Chapter 10: The Medication That Killed My Wife

I didn't realize I had stopped breathing until Rachel said my name again.

“Michael? Are you still there?””

I gripped the kitchen counter.

“You said my mother brought medication into Sarah's hospital room.””

“Yes.””

“What medication?””

“I don't know the name. It was inside a small brown bottle.””

“Did you see her give it to Sarah?””

Rachel hesitated.

“I saw her hand it to Vanessa.””

My stomach tightened.

“Vanessa?””

“Yes. Your mother entered the room carrying a handbag. She spoke to Vanessa in the corridor. Then Vanessa went inside.””

I closed my eyes.

“Why would my mother give her medication?””

“That's what I've been trying to understand for four years.””

“Rachel, you were there. Why didn't you tell the police?””

Her voice cracked.

“Because your mother told me Sarah had asked for it. She said it was prescribed by Dr. Martin.””

“But you didn't believe her?””

“No.””

I gripped the phone harder.

“Why?””

“Because I heard Sarah arguing with Vanessa before the medication was brought in.””

“What did she say?””

Rachel took a shaky breath.

“She said, 'You promised you would leave my children alone.''”

My knees weakened.

“And Vanessa?””

“She said, 'You should have kept your mouth shut.''”

I felt sick.

“Then what happened?””

“I left the corridor. I was frightened. About twenty minutes later, I heard someone shouting for a doctor.””

I stared at the kitchen wall.

“Did you see what happened afterward?””

Rachel was quiet.

Then she whispered, “I saw your mother leaving the hospital.””

“Was she alone?””

“No.””

“Who was with her?””

“Dr. Martin.””

I slowly sat down.

My mother.

The woman who had baked birthday cakes for Mason.

The woman who had held Lily when she cried for Sarah.

The woman who had sat beside me at my wife's funeral.

She had been there that night.

And she had never told me.

“Rachel, I need you to meet me.””

“I can't.””

“Why not?””

“Because Vanessa knows where I live.””

I stood immediately.

“Then leave.””

“I already did.””

“Where are you?””

“Somewhere she can't reach me.””

“Tell me what you need.””

Rachel was silent.

Then she said, “I need you to promise me something.””

“What?””

“Don't tell Vanessa I contacted you.””

“I won't.””

“And don't confront your mother until you understand what she did.””

I looked at the note lying on the kitchen counter.

“I'm afraid that conversation is already overdue.””

Rachel suddenly lowered her voice.

“Michael, there's something else. Sarah knew she was in danger. She had made a recording.””

My heart began pounding.

“What recording?””

“A conversation between Vanessa and your mother.””

“Where is it?””

“I don't know. Sarah told me she had hidden it somewhere in the house.””

I looked toward the staircase.

The house.

Our house.

The house where Vanessa had lived for three years.

“Why didn't you tell me this before?””

“Because I didn't know whether you were involved.””

I stared at the phone.

“What?””

Rachel began crying.

“I'm sorry. Sarah told me she had discovered that someone was using your identity to authorize financial transfers. She said she couldn't tell whether you knew.””

I felt my stomach drop.

“Someone used my identity?””

“Yes.””

“Who?””

“I don't know. But Sarah said the signature looked like yours.””

Before I could ask another question, Rachel said she had to go.

“Michael, please. Find the recording.””

Then the call ended.

I immediately called Robert.

He answered on the first ring.

“Michael?””

“I just spoke to Rachel.””

“Did you find her?””

“Yes. She says my mother brought medication to Sarah's hospital room.””

There was a long silence.

“Did she witness the medication being administered?””

“No. She saw my mother hand it to Vanessa.””

“That's important, but we need independent medical evidence before drawing conclusions.””

“She also says Sarah made a recording.””

“Where?””

“Somewhere in my house.””

Robert exhaled.

“Don't search for it alone. I'll arrange for the appropriate evidence-preservation steps. And Michael, do not contact your mother about this yet.””

I looked toward the hallway.

“Too late.””

“What do you mean?””

I showed him the note my mother had left.

He read it carefully.

Then he looked at me.

“Your mother knows Rachel has contacted you.””

“How can you tell?””

“Because this note is written like someone trying to control what you discover.””

I thought about that.

Then Robert's phone rang.

He stepped aside to answer it.

A minute later, he returned with a serious expression.

“Michael, there's been a development.””

“What?””

“Vanessa has filed an emergency application concerning the children.””

My blood ran cold.

“What application?””

“She is claiming that you have become emotionally unstable and are unable to provide appropriate care.””

I stared at him.

“She can't be serious.””

“She is. She has submitted statements from your mother and your brother.””

I felt my hands clench.

“Daniel?””

“His statement claims you've been behaving erratically since Sarah's death and have recently become obsessed with allegations against Vanessa.””

I laughed bitterly.

“They're using my grief against me.””

Robert nodded.

“And they're requesting temporary restrictions on your parental decision-making.””

I looked toward the living room.

A photograph of Lily and Mason sat on the shelf.

“Can they take my children?””

“Not simply because someone makes an allegation. We will respond through the court, preserve evidence, and challenge any false statements.””

I nodded.

Then I noticed something.

My mother had mentioned that Vanessa wanted me to sign guardianship papers.

Now Vanessa was making the same argument in court.

She wasn't improvising.

She had been preparing this for years.

I looked at Robert.

“Then we need that recording.””

He nodded.

“We do.””

I went upstairs.

In the bedroom, I searched the places Sarah used to keep important things.

Her old jewelry box.

The bedside drawer.

The storage cabinet.

Nothing.

Then I remembered something.

Sarah used to hide little notes inside the wooden music box on her dressing table.

I opened it.

The familiar melody played.

Beneath the velvet lining was a small envelope.

Inside was a memory card.

And a handwritten message.

If Michael ever finds this, please let him hear the truth.

My hands began trembling.

I took the card downstairs.

Robert looked at it.

“Don't insert that into your personal computer. We'll have it examined properly.””

I nodded.

Then my phone rang.

An unknown number.

I answered.

A man's voice spoke.

“Mr. Bennett, this is Dr. Martin.””

My entire body went cold.

“Why are you calling me?””

“I understand you've been asking questions about your wife's medical treatment.””

I looked at Robert.

He immediately signaled for me to put the call on speaker.

“Yes,” I replied.

The doctor sighed.

“Michael, I think you should stop. You're hurting people who had nothing to do with Sarah's death.””

I stared at the phone.

“Were you involved in changing her medical records?””

Silence.

Then he said:

“Your mother has already told us what happened that night.””

I felt my blood turn to ice.

“What did my mother tell you?””

May you like

The Little Girl Who Had to Eat From the Trash

I had always believed the worst thing a father could discover was that someone had hurt his child. I was wrong. The worst thing...

My Daughter Was Forced to Eat From the Floor—Then My Late Wife’s Doctor...

“Mr. Carter, before you accuse your wife of anything, you need to understand what happened to Elena.”” Dr. Harrison's voice tremb...

THE TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR BETRAYAL

I knew something was wrong the second I saw the red bow. It was too large to be sitting on top of something ordinary. I stood in...

The doctor lowered his voice.

“She said Sarah begged her to help end her suffering.””