Chapter 9: The Man Who Delivered My Father's Death Certificate
I ordered security to lock down the entire floor.
Richard stood outside the penthouse holding the envelope.
He didn't knock.
He simply waited.
"Who authorized him to enter the building?"" I asked.
Thomas checked the access log.
"Your mother issued him a temporary visitor pass this morning.""
I looked at the screen.
"She left less than an hour ago.""
"Yes, sir.""
I turned toward Patricia.
"Do you know Richard?""
"Unfortunately.""
"How long has he worked for my mother?""
"Almost fifteen years. He managed several private investment accounts and handled some of the estate's financial arrangements.""
"Was he involved in my father's final medical arrangements?""
Patricia hesitated.
"I don't know.""
That answer was becoming increasingly familiar.
I turned toward the security supervisor.
"Bring him in. Search him first.""
Two officers escorted Richard into the penthouse.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair and an expensive navy suit.
He looked around the room.
Then he smiled.
"Marcus. You look just like your father.""
I didn't return the smile.
"What do you want?""
Richard held out the envelope.
"I was instructed to deliver this personally.""
"By whom?""
"Your father.""
I stared at him.
"Where is he?""
Richard shrugged.
"I wouldn't know.""
"You were standing outside my door with a letter supposedly from a man who has been dead for five years.""
He placed the envelope on the table.
"Perhaps you should read it before making accusations.""
I opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
My father's handwriting.
Marcus, if Richard has delivered this letter, it means Vanessa has found me. Do not let her reach the blue room. The original ledger is not the only evidence I left behind.
I read the final sentence twice.
Your mother knows where the second copy is.
I looked at Richard.
"Where did you get this?""
"From a courier.""
"Who?""
"I don't remember.""
"Try harder.""
He smiled faintly.
"Mr. Carter, I am a financial adviser, not a detective.""
I turned toward the security supervisor.
"Search his briefcase.""
Richard immediately stepped backward.
"That's unnecessary.""
The supervisor opened it.
Inside were several folders, a laptop, two phones, and a small metal case.
Patricia leaned closer.
"What's that?""
Richard tried to close the briefcase.
The security officer stopped him.
"Please step back, sir.""
The metal case contained a collection of medication labels and pharmacy receipts.
I recognized the hospital's name.
St. Mary's Medical Center.
Patricia picked up one of the receipts.
"This is the same medication listed in your father's records.""
Richard's expression changed.
"Those are old business records.""
Patricia examined the dates.
"These are five years old.""
"Exactly.""
She held up another receipt.
"Why were they purchased under a private company rather than through the hospital pharmacy?""
Richard looked at me.
"I don't have to answer that.""
I nodded to security.
"Keep him here.""
Then I noticed a folded photograph tucked beneath the laptop.
I pulled it out.
It showed my father sitting at a small kitchen table.
He was alive.
Beside him was a woman I didn't recognize.
On the back was a handwritten date.
Three days ago.
I looked at Richard.
"Where was this taken?""
He said nothing.
I turned the photograph around.
The woman beside my father wore a simple gray sweater.
There was something familiar about her.
Then I recognized the necklace.
It belonged to Nia's mother.
I looked at my wife.
She had gone completely still.
"That's my mother," she whispered.
I stared at her.
"Your mother?""
Nia nodded.
"My mother died when I was twenty-two.""
Richard slowly smiled.
"Perhaps she didn't.""
Nia shook her head.
"No. I attended her funeral.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Then perhaps you should ask what really happened to your family.""
I stepped between them.
"Don't speak to her.""
He ignored me.
"Mrs. Carter, your mother was involved in something much larger than a hospital mistake.""
Nia's eyes filled.
"Where is she?""
Richard looked at me.
"That depends on whether Mr. Carter is willing to cooperate.""
I grabbed the edge of the table.
"Cooperate with what?""
"An arrangement.""
"Explain.""
Richard removed another document from his briefcase.
It was a formal agreement.
At the top was the name of a private holding company.
Beneath it were several financial figures.
I scanned the page.
The company had been created six years earlier.
Its registered owner was Vanessa Carter.
But the most disturbing detail appeared in the final section.
A list of beneficiaries.
My mother's name.
Vanessa's name.
And a third name.
Nia Carter.
I looked at my wife.
She shook her head.
"I've never heard of this company.""
Richard gave a small shrug.
"Perhaps not. But someone used your identity to establish a financial account.""
Patricia took the document.
"This is serious.""
Richard smiled.
"Very.""
I turned toward him.
"Why would anyone use my wife's identity?""
"Because the account needed a beneficiary with no connection to the Carter family business.""
Nia stepped forward.
"What does that have to do with me?""
Richard looked at her.
"Your mother was the original account administrator.""
The room fell silent.
Nia's lips parted.
"My mother?""
"Yes.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Nia's mother was sitting beside my father.
Alive.
Apparently.
Richard continued.
"Your father-in-law and your mother were working together long before you met Marcus.""
Nia shook her head.
"That's impossible. My mother was a schoolteacher.""
"She had other responsibilities.""
"You're lying.""
Richard shrugged.
"Then perhaps you should examine the account.""
He slid a second document toward her.
It contained a series of transfers.
The first transaction was dated six years ago.
The amount was $250,000.
The recipient was an account registered in Nia's name.
Nia stared at the paper.
"I never received this money.""
Richard nodded.
"Of course you didn't.""
I looked at Patricia.
"Can this be verified?""
"Yes. I'll have the bank records subpoenaed.""
Richard leaned back.
"There's no need for that. The original records are in the blue room.""
I frowned.
"You told us the room was empty.""
"It was empty when you arrived.""
"Then where are the records?""
Richard looked directly at Nia.
"Your mother took them.""
Nia's knees seemed to weaken.
I caught her arm.
"Sit down.""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I don't understand.""
I held her hands.
"We'll figure it out.""
Richard stood.
"There's one more thing.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph.
It showed a hospital nursery.
A newborn baby lay inside a transparent crib.
On the back was a date.
The day Grace was born.
My heart began pounding.
Richard placed the photograph on the table.
"Your daughter wasn't the first child connected to this trust.""
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
He looked at Nia.
"Ask your wife why the hospital changed Grace's birth records.""
Nia covered her mouth.
"That's not true.""
Richard smiled.
"Then why was there a second birth certificate issued three days after she was born?""
I looked at my wife.
She was shaking her head.
"I never saw a second birth certificate.""
I turned toward Patricia.
"Can that happen?""
"Only under specific circumstances.""
Richard nodded.
"Exactly.""
He picked up his briefcase.
The security officers moved to stop him, but he raised both hands.
"I'm not leaving. I haven't finished.""
He looked directly at me.
"Your father wants to meet you.""
I stepped forward.
"Where?""
Richard removed a small card.
An address was written on it.
A private residence outside Hartford.
"Tomorrow morning. Eight o'clock.""
I took the card.
"Why should I trust you?""
Richard looked at Nia.
"Because your father has something he wants to tell you about your daughter.""
Then he lowered his voice.
"And because if you don't come, Vanessa will make sure you never find out why Grace's original birth certificate was sealed.""
Richard finally sat down.
Patricia immediately called her office.
Nia remained motionless.
I wrapped my arms around her.
She buried her face against my chest.
"Marcus," she whispered, "what if something happened at the hospital?""
I held her tighter.
"Nothing is going to happen to Grace.""
But as I looked down at the photograph of the newborn baby, I noticed something I hadn't seen before.
There was a small hospital bracelet around the baby's wrist.
The name printed on it wasn't Grace Carter.
It was another name entirely.
May you like
And beneath it was a handwritten note.
*BABY B — RELEASED TO VANESSA CARTER.*
