Chapter 4: The Woman in the White Coat
For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the photograph.
Vanessa stood outside a hospital room wearing a white medical coat. Her hair was shorter, her face younger, but there was no mistaking her.
Beside her stood Thomas and a man I had never seen before.
Daniel.
I turned toward my wife.
“You told me you had never met Clara before our wedding.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I never said that.””
“You told me you had never even heard of her until after we started dating.””
“I said I didn't know her personally.””
I held up the photograph.
“Then explain this.””
Vanessa glanced at Thomas.
He immediately looked away.
That small movement told me more than either of them wanted me to know.
“Thomas,” I said, “how did you get this photograph?””
He took a breath.
“Daniel gave it to me shortly before he disappeared.””
“And you kept it?””
“Yes.””
“For five years?””
“Yes, sir.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Thomas looked toward Lily.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Vanessa?””
He didn't answer.
My wife laughed bitterly.
“This is ridiculous. You're allowing an old photograph and a few pages from Clara's diary to destroy your marriage.””
I stepped closer.
“You were wearing a medical coat.””
“It was a costume.””
“A costume?””
“I attended a charity event at the hospital. That's all.””
Thomas finally spoke.
“That isn't true.””
Vanessa's head snapped toward him.
“Be careful, Thomas.””
He swallowed.
“Mrs. Bennett was admitted to the hospital for complications during her final weeks. You visited her several times.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because I was trying to help.””
“Help whom?””
“Clara.””
I shook my head.
“You didn't know Clara.””
Vanessa's voice became sharp.
“You never asked enough questions about your first wife. You were too busy feeling sorry for yourself.””
Lily pulled on my sleeve.
“Daddy, why is everybody shouting?””
I immediately knelt.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart. We're just trying to understand something.””
She looked at Vanessa.
“Did you know Mommy?””
Vanessa stared at her.
For a moment, her expression softened.
“Yes, Lily. I knew your mother.””
“Was she nice?””
Vanessa's lips pressed together.
“She was... complicated.””
Lily looked down at the photograph in my hand.
“Mommy looks happy.””
Nobody answered.
I stood again.
“Thomas, I want the complete hospital records, every access log, and every document connected to Clara's security detail.””
“I can arrange that.””
“Today.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You cannot access private medical records.””
“I'm her husband.””
“Not anymore.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
I stared at her.
“What?””
Vanessa took a breath.
“Richard, there are legal matters you haven't been informed about.””
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded document.
It was a photocopy of a marriage certificate.
My name appeared at the top.
So did Clara's.
But there was a red stamp across the page.
*MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION — FINALIZED.*
I stared at it.
“That is impossible.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Clara and you were legally divorced before she died.””
I shook my head.
“No. We never divorced.””
“Apparently, you did.””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Bennett, I don't think—”
“Stay out of this!””
I examined the document.
The signature at the bottom looked almost identical to mine.
Almost.
But something was wrong with the date.
It showed that the divorce had been finalized three weeks before Clara's death.
I remembered those weeks clearly.
I had been beside her almost every day. I had slept in a chair beside her hospital bed. We had talked about Lily, about the hotel, and about the future we wouldn't have together.
I had never signed anything.
“Who filed this?””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“Your attorney.””
“Which attorney?””
“Someone who is no longer with the company.””
I looked at Thomas.
“Find the original.””
He nodded.
Vanessa moved toward the door.
“I'm leaving. This conversation is over.””
“No,” I said.
“It's just beginning.””
She stopped.
“You're making a terrible mistake, Richard.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Maybe. But I won't make the mistake of ignoring another warning from my wife.””
Vanessa's face twisted.
Then she walked out.
The guards followed.
For several seconds, the only sound in the suite was Lily turning the pages of Clara's notebook.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, baby?””
“Why did Mommy's friend wear a doctor's coat?””
I sat beside her.
“I don't know yet.””
She pointed toward the last page.
There was a small drawing of a blue butterfly.
Underneath it, Clara had written:
If they change the papers, look beneath the stars.
I looked up at the ceiling.
Hundreds of tiny lights glowed above us.
Then I noticed something.
One of the stars wasn't a light.
It was a small silver screw.
And directly beneath it, hidden in the wooden ceiling frame, was a narrow black slot.
Thomas followed my gaze.
His face went pale.
May you like
“Mr. Bennett,” he whispered.
“I think I know what she hid.””
