Chapter 13: ## Chapter 13: The Recording My Father: The Recording My Father Tried to Bury
I read the message again.
Tried to Bury
I read the message again.
Then I called Dr. Bennett.
No answer.
I called aThen I called Dr. Bennett.
No answer.
I called a second time.
Still nothing.
"Daniel," Eleanor said, " second time.
Still nothing.
"Daniel," Eleanor said, "we need to let the police handle this.""
I looked at thewe need to let the police handle this.""
I looked at the photograph.
Someone had broken into an photograph.
Someone had broken into an elderly surgeon's home because he was finally willing elderly surgeon's home because he was finally willing to tell the truth about my mother's death.
"He's the to tell the truth about my mother's death.
"He's the only person who knows what happened in that hospital room.""
"And if only person who knows what happened in that hospital room.""
"And if you rush over there without protection you rush over there without protection, you could become another victim.""
Detective Harris approached us.
He had been speaking with the officers, you could become another victim.""
Detective Harris approached us.
He had been speaking with the officers who arrested Evelyn.
"We've located who arrested Evelyn.
"We've located Dr. Bennett's address. A patrol unit Dr.
Bennett's address. A patrol unit is already checking the property.""
"Is he alive?""
"We is already checking the property.""
"Is he alive?""
"We don't know yet.""
I looked at Maya.
She was sitting beside Sophie don't know yet.""
I looked at Maya.
She was sitting beside Sophie on the couch, sharing a packet of crackers.
The on the couch, sharing a packet of crackers.
The two girls had become unexpectedly close.
Sophie was showing two girls had become unexpectedly close.
Sophie was showing Maya how to fold the corners of a paper nap Maya how to fold the corners of a paper napkin into a little boat.
I couldn'tkin into a little boat.
I couldn't leave them.
Not after everything.
leave them.
Not after everything.
I knelt beside Maya.
"SweetheartI knelt beside Maya.
"Sweetheart, Detective Harris is going to take you somewhere, Detective Harris is going to take you somewhere safe.""
Her smile disappeared safe.""
Her smile disappeared.
"Are you coming?""
"I.
"Are you coming?""
"I need to find out something about Grandma.""
She need to find out something about Grandma.""
She looked at me carefully.
"Will you come back?""
I touched looked at me carefully.
"Will you come back?""
I touched her cheek.
"Always.""
Sophie reached for my hand.
her cheek.
"Always.""
Sophie reached for my hand.
"Can I stay with Maya?""
I looked at both"Can I stay with Maya?""
I looked at both girls.
"Yes. You can stay together.""
Detect girls.
"Yes. You can stay together.""
Detective Harris arranged for an officer to accompany them to a secureive Harris arranged for an officer to accompany them to a secure location while Eleanor stayed with them.
Then he and location while Eleanor stayed with them.
Then he and I drove to Dr. Bennett's house.
It was a modest property I drove to Dr. Bennett's house.
It was a modest property on a quiet residential street.
A broken flowerpot on a quiet residential street.
A broken flowerpot lay near the front steps.
The front door was open.
Two lay near the front steps.
The front door was open.
Two officers stood in the hallway.
One approached officers stood in the hallway.
One approached us.
"Detective.""
"What us.
"Detective.""
"What have we got?""
"Signs have we got?""
"Signs of forced entry. The study has been searched of forced entry. The study has been searched. The owner isn't here.""
I looked inside. The owner isn't here.""
I looked inside.
Books were scattered across the carpet. Draw.
Books were scattered across the carpet. Drawers had been pulled out. A framed family photograph layers had been pulled out. A framed family photograph lay shattered near the fireplace.
Then I noticed shattered near the fireplace.
Then I noticed a small red stain on the rug.
"Is a small red stain on the rug.
"Is that blood?""
The officer nodded.
"Possibly. Forensics are on their way.""
I walked that blood?""
The officer nodded.
"Possibly. Forensics are on their way.""
I walked toward the study.
A desk stood toward the study.
A desk stood against the wall.
Its drawers were empty.
But on the floor, beneath against the wall.
Its drawers were empty.
But on the floor, beneath a fallen cabinet, was a small metal a fallen cabinet, was a small metal key.
I picked it up.
There was a number engraved key.
I picked it up.
There was a number engraved on it.
*317.*
Detective Harris examined it.
on it.
*317.*
Detective Harris examined it.
"Could be a locker key.""
I turned it"Could be a locker key.""
I turned it over.
A tiny label was attached.
over.
A tiny label was attached.
*RIVERSIDE STORAGE.*
We found*RIVERSIDE STORAGE.*
We found the facility twenty minutes away.
The manager confirmed that Dr. Bennett the facility twenty minutes away.
The manager confirmed that Dr. Bennett had rented a unit there for nearly fifteen years.
He had rented a unit there for nearly fifteen years.
He opened unit 317.
Inside was a metal opened unit 317.
Inside was a metal cabinet, several boxes cabinet, several boxes, and an old tape recorder.
There was also a brown, and an old tape recorder.
There was also a brown envelope with my name written on it.
I opened it.
* envelope with my name written on it.
I opened it.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, then I failedDaniel,
If you're reading this, then I failed to protect the truth.
Your mother was frightened in her final hours to protect the truth.
Your mother was frightened in her final hours. She knew someone was trying to silence her.
I should. She knew someone was trying to silence her.
I should have spoken sooner.
The recording is have spoken sooner.
The recording is in the cabinet.
My hands in the cabinet.*
My hands trembled.
Detective Harris opened the cabinet.
Inside trembled.
Detective Harris opened the cabinet.
Inside was a small digital recorder and a collection of hospital documents was a small digital recorder and a collection of hospital documents.
He connected the device to his equipment.
He connected the device to his equipment.
A man's voice filled the storage unit.
Dr.
A man's voice filled the storage unit.
Dr. Bennett.
"March 14. Margaret Carter.. Bennett.
"March 14. Margaret Carter. Patient remains conscious following surgery.
Family member Patient remains conscious following surgery. Family member Andrew Carter requested a private conversation.""
There was a pause.
Andrew Carter requested a private conversation.""
There was a pause.
Then another voice.
My father's.
"HowThen another voice.
My father's.
"How long does she have?""
Dr. Bennett answered.
"That long does she have?""
Dr. Bennett answered.
"That depends on how she responds to treatment. We still depends on how she responds to treatment. We still have options.""
My father's voice became quieter have options.""
My father's voice became quieter.
"She has been telling people things that.
"She has been telling people things that could destroy this family.""
"Mr could destroy this family.""
"Mr. Carter, your wife is seriously ill.""
"I know. Carter, your wife is seriously ill.""
"I know exactly what she is.""
A chair scraped exactly what she is.""
A chair scraped across the floor.
Then my mother spoke.
Her across the floor.
Then my mother spoke.
Her voice was weak.
"Andrew, don't do voice was weak.
"Andrew, don't do this.""
I stopped breathing.
My father answered.
"Marg this.""
I stopped breathing.
My father answered.
"Margaret, you need to stop.""
"You promisedaret, you need to stop.""
"You promised me you'd tell Daniel.""
"Not me you'd tell Daniel.""
"Not now.""
"He's your son.""
"And now.""
"He's your son.""
"And you're making this impossible you're making this impossible.""
My mother's voice cracked.
"Vanessa has been lying to.""
My mother's voice cracked.
"Vanessa has been lying to him. She knows about Laura. She knows about the money him.
She knows about Laura. She knows about the money. You have to tell him.""
There. You have to tell him.""
There was a long silence.
Then my father said something that made my was a long silence.
Then my father said something that made my blood run cold.
"Vanessa is doing what I asked blood run cold.
"Vanessa is doing what I asked her to do.""
I stared at the recorder.
My mother her to do.""
I stared at the recorder.
My mother whispered:
"She's going to destroy our whispered:
"She's going to destroy our family.""
My father replied:
"Only if you keep talking.""
Then family.""
My father replied:
"Only if you keep talking.""
Then came a sound.
A chair moving.
My came a sound.
A chair moving.
My mother's frightened breathing.
And Dr. Bennett's voice.
"Mr. mother's frightened breathing.
And Dr. Bennett's voice.
"Mr. Carter, step away from the bed.""
The Carter, step away from the bed.""
The recording stopped.
I stood motionless.
Detective Harris looked at recording stopped.
I stood motionless.
Detective Harris looked at me.
"Daniel, I need you to understand that me.
"Daniel, I need you to understand that this recording may be important evidence, but we need to this recording may be important evidence, but we need to authenticate it.""
I barely heard him.
My authenticate it.""
I barely heard him.
My father had known about Vanessa.
He had helped her.
He had concealed financial crimes.
And he had father had known about Vanessa.
He had helped her.
He had concealed financial crimes.
And he had threatened my mother while she was fighting for her life.
threatened my mother while she was fighting for her life.
"Was he responsible for her death?"""Was he responsible for her death?"" I whispered.
Harris didn't answer.
"We need the complete I whispered.
Harris didn't answer.
"We need the complete medical records.""
I looked inside the cabinet again.
There was another medical records.""
I looked inside the cabinet again.
There was another envelope.
This one contained a handwritten envelope.
This one contained a handwritten note from Dr. Bennett.
*The note from Dr. Bennett.
*The recording is incomplete. There is a second copy. I gave recording is incomplete.
There is a second copy. I gave it to someone I believed I could trust.*
At it to someone I believed I could trust.*
At the bottom was an address.
A small apartment building.
And a the bottom was an address.
A small apartment building.
And a name.
*Laura Carter.*
I frowned.
" name.
*Laura Carter.*
I frowned.
"Why would Laura have the second recording?""
DetectWhy would Laura have the second recording?""
Detective Harris looked at me.
"Perhaps she discoveredive Harris looked at me.
"Perhaps she discovered it.""
I called Eleanor.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel it.""
I called Eleanor.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"Did Laura ever mention a recording from?""
"Did Laura ever mention a recording from the hospital?""
Silence.
Then she said the hospital?""
Silence.
Then she said, "Yes.""
My heart started pounding.
"Why, "Yes.""
My heart started pounding.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she instructed me to reveal didn't you tell me?""
"Because she instructed me to reveal it only if you found evidence that Andrew it only if you found evidence that Andrew had interfered with Margaret's medical treatment.""
I closed had interfered with Margaret's medical treatment.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where is it?""
"Laura left a sealed my eyes.
"Where is it?""
"Laura left a sealed package with her personal belongings. I package with her personal belongings. I have it here.""
" have it here.""
"What's inside?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"A recording, a letter, andWhat's inside?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"A recording, a letter, and a document identifying the person who helped your father.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Who?""
Eleanor's answer a document identifying the person who helped your father.""
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Who?""
Eleanor's answer was barely audible.
"Vanessa's was barely audible.
"Vanessa's sister.""
I remembered the woman wearing my mother's necklace sister.""
I remembered the woman wearing my mother's necklace.
Evelyn.
But Eleanor continued.
Evelyn.
But Eleanor continued.
"Her name is Evelyn Reed. However, the.
"Her name is Evelyn Reed. However, the document identifies another person as the person who arranged the hospital document identifies another person as the person who arranged the hospital payments.""
I swallowed.
"Who?""
Eleanor took a breath.
" payments.""
I swallowed.
"Who?""
Eleanor took a breath.
"Your father didn't act alone, Daniel.""
ThenYour father didn't act alone, Daniel.""
Then she said the name.
"Michael.""
I looked she said the name.
"Michael.""
I looked at the recorder.
My brother had been seventeen at the recorder.
My brother had been seventeen when our mother died.
He had told me he'd when our mother died.
He had told me he'd been driving.
But apparently, he had done much been driving.
But apparently, he had done much more than hide an accident.
He had helped our more than hide an accident.
He had helped our father silence the surgeon.
And he had been involved from father silence the surgeon.
And he had been involved from the beginning.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Michael.
**Daniel the beginning.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Michael.
**Daniel, I need to tell you the truth about, I need to tell you the truth about that night. Don't trust the recording. Dad made that night.
Don't trust the recording. Dad made me do something terrible.**
I stared me do something terrible.**
I stared at the message.
Another arrived.
**And at the message.
Another arrived.
*And there's one more thing. Laura knew what there's one more thing. Laura knew what really happened to your mother before she died.*
I really happened to your mother before she died.**
I looked at Detective Harris.
"Take me to Michael.""
Because looked at Detective Harris.
"Take me to Michael.""
May you like
Because this time, I wasn't going to let my brother hide this time, I wasn't going to let my brother hide behind another family secret.
behind another family secret.
