Chapter 7: The Nurse Who Knew Too Much
I read my father's name three times.
Richard Carter.
The signature at the bottom of the hospital document looked deliberate, confident, and unmistakably familiar.
My father had signed permission for my mother's medication to be changed.
I looked up at Patricia.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
She glanced toward the corridor.
"Not here.""
Bear stepped between her and the entrance.
"You're safe with us. But if you know something about Evelyn's death, it's time to tell Maya.""
Patricia shook her head.
"You don't understand. Vanessa knows I kept copies.""
"Copies of what?"" I asked.
"Medical orders. Medication records. Everything.""
She opened her handbag and removed a thick brown envelope.
"I kept these because I knew something wasn't right.""
My fingers trembled as I accepted it.
Inside were several hospital documents, medication charts, and handwritten notes.
Patricia pointed to one page.
"This was the original prescription. Your mother was receiving medication appropriate for her condition. It was carefully monitored.""
She turned to another page.
"This was the revised order.""
I compared the dates.
The second document had been issued three days before my mother died.
The dosage was significantly higher.
"Why was it changed?""
Patricia took a shaky breath.
"Your father requested it.""
I stared at her.
"Did the doctor approve it?""
"That's what I questioned. The authorization appeared to come from the attending physician, but I never saw him sign it.""
"Then who signed it?""
She pointed to the bottom.
A second signature.
Vanessa Carter.
My stomach dropped.
"She wasn't a doctor.""
"No," Patricia answered.
"But she told the hospital staff that she had written authorization from Richard.""
I looked at the documents again.
"Why would anyone accept that?""
"Because your father had been listed as your mother's primary medical contact. Vanessa presented herself as the person managing everything.""
Bear's jaw tightened.
"Did you report this?""
"I tried.""
Patricia looked down.
"I went to the head nurse. I asked for the prescription to be reviewed. The next morning, I was removed from Evelyn's care.""
"What happened after that?""
"I was transferred to another department. Two weeks later, I lost my job.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Because you questioned the medication?""
"That's what I believe.""
Linda reached for the envelope.
"Patricia, did you tell anyone else?""
She nodded.
"One person. Evelyn's lawyer.""
"Martin?"" I asked.
"Yes. I gave him a copy of the original prescription before I left the hospital.""
I remembered Martin's office.
He had never mentioned receiving it.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because I asked him not to. I was frightened, and I had a young daughter. Vanessa had already contacted me at home.""
"What did she say?""
Patricia's face tightened.
"She told me that if I continued spreading lies about Richard, I would lose more than my job.""
The corridor seemed to grow colder.
I looked at the photograph of my mother.
She had trusted this woman.
She had known something was wrong.
And nobody had protected her.
I took a breath.
"Was the medication responsible for her death?""
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
"I can't tell you that. I'm a nurse, not a medical examiner. But I can tell you the dosage change was unusual, the authorization was questionable, and the timing deserves investigation.""
I nodded slowly.
For the first time, someone had given me facts instead of excuses.
Then Patricia pulled another document from the envelope.
"This is the most important one.""
It was a photocopy of a hospital incident report.
The date was October 22.
The day my mother died.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
Patient requested to speak privately with daughter. Request denied due to family instruction.
I stared at the words.
"She asked to see me?""
Patricia nodded.
"Several times.""
My eyes filled.
"Why didn't anyone call me?""
"You were twelve. Vanessa told the hospital that your mother didn't want you exposed to her condition.""
I shook my head.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
Patricia's voice broke.
"Your mother asked me to tell you something if I ever found you.""
I stepped closer.
"What?""
Patricia looked directly at me.
"She wanted you to know that she didn't abandon you.""
I covered my mouth.
"She thought I believed that?""
"She was afraid you would grow up thinking she chose to leave.""
A sob escaped my throat.
For six years, I had wondered whether my mother had known how much I needed her.
Whether she had heard me crying at night.
Whether she had wanted to come home.
And she had been asking to see me.
I wiped my cheeks.
"What happened during her final hours?""
Patricia looked toward the storage entrance.
"Your mother became increasingly alert shortly before she died. She asked for the doctor. She asked for you. Then she asked to speak with me.""
"What did she say?""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"She said, 'If Richard comes in, don't leave me alone with him.''"
Bear closed his eyes.
I felt sick.
"Did Dad come?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Shortly after midnight.""
Patricia swallowed.
"He stayed in the room for about twenty minutes. Vanessa arrived later.""
"And then?""
"Your mother became unresponsive.""
I gripped the document.
"Did you see what happened?""
"No. I had been assigned to another patient. When I returned, the doctor was already there.""
"Who was the doctor?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Dr. Samuel Whitmore.""
Bear immediately looked at Linda.
They exchanged a glance.
"What?"" I demanded.
Linda spoke carefully.
"Whitmore was a financial supporter of one of Vanessa's charitable foundations.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"How do you know that?""
"Because Evelyn told us she had discovered payments from the education trust going to a company connected to him.""
I stared at the hospital documents.
The missing money.
The changed medication.
The insurance policy.
Everything seemed connected.
Then Patricia reached into her coat pocket and removed a small folded note.
"There's one more thing.""
She handed it to me.
It was written in my mother's handwriting.
Patricia, if I don't survive this, please make sure Maya receives the photograph of the blue room.
I frowned.
"The blue room?""
Patricia nodded.
"Your mother mentioned it several times. I never understood what she meant.""
"Where is it?""
"She said it was somewhere in your house.""
I thought about our home.
The rooms had barely changed since my mother died.
Except one.
The upstairs bedroom at the end of the hallway.
The room Vanessa had turned into a private office.
My mother's old blue bedroom.
I looked at Bear.
"We need to go home.""
His expression hardened.
"Not without a plan.""
But before he could say anything else, Patricia's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
All the color drained from her face.
"Who is it?"" Linda asked.
Patricia didn't answer.
The phone stopped ringing.
A message appeared.
She read it.
Then slowly turned the screen toward me.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM MAYA.*
A second message followed.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: NEXT TIME, WE WON'T ASK YOU TO KEEP QUIET.*
Patricia looked at me with frightened eyes.
May you like
"They know I'm here.""
And somewhere outside the storage facility, a car engine started.
