
"Try me.""
His voice hardened.
"Listen carefully. I know you found the blue folder. I know Eleanor has contacted you. And I know you're planning to visit the bank tomorrow.""
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know about the bank?""
"Your father told me about it years ago.""
"Then you know what's inside.""
"I know enough to tell you that opening that box could destroy everything.""
I leaned forward.
"What exactly is inside?""
"Documents that should have remained hidden.""
"Documents proving my father was murdered?""
Richard exhaled sharply.
"Your father wasn't murdered.""
"Then why did he survive the accident and die after you visited him?""
The line went silent.
I looked at my mother.
She was trembling.
Finally, Richard spoke.
"Meet me tomorrow morning. Seven o'clock. The old warehouse. I'll explain everything.""
I almost laughed.
"You want me to come to the same place where my father was last seen alive?""
"Yes.""
"Alone?""
"Yes.""
I glanced at the photograph again.
"Why should I trust you?""
"Because I was there when your father died, Marcus. And I know what he said before he took his last breath.""
My throat tightened.
"What did he say?""
Richard's voice dropped.
"He asked me to protect you from your mother.""
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
My mother was crying.
"Mom?""
She shook her head.
"Your father never said that.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I was there when he died.""
I looked at her.
"You said you weren't in the room.""
She went completely still.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Mom?""
She pressed both hands against her chest.
"I was outside. But I went in before the nurses arrived.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid you would hate me.""
I stood.
"Tell me what happened.""
She looked at the photograph.
Then she whispered, "Richard wasn't wearing a doctor's coat when he first arrived.""
"What?""
"He came to the hospital in his normal clothes. He told me he had information about the accident. He said your father needed to speak with him privately.""
"Then why was he wearing the coat?""
"I don't know. When I returned to the corridor, he was wearing it.""
"How long were you gone?""
"Maybe five minutes.""
I stared at her.
"Mom, what happened during those five minutes?""
She began sobbing.
"Your father asked me to leave the room. He said he needed to speak to Richard alone.""
"And you did?""
She nodded.
"Then I heard an alarm.""
My stomach turned.
"When I rushed back, the nurses were trying to revive him. Richard was standing near the bed. He told me there was nothing they could do.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Was he still wearing the coat?""
Mom nodded.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
Richard had lied.
But my mother had also hidden the truth.
Before I could ask another question, the basement door creaked.
We both turned.
A shadow moved across the doorway.
"Who's there?"" I shouted.
No answer.
I grabbed a heavy brass desk ornament and rushed toward the stairs.
The back door slammed.
By the time I reached the kitchen, whoever had entered was gone.
But something had been left on the floor.
A white hospital identification badge.
I picked it up.
The name was clearly printed.
*DR. RICHARD WHITMORE.*
Underneath it was a photograph of a much younger Richard.
And on the reverse side, someone had written a date.
November 14.
Twelve years earlier.
I turned toward my mother.
"Why did Richard have a hospital identity badge?""
She stared at it.
Then she whispered something that changed everything.
"Because he wasn't visiting your father.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"He was pretending to be his doctor.""
