Chapter 11: The Doctor Who Came After the Funeral
Mr. Haines spent the next morning arranging an urgent meeting with the medical records department.
I went with him.
The hospital was the same place where Richard had received treatment during his final weeks.
The smell of disinfectant brought back memories I had tried to bury.
I remembered sitting beside Richard's bed, holding his hand while machines beeped softly around us.
I remembered Brooke bringing coffee.
I remembered her telling nurses that she was handling everything.
And I remembered trusting her.
At the records department, a woman named Sandra Miller greeted us.
She was in her fifties, wore thin silver glasses, and spoke with the careful tone of someone accustomed to handling difficult situations.
“Mr. Haines, I understand you have concerns about amendments to Mr. Carter's medical file.””
“Yes,” he replied.
“We need a complete audit trail.””
Sandra nodded.
She typed something into her computer.
After several minutes, she turned the monitor toward us.
“There's an amended entry dated two days after Mr. Carter's death.””
I stared at the screen.
“After his death?””
“Yes.””
“What was changed?””
Sandra looked at Mr. Haines.
He nodded for her to continue.
“The original record stated that medication instructions had been reviewed with the patient and caregiver. The amended version states that the patient was unable to participate in the review due to confusion.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who made that change?””
Sandra checked the audit log.
“Dr. Peterson.””
“Why?””
“It doesn't specify.””
Mr. Haines leaned forward.
“Was the amendment made in response to a formal medical request?””
Sandra searched again.
“No. There is a note indicating that supporting documentation was provided by an outside party.””
“What outside party?””
She opened the attachment.
A scanned letter appeared.
It was signed by Brooke.
The letter claimed Richard had been unable to understand his medication instructions during the final week of his life.
I felt my chest tighten.
“That isn't true.””
Sandra looked at me.
“I'm sorry?””
“My husband was ill, but he knew who I was. He knew where he was. He could speak to us. He was not incapable of understanding everything.””
Mr. Haines examined the letter.
“Was this attachment part of the original medical record?””
“No. It was uploaded after the death.””
“By whom?””
Sandra checked.
“Dr. Peterson's account.””
Mr. Haines closed the folder.
“We need a certified copy of the complete audit history.””
“Of course.””
As we left the records department, I felt my knees weaken.
The medical assessment arranged by Brooke.
The medication changes.
The amended medical record.
They were all connected.
But I still didn't understand why Dr. Peterson had participated.
He had treated Richard for years.
He had attended our anniversary party.
He had once helped me find a specialist when my knee problems began.
Why would he risk his career for Brooke?
Mr. Haines seemed to read my thoughts.
“Money can motivate people to make terrible decisions,” he said.
“But we shouldn't assume that's the explanation until we have evidence.””
We drove to his office.
There, Olivia had already prepared the contents of Richard's USB drive.
It contained several audio files and scanned documents.
The first audio recording was dated November 21.
Richard's voice came through the speakers.
“Thomas, I want you to stop contacting Brooke.””
A man's voice answered.
“You're overreacting, Richard.””
“Someone used my wife's information to apply for credit.””
“Daniel is in trouble. You know that.””
“Then Daniel can speak to me himself.””
There was a pause.
Then Thomas said:
“Your wife doesn't need to know about all this.””
Richard's voice became colder.
“She needs to know everything.””
The recording ended.
The second file contained a conversation between Richard and another man.
This time, I recognized Dr. Peterson's voice.
“Richard, I'm telling you, you need to rest.””
“I don't need rest. I need answers.””
“You're becoming suspicious of everyone.””
“Because someone is trying to take my wife's money.””
A chair moved.
Then Richard said:
“Did you approve the prescription change?””
Dr. Peterson hesitated.
“I approved what was clinically appropriate.””
“Did you examine me before approving it?””
“I reviewed the information provided.””
“By Brooke?””
Silence.
Then Dr. Peterson said:
“Richard, I don't think this conversation is helping you.””
Richard's voice became quieter.
“That's because you don't want to answer.””
The recording stopped.
I stared at the laptop.
Mr. Haines immediately called the authorities to provide the files.
Then Olivia found another document.
It was a bank transfer receipt.
A payment of $15,000 had been made to an account belonging to Peterson Medical Consulting.
The date was two weeks before Richard died.
I looked at Mr. Haines.
“Was this payment from our protected account?””
He examined the reference.
“Yes.””
I felt physically sick.
The doctor had received money from the same account Richard had established to protect me.
Mr. Haines instructed Olivia to preserve the receipt and related records.
Later that afternoon, he received a call.
He listened without speaking.
Then he said:
“Thank you. We'll cooperate fully.””
When he hung up, he looked at me.
“Dr. Peterson has agreed to meet with investigators.””
“Did he explain the payment?””
“He says it was for consulting services.””
“What consulting services?””
“He hasn't provided an adequate explanation yet.””
I looked down at my hands.
“I want to hear what he has to say.””
Mr. Haines shook his head.
“Not without proper arrangements.””
The meeting was scheduled for the following morning at his office.
Dr. Peterson arrived at nine thirty.
He looked older than I remembered.
His tie was crooked, and he kept adjusting the strap of his watch.
“Evelyn,” he said quietly.
I didn't stand.
“Doctor.””
He sat opposite me.
Mr. Haines placed the transfer receipt on the table.
“Can you explain this payment?””
Dr. Peterson glanced at it.
“It's related to professional services.””
“What services?””
“Medical consultation.””
“For whom?””
He hesitated.
“Brooke Carter.””
I stared at him.
“My daughter-in-law?””
“Yes.””
“What did she ask you to consult about?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Richard's condition.””
“Richard was your patient.””
“Yes.””
“Then why was Brooke paying you?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“She was concerned about his behavior.””
“What behavior?””
“She said he was becoming suspicious, agitated, and increasingly difficult to manage.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you examine him?””
“Not during that particular consultation.””
“Then how did you decide he was confused?””
Dr. Peterson said nothing.
Mr. Haines opened another document.
“Did you amend Richard's medical records after his death?””
The doctor looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Brooke provided additional information.””
“Did you verify it?””
He hesitated.
“No.””
The room went silent.
I felt my hands trembling.
“You came to our house after Richard died, didn't you?””
He looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To discuss the medication history.””
“With Brooke?””
He nodded.
“And the envelope she carried upstairs?””
His expression changed.
“What envelope?””
I stared at him.
“You were there for forty minutes. Brooke took an envelope upstairs after you left.””
Dr. Peterson swallowed.
Mr. Haines leaned forward.
“Doctor, we need a complete explanation.””
The man looked at the table.
Then he finally spoke.
“Brooke told me Richard had asked her to collect some personal documents after his death.””
“What documents?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you give her anything?””
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
I felt my stomach drop.
“What?””
“A copy of Richard's medical assessment.””
“But you never performed one.””
He looked directly at me.
“I know.””
My heart began pounding.
Mr. Haines's expression hardened.
“Then what did you give her?””
Dr. Peterson took a deep breath.
“A report stating that Richard had been experiencing cognitive decline.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Because Brooke said she needed it to resolve a financial dispute.””
“What financial dispute?””
He looked at Mr. Haines.
Then back at me.
“She told me Richard had transferred ownership of the house to Daniel before he died.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“That never happened.””
“I know that now.””
Mr. Haines stood.
“Who asked you to prepare the report?””
Dr. Peterson hesitated.
Then he said:
“Thomas Whitaker.””
I looked at the attorney.
The same man.
The financial adviser.
The man who had received $91,000.
The man Richard had recorded warning about Brooke.
Dr. Peterson continued.
“But Thomas wasn't the person who paid me.””
“Who was?”” Mr. Haines asked.
The doctor looked directly at me.
May you like
And then he answered.
“Your sister, Carol.””
