She Changed My Medicine to Keep Me in a Wheelchair

“Your accident wasn't supposed to happen on that road.””

Daniel's words kept echoing in my head.

I gripped the phone so tightly that my fingers began to ache.

“Explain yourself,” I demanded.

“Who paid for it?””

“Not over the phone.””

“Daniel, I spent six months in a wheelchair. I have a right to know who did this.””

“I know. And I know what happened after you woke up. I've seen the medication records, Ethan. I've seen the documents Sophia filed.””

My stomach turned.

“How do you know about those?””

“Because I was investigating the same people before the crash.””

Naomi moved closer and gestured for me to put the call on speaker.

I did.

“Daniel,” she said, “this is Naomi Chen. Ethan's attorney. Are you somewhere safe?””

A nervous laugh came through the speaker.

“Does anywhere feel safe anymore?””

“Tell us where you are.””

“Not yet. I need to know whether Ethan can still access the Hale Meridian executive archives.””

I looked at Naomi.

“What does that have to do with anything?””

“Everything,” Daniel replied.

“The payment came through a vendor account. Someone used company money to hire the people who followed you before the accident.””

Naomi opened her laptop.

“Which vendor?””

“Northstar Risk Solutions.””

She immediately began typing.

After a few seconds, her expression changed.

“That company was approved by the executive finance committee.””

“Who approved the contract?”” I asked.

Daniel hesitated.

“Marcus Vale.””

The name hit me harder than I expected.

Marcus had been my closest friend since university. We had started Hale Meridian together in a cramped office above a laundromat. When investors rejected us, Marcus had stayed. When our first product nearly bankrupted us, he had sold his apartment to keep the company alive.

After my accident, he had visited the hospital every week.

He had stood beside Sophia during my rehabilitation.

He had even told me not to worry about the company because he would protect everything until I recovered.

“Marcus wouldn't do this,” I said.

Daniel didn't answer immediately.

Then he asked, “Do you remember what happened the night before your accident?””

I closed my eyes.

A charity dinner.

A late meeting.

A phone call from Marcus.

And something else.

“I was supposed to drive home from the office,” I said slowly.

“But Marcus called and told me the northern entrance was blocked because of construction. He suggested the highway.””

Naomi stopped typing.

“Did he know which route you took?””

“He recommended it.””

Daniel exhaled.

“That's what I suspected.””

I looked at the phone.

“Where is the video?””

“On an encrypted drive. I have footage from the underground garage at your office. It shows someone working beneath your car about forty minutes before you left.””

“Who?””

“I'll show you when we meet.””

Naomi interrupted.

“Daniel, you need to understand that we cannot expose evidence without verifying how it was obtained. We need the original recording, not an edited copy.””

“I have both.””

“Then bring them to us.””

“No.””

Naomi narrowed her eyes.

“Excuse me?””

“I'm not coming to the estate. Someone there is listening to everything Ethan says.””

A cold silence filled the room.

I looked toward the ceiling, suddenly conscious of the security cameras in the hallway.

“Where do you want to meet?””

“An old repair shop on Westbridge Avenue. Tomorrow at ten. Bring Naomi. Nobody else.””

“I can't travel alone.””

“I know.””

His voice became quieter.

“That's why I need you to bring the wheelchair.””

The call ended.

Naomi immediately began checking the security system.

“I'm having the cameras inspected,” she said.

“And I'm changing the access codes.””

“Do you believe him?””

“I believe he knows something. That's not the same as believing everything he says.””

Maya stood beside the sofa.

“Are you going to find my mom?””

I looked at her.

“Yes.””

“When?””

“As soon as we can.””

She bit her lip.

“She's not a bad person. She wouldn't steal anything.””

“I believe you.””

Maya looked toward the staircase.

“Will Sophia be angry?””

I didn't answer.

Because I was beginning to understand that anger was probably the least dangerous thing Sophia could feel.

That evening, Naomi received a call from her private investigator.

She listened without speaking, then placed the phone on the desk.

“Elena's apartment has been searched.””

My chest tightened.

“By whom?””

“The investigator couldn't identify them. The front door was forced open. Several drawers were emptied, but nothing valuable was taken.””

“Where is Elena?””

“They haven't found her.””

Maya began crying.

I reached for her hand.

“Your mother knows how to protect herself.””

“She promised she'd come home.””

“I know.””

Naomi walked toward the windows.

“There is something else. The investigator found a pharmacy receipt in the kitchen. It was issued three days before your accident.””

“What was purchased?””

“An old-fashioned voice recorder and a prepaid phone.””

I looked at her.

“Why would Elena need those?””

“Perhaps she was collecting evidence.””

Maya suddenly lifted her head.

“She told me to remember a number.””

Naomi turned.

“What number?””

“Seven-four-one-nine.””

I frowned.

“Does that mean anything?””

Maya shook her head.

“She said it was important if she couldn't come back.””

Naomi wrote it down.

Then she searched through the documents Daniel had sent earlier.

A few minutes later, she found something.

“Ethan.””

“What?””

She turned the laptop toward me.

A company payment had been made to Northstar Risk Solutions under reference number 7419.

The amount was $300,000.

The payment date was two days before my accident.

Authorized by Marcus Vale.

I stared at the screen.

The man who had promised to protect my company had paid someone three hundred thousand dollars shortly before my car crashed.

My phone vibrated.

An incoming call.

Marcus Vale.

Naomi looked at me.

“Don't tell him what we know.””

I answered.

“Marcus.””

“Ethan! Finally.”” His familiar voice sounded warm, almost relieved.

“I've been trying to reach you all afternoon.””

“What's happening?””

“Nothing serious. I heard you had some people visiting the house. Doctors. Lawyers.””

I glanced at Naomi.

“News travels fast.””

“I'm concerned about you.””

“That's kind.””

Marcus chuckled.

“You sound different.””

“Maybe I'm starting to feel better.””

A pause.

Then he said, “That's good. But listen, there's something we need to discuss. The board is getting nervous. We've kept things stable, but there are limits to how long the company can operate without clear leadership.””

“I built that company.””

“And nobody has forgotten that.””

“Then why are you talking about limits?””

He sighed.

“Ethan, don't make this emotional. You need time to recover. Let me handle things.””

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“Of course, Marcus.””

“Good. I'll come by tomorrow.””

“No.””

Another pause.

“Sorry?””

“I said I'm not available.””