Chapter 8: The Hospital Report That Changed Everything
Brielle was crying so hard that Nia had to hold her shoulders.
I couldn't stop staring at the hospital report.
Unauthorized access to medication records.
Caleb's name.
Vanessa's name.
Ethan's final request to see his daughter.
Seven years earlier, two people had apparently been involved in decisions surrounding a dying man's care.
And now those same two people were trying to take money from his daughter.
I called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
"Did you receive the records?""
"Yes. What does the complaint mean?""
"It means the hospital investigated a concern involving unauthorized access to Ethan's records.""
"Was Caleb responsible?""
"The complaint alleged that he had obtained information he wasn't entitled to access. He was not a treating physician, despite having medical qualifications.""
I frowned.
"Medical qualifications?""
"Caleb was a physician. He had previously worked at the same hospital but was no longer employed there.""
That explained the title on the report.
"What happened to the investigation?""
"It was closed without a formal finding of misconduct. The hospital couldn't establish who had accessed the records.""
I looked at Nia.
"Was Ethan receiving medication that could have affected his condition?""
Daniel paused.
"I cannot draw medical conclusions from these documents. But the medication records were among the materials Ethan specifically wanted preserved.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed someone had altered a financial document while he was hospitalized.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Which document?""
"His original trust instructions.""
I looked down at the folder.
"Could someone have changed the trust after he became ill?""
"That's precisely what we need to investigate.""
Daniel continued.
"Mr. Carter, I need you to bring those documents to my office tomorrow. Don't give them to anyone else. Don't let Brielle or Nia sign anything until we've reviewed it.""
I glanced at my wife.
"Understood.""
After ending the call, I sat beside Nia.
"Did Ethan ever tell you Caleb was accessing his medical records?""
"No.""
"Did he mention the trust being changed?""
Nia nodded slowly.
"One night, he called me and said he had found something wrong with the paperwork. He said the original beneficiary instructions were different from the version Caleb had shown him.""
"What did he want you to do?""
"Keep Brielle away from Caleb.""
Brielle looked up.
"Then why didn't you?""
Nia's face crumpled.
"Because I thought he was being paranoid. He was sick, frightened, and taking medication. Caleb kept telling me Ethan was confused.""
Brielle looked toward the window.
"Everyone believed Uncle Caleb.""
I felt a wave of anger.
Not because Nia had made a mistake.
But because someone had used her fear and her daughter's grief to create a situation in which neither of them trusted the other.
"There's something we need to do," I said.
Nia looked at me.
"What?""
"Find out where the original trust documents are.""
She frowned.
"I thought Daniel had them.""
"He has copies. He said the originals were never recovered.""
Brielle suddenly sat upright.
"Wait.""
We both turned toward her.
"What?"" I asked.
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small black notebook.
"I found this in Vanessa's car too.""
She opened it.
Several pages contained handwritten numbers, dates, and account references.
But near the back was a note.
*Storage Unit 214. Original Carter documents. Keep separate from Whitmore file.*
I took the notebook.
"Where is this storage unit?""
Brielle shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I photographed the page and sent it to Daniel.
His reply came less than a minute later.
*Do not attempt to access the unit yourself. I'll arrange for the proper legal process.*
I put my phone away.
"Good. We'll let the attorney handle it.""
Brielle looked down.
"Marcus?""
"What?""
"I think Vanessa knows I took the folder.""
"She probably does.""
"She called me six times.""
I glanced at her screen.
Six missed calls.
Then another message appeared.
*You have until midnight to return what you stole.*
A second message followed.
*Your mother already knows what happened to Ethan. Don't make her tell Marcus the rest.*
I looked at Nia.
"What rest?""
Nia shook her head.
"I've told you everything.""
I believed she was frightened.
I wasn't sure she had told me everything.
Before I could ask another question, the doorbell rang.
All three of us froze.
I walked to the security monitor.
A man stood on the porch.
Dark jacket.
Gray hair.
I recognized him immediately.
Caleb.
He was holding a paper bag.
I turned to Brielle.
"Stay here.""
Then I looked at Nia.
"Don't open the door.""
I approached the entrance but didn't unlock it.
"What do you want?""
Caleb lifted the bag.
"Food. I thought the family might be hungry.""
I stared at him.
"Leave.""
He smiled.
"Marcus, you're making a terrible mistake.""
"Go.""
His smile disappeared.
"I know what Vanessa told you.""
"Then you know we're investigating.""
He leaned closer to the glass.
"You're involving yourself in something you don't understand.""
"Try explaining it.""
He lowered his voice.
"Your wife made a choice seven years ago. She left my brother alone when he needed her. Now she wants to pretend she's innocent.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Whatever happened between Nia and Ethan doesn't give you the right to steal from Brielle.""
Caleb's eyes narrowed.
"Steal? You have no idea how much money I spent keeping that family afloat.""
"Then show me the receipts.""
He laughed.
"You think you're clever.""
I reached for my phone.
Caleb noticed.
"Don't bother calling anyone. I haven't done anything.""
"Then there's no reason for you to stay.""
He looked past me through the narrow glass panel.
His eyes settled on Brielle.
"Sweetheart, come outside. We need to talk.""
Brielle stepped forward.
"No.""
Caleb's expression softened unnaturally.
"Your father would be disappointed in you.""
She began crying.
I moved closer to the door.
"Don't use Ethan's name to manipulate her.""
Caleb's face hardened.
"Your father left you something important, Brielle. Something your mother has hidden for seven years.""
Brielle looked at Nia.
"What is he talking about?""
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Caleb smiled.
"Ask her about the blue suitcase.""
Then he walked away.
I watched him get into his car and drive off.
When I turned around, Nia had gone completely pale.
"What's the blue suitcase?"" I asked.
She didn't answer.
Brielle stood.
"Mom?""
Nia pressed both hands against her mouth.
Then she whispered:
"I hid it in the attic.""
I stared at her.
"What's inside?""
She looked directly at me.
"Your baby's future.""
We found the suitcase beneath an old blanket in the attic.
It was small, dark blue, and covered in dust.
Nia sat on an overturned storage box while I opened it.
Inside were old photographs, a hospital bracelet, several letters, and a sealed envelope.
The envelope had Ethan's handwriting.
But this time, it wasn't addressed to Brielle.
It was addressed to Nia.
I looked at my wife.
"Why did you hide this?""
She shook her head.
"I couldn't face it.""
I opened the envelope.
The letter was dated three days before Ethan died.
If you are reading this, then I wasn't able to explain everything in person.
I know you think I am trying to take Brielle away from you. I'm not.
I know I made mistakes. I know I hurt you.
But there is something I need you to understand.
The money isn't the most important thing I am leaving behind.
The most important thing is the truth about who has been helping Caleb.
I stopped reading.
A second sheet was folded inside.
It contained a name.
Not Vanessa.
Not Caleb.
Not Nia.
It was the name of someone I knew.
Someone who had attended my wedding.
Someone who had been in my house the previous night.
May you like
I looked at the paper again.
*Brielle Carter.*
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