Chapter 9: The Treatment That Never Reached My Father
Eleanor sat down before anyone could ask her another question.
Her hands were shaking.
I placed the medical authorization on the desk.
"Explain this.""
She stared at the signature.
"I can explain.""
"Then do it.""
Daniel moved closer.
"Mrs. Hale, this document appears to authorize a change in Mr. Whitmore's medication. Is that correct?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
"What medication?""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"His cancer treatment.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What did you change?""
"Nothing.""
I stared at her.
"Your signature is on the authorization.""
"I signed it because Alexander asked me to.""
"Why would he ask you to?""
"Because he was afraid.""
I shook my head.
"Of Victor?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Victor had discovered that Alexander was preparing to remove Richard from the original inheritance arrangement. He believed the company should have been divided between the two families.""
Marcus looked confused.
"Why would my father have been included in Alexander's will?""
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Because Richard once saved Alexander's life.""
The room went quiet.
She continued.
"Thirty years ago, Alexander and Richard were involved in a construction project. There was an accident at the site. Alexander was trapped inside a damaged building, and Richard pulled him out.""
I looked at the documents.
"So my father promised him part of the company?""
"Not exactly. Alexander promised to help Richard establish his business. Over the years, their relationship became complicated. Richard started believing he was entitled to more.""
Daniel examined the amendment.
"And Alexander eventually changed his will.""
Eleanor nodded.
"After he discovered that Richard had been sharing confidential company information with Victor.""
Marcus looked horrified.
"My father did what?""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"Richard didn't know what Victor intended to do with the information. He thought they were negotiating a legitimate partnership.""
I looked at her.
"And what about the medication?""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Victor wanted Alexander weak. He wanted him unable to participate in the board meetings. He believed that if Alexander couldn't exercise his voting rights, Richard could regain control.""
My hands tightened around the edge of the desk.
"Did you help him?""
She shook her head quickly.
"No. I never changed Alexander's medication.""
"Then why did you sign this?""
"Because the authorization was for a temporary treatment adjustment recommended by his doctor.""
Daniel looked at the document.
"Do we have the doctor's name?""
Eleanor pointed toward the second page.
Dr. Samuel Price.
Daniel immediately recognized it.
"That doctor was investigated several years ago for falsifying patient records.""
My heart sank.
"Was he my father's physician?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He was.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Did he kill him?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I don't know.""
I looked at her.
"You were there. You signed the authorization. You must know something.""
She wiped her eyes.
"On the night Alexander died, I received a call from the hospital. They said his condition had suddenly deteriorated. When I arrived, Victor was already there.""
I froze.
"Victor was at the hospital?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"He said he wanted to say goodbye.""
I looked at the photograph of my father.
My father had died believing that the people around him were protecting him.
Had he known what was happening?
Had he been afraid?
I felt tears gathering in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"Did you see his medical records?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Victor took them before the police arrived.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"That would be a serious breach of evidence.""
"He said he was protecting the family.""
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Another person using that excuse.""
Then I noticed something.
The digital recorder on my father's desk.
It had a small red light.
I picked it up.
"Does this still work?""
Daniel examined it.
"It appears to have power.""
Eleanor immediately stood.
"Don't play that.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
She looked terrified.
"Because Alexander recorded something that night.""
Daniel carefully placed the recorder on the desk.
"Then we should preserve it.""
I pressed the playback button.
Static filled the room.
Then my father's voice emerged.
It was weak, but unmistakable.
"If you're hearing this, Nia, then something has happened that I was unable to prevent.""
I covered my mouth.
It was the first time I had heard his voice in two years.
The recording continued.
"Victor believes this company belongs to him. Richard believes he deserves it. And Diane believes she can bargain her way into everything.""
I looked at Eleanor.
She lowered her eyes.
My father's voice became quieter.
"But none of them understand what I discovered.""
There was a pause.
A faint sound of a door opening.
Then another voice.
A man's voice.
"Alexander, you need to sign the papers.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
It was Victor.
My father's voice answered.
"I will never give you control of my daughter's inheritance.""
Victor laughed.
"Then she'll lose everything.""
The recording crackled.
My father said something I couldn't hear.
Then Victor spoke again.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be.""
A loud thud followed.
Eleanor gasped.
Marcus stepped backward.
Daniel leaned toward the recorder.
Then my father's voice returned.
"Someone help me...""
The recording ended.
For several seconds, the room remained silent.
I stared at the device.
"That's it?""
Daniel checked the recorder.
"There's another file.""
He pressed the button.
This time, a woman's voice emerged.
A voice I recognized immediately.
Diane Carter.
"Victor, you promised me Richard would never find out.""
Victor answered.
"He won't. But the girl is becoming a problem.""
Diane lowered her voice.
"Then what do we do about her?""
Victor replied with chilling calm.
"We separate her from everyone she trusts. Starting with Marcus.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Marcus stared at the recorder.
"No...""
Diane's voice continued.
"She's not stupid. She'll eventually discover the documents.""
Victor laughed.
"By then, she'll be too busy defending her marriage to notice what we're taking.""
I turned toward Marcus.
He looked devastated.
But the recording wasn't finished.
Diane asked another question.
"And Alexander?""
Victor's answer was almost a whisper.
"Alexander is already taken care of.""
A sharp breath escaped Eleanor.
Daniel stopped the recording.
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus looked at me.
"Nia, I swear I didn't know about this.""
I wanted to believe him.
But I couldn't.
The recording had revealed that our marriage had been part of a plan.
My husband's mother had helped orchestrate it.
And Victor Hale had been controlling the pieces from the beginning.
Daniel picked up his phone.
"This recording changes everything. We need to contact the authorities immediately.""
He stepped into the corridor.
I remained beside the desk.
My father's voice was still echoing in my head.
Starting with Marcus.
I turned toward my husband.
"How long have you known Diane was working with Victor?""
Marcus shook his head.
"I didn't.""
"Did you know Victor was your financial backer?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know he was my biological father?""
He froze.
That reaction told me everything.
"Marcus?""
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
"How long?""
His voice was barely audible.
"Two months.""
The room seemed to collapse around me.
"Two months?""
"I found out after I signed the first agreement. I was going to tell you.""
"After you signed?""
He nodded.
I stared at him.
"Did you know he had been planning our marriage?""
"No.""
"Did you know about my father's death?""
"Absolutely not.""
"Then why didn't you tell me when you discovered who Victor was?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Because he threatened me.""
I felt a chill.
"With what?""
He swallowed.
"He said if I told you, he would release something that would send your father to prison.""
I frowned.
"My father is dead.""
Marcus's face changed.
Then he said the words I had never expected to hear.
"He told me Alexander Whitmore wasn't the innocent businessman everyone believed him to be.""
Before I could respond, Daniel returned.
His expression was urgent.
"Nia, we have a problem.""
"What now?""
"The police have traced the original recording to a server that was accessed remotely tonight.""
"By whom?""
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Someone using your husband's credentials.""
I turned slowly.
Marcus shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
Daniel placed his phone on the desk.
A live security notification appeared.
*FILE DELETION REQUEST — APPROVED.*
The source account was Marcus Carter.
And beneath it was a second notification.
*REMOTE USER CONNECTED: DIANE CARTER.*
I looked toward the door.
Eleanor was gone.
So was the silver key.
And as the lights in the study suddenly went out, a voice came through the building's security speakers.
"Nia, sweetheart. You really should have listened to your mother.""
It was Diane.
May you like
Then came the sound of a door locking.
And somewhere beneath the house, an alarm began to scream.
