Chapter 11: The Hospital File
The police convoy reached a private office building in downtown Chicago shortly after one in the morning.
Diane's vehicle had been located in the underground parking garage.
But she was gone.
So was Eleanor.
The brown leather folder had been left on the passenger seat.
Daniel retrieved it under police supervision.
Inside were several original estate documents, copies of my father's medical records, and a sealed envelope bearing the logo of St. Catherine's Medical Center.
I recognized the hospital.
It was where my father had spent his final weeks.
Daniel opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a medical report dated two days before Alexander's death.
The report contained a series of handwritten notes.
One sentence was underlined.
Patient's deterioration is inconsistent with expected response to prescribed treatment.
I read it twice.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel looked at the report.
"It means the doctor suspected something was wrong with your father's medication.""
"Was there an investigation?""
"Not officially.""
"Why?""
He turned the page.
A withdrawal request was attached.
The request stated that Alexander no longer wanted an independent examination.
It was signed by Diane Carter.
I stared at the paper.
"Why did Diane have authority over my father's medical decisions?""
Daniel took a slow breath.
"Because Alexander granted her temporary authority during an emergency.""
"What emergency?""
"Two weeks before his death, you were overseas. Thomas was unavailable. Eleanor had been hospitalized after an accident. Diane was the only person Alexander believed could reach the hospital quickly.""
I shook my head.
"He trusted her?""
"Apparently.""
I felt sick.
The woman who had spent Thanksgiving humiliating me had once been trusted with my father's life.
And she had used that trust to withdraw an investigation.
Marcus stood a few feet away, staring at the documents.
"My mother did this?""
Daniel nodded.
Marcus shook his head.
"Why would she help Victor?""
I looked at him.
"Because she believed she had something to gain.""
He ran his hands over his face.
"I need to talk to her.""
"Why?""
"Because she's my mother.""
I looked away.
There was nothing left to say.
An officer approached Daniel.
"Sir, we've recovered a security recording from the parking garage.""
He handed over a tablet.
The footage showed Diane entering the building with the leather folder.
A few minutes later, Eleanor appeared.
They spoke briefly.
Then Diane handed her the folder.
Eleanor left through the western exit.
Diane remained behind.
I watched the footage again.
Something was wrong.
"Stop.""
The officer paused the video.
I pointed toward the background.
"Who is that?""
A man was standing near the elevator.
He wore a dark suit and carried a small black case.
Daniel leaned closer.
Then his expression changed.
"Dr. Samuel Price.""
The doctor who had treated my father.
The doctor whose name appeared on the medication authorization.
The doctor who had disappeared from the medical records after Alexander's death.
I looked at Daniel.
"Find him.""
The officer made another call.
Within minutes, we learned that Dr. Price had recently been working at a private clinic outside the city.
Daniel arranged for the police to accompany us.
Before we left, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed Marcus's father.
"Richard?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Nia, I need you to listen carefully.""
"What's wrong?""
"Diane has just called me.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know. But she told me something.""
I waited.
"She said Victor is planning to release documents tomorrow morning that will destroy Whitmore Holdings.""
My stomach tightened.
"What documents?""
"She said they prove Alexander stole money from his own company.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He immediately understood.
"Does Richard know anything about these allegations?""
I put the call on speaker.
"Richard, did my father steal money?""
There was a long silence.
Then he answered.
"No.""
His voice cracked.
"Alexander never stole a dollar. But someone moved money through a subsidiary under his name. I discovered it after he died.""
"Who?""
Richard took a shaky breath.
"Victor Hale.""
Daniel nodded.
"That would explain the false accounting records.""
Richard continued.
"But there's something worse. Victor didn't just use Alexander's name. He used mine too.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did you sign?""
"A loan agreement. Years ago. I thought it was a legitimate investment. I didn't realize the money came from an account connected to your father's estate.""
I felt the pieces beginning to fit.
Victor had spent years creating a financial trap.
He had involved Richard, recruited Marcus, manipulated Diane, and used my inheritance as the final prize.
But there was still one question.
Why had my father been unable to stop him?
Richard answered before I asked.
"Because Alexander discovered the truth too late. He called me the night before he died.""
"What did he say?""
Richard's voice broke.
"He told me that someone close to him had been replacing his medication.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who?""
"He didn't know. But he said the person had access to the hospital records and his private accounts.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already writing something down.
"Did he mention Diane?""
Richard hesitated.
"Yes.""
The silence became unbearable.
"He said she had been in his room that evening. But he also said something else.""
"What?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"He said the person who changed his medication wasn't working alone.""
I stared at the medical report.
"Who was helping them?""
Richard answered.
"The doctor.""
The line went quiet.
Then he added:
"Nia, there's something I haven't told you.""
I waited.
"Three days before Alexander died, he transferred a large amount of money into a trust account. He told me it was meant to protect you.""
"How much?""
"Thirty-five million dollars.""
I frowned.
"Where is it now?""
"I don't know. But the account was opened under a different name.""
"Whose?""
Richard's answer was almost a whisper.
"Marcus Carter.""
I turned toward my husband.
His face went completely white.
"What?"" he whispered.
Richard continued.
"Your father-in-law had no idea about that account. I discovered it last week when I reviewed the old banking records.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I never opened an account like that.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Could someone have used your identity?""
Richard answered.
"Possibly. But there's one problem.""
"What?""
"The account was accessed yesterday.""
I stared at Marcus.
"By whom?""
Richard paused.
Then he said:
"By someone using your wife's biometric authorization.""
The call ended.
For a moment, the entire parking garage seemed to fall silent.
I looked at my hands.
Someone had accessed an account containing thirty-five million dollars using my identity.
But I had never authorized it.
Daniel immediately called the bank's fraud department.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Do you know anything about this?""
He shook his head.
"I swear I don't.""
I studied him.
Then I noticed something.
His right hand was trembling.
"Marcus?""
He looked up.
"What?""
I pointed toward his wrist.
There was a small red mark beneath his watch.
The kind left by a hospital identification bracelet.
I frowned.
"Why do you have that?""
He quickly pulled his sleeve down.
Daniel noticed.
"Mr. Carter, have you been to a hospital recently?""
Marcus looked at me.
And for the first time since the evening began, he seemed genuinely frightened.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because Victor told me something about your father.""
"What?""
Marcus looked toward Daniel.
Then back at me.
"He said Alexander didn't die in the hospital.""
I felt the room tilt.
"What do you mean?""
Marcus's voice cracked.
"He said your father was alive for almost six hours after the doctors declared him dead.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Victor showed me the hospital records.""
May you like
Then he said the words that made everything worse.
"He told me someone ordered the hospital to stop resuscitation.""
