Chapter 10: The Doctor Who Signed My Mother's Death Certificate
Dad sat motionless for almost a full minute.
The phone was still in his hand.
Rebecca was the first to speak.
"Daniel, ask Graham whether he has evidence.""
Dad lifted the phone again.
"Are you still there?""
"Yes.""
"Why are you accusing Dr. Hayes?""
Graham exhaled.
"Because I saw him meet Vanessa several times. He had access to Eleanor's medical records, and he helped arrange the paperwork for the financial authorization.""
"You're telling me our family doctor helped my wife steal from my daughter?""
"I'm telling you he helped Vanessa obtain documents she should never have had.""
Dad stood.
"What documents?""
"Copies of Eleanor's medical assessments. Information about her medication. Her hospital admission dates. Everything Vanessa needed to make the authorization look legitimate.""
Rebecca immediately began writing.
"Mr. Pierce," she said, "did you personally witness these transactions?""
"Yes.""
"Do you have copies?""
"I have emails, bank transfers, and recordings.""
"Why haven't you contacted the authorities?""
Graham was silent.
Then he answered.
"Because I'm not innocent either.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"What did you do?""
"I helped Vanessa establish the company. I processed some of the transfers. I believed the money was legitimate at first.""
"And later?""
"Later, I discovered the original investment was being hidden from Eleanor's estate. When I confronted Vanessa, she threatened to accuse me of stealing everything.""
Rebecca leaned toward the phone.
"Mr. Pierce, you need to preserve every document. We cannot investigate this properly without the original records.""
"I understand.""
Dad's voice was trembling.
"Where can we meet?""
"Tomorrow morning. My office.""
"No. Tonight.""
"Daniel, I have to arrange—"
"My wife is dead. My daughter has been living with a woman who tried to steal her inheritance. I'm done waiting.""
There was a long pause.
Finally, Graham agreed to meet at Rebecca's office.
The call ended.
I looked at Dad.
"Do you think Dr. Hayes knew Mom was going to die?""
He turned toward me immediately.
"No, sweetheart.""
"But he helped Vanessa.""
"We don't know everything yet.""
Rebecca closed her briefcase.
"That's correct. We must distinguish between what we suspect and what we can prove.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother stood outside the little storefront, smiling.
She looked healthy.
Happy.
Alive.
I remembered Dr. Hayes visiting our house after her funeral. He had brought a sympathy card and told Dad that Eleanor had been brave until the very end.
He had even hugged me.
I remembered thanking him.
The thought made me feel sick.
That evening, Dad called the hospital and requested a formal review of my mother's medical records.
He also contacted the authorities about the suspicious financial documents.
By midnight, we had received confirmation that the bank had placed additional restrictions on the accounts.
But I couldn't sleep.
At around two in the morning, I went downstairs.
Dad was sitting at the dining table, looking at an old photograph of Mom.
"Still awake?"" he asked.
I shook my head.
He moved his chair aside.
I sat beside him.
"Do you think she knew?""
Dad looked at the photograph.
"Your mother was a very careful woman.""
"Then why didn't she tell you?""
He swallowed.
"Maybe she didn't want to frighten me. Maybe she thought she could resolve it herself.""
I rested my head against his shoulder.
"She shouldn't have had to.""
"No," he whispered.
"She shouldn't.""
The following morning, we arrived at Rebecca's office at nine.
Graham Pierce was already waiting.
He was in his early fifties, with silver hair and a neatly pressed navy suit.
He looked nervous.
When Dad entered, Graham stood.
"Daniel.""
Dad didn't shake his hand.
"Start talking.""
Graham opened a leather folder.
Inside were bank statements, printed emails, and copies of company registrations.
He placed the first document on the table.
"This is the original business account.""
Rebecca examined it.
"Whose name?""
"Vanessa Whitmore.""
"Who funded it?""
"Initially, Vanessa. Then several transfers came through accounts connected to Eleanor's estate.""
Dad leaned forward.
"How much?""
"Fifty thousand dollars in the first transfer. Another twenty thousand several weeks later.""
Dad stared at him.
"Seventy thousand?""
Graham nodded.
"Those were the transfers I could trace.""
Rebecca pointed to another line.
"Where did the second transfer originate?""
Graham hesitated.
"An account associated with Eleanor's medical expenses.""
Dad frowned.
"That account was supposed to pay for treatment.""
"I know.""
"Are you telling me money intended for my wife's treatment was transferred into Vanessa's company?""
Graham looked down.
"Yes.""
Dad pushed his chair backward.
For a moment, I thought he might hit him.
Rebecca raised a hand.
"Daniel. Let him finish.""
Graham opened another folder.
"There was also a payment to Dr. Hayes.""
Dad froze.
"How much?""
"Fifteen thousand dollars.""
"For what?""
"Consulting services.""
Rebecca looked skeptical.
"Was he a medical consultant for the company?""
"No. He wasn't involved in the business.""
"Then why was he paid?""
Graham rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa said he was helping with administrative documentation.""
Dad's voice dropped.
"Medical documentation?""
Graham nodded.
I stared at the papers.
Fifteen thousand dollars.
Money from my mother's medical account.
Paid to the man who had treated her.
"Did Dr. Hayes know?"" I asked.
Graham looked at me.
"I believe he did.""
"Believe?""
"I have an email from him confirming receipt.""
Rebecca reached for the folder.
"May I see it?""
Graham handed her a printed message.
It was dated October 16, five years earlier.
The subject line read:
*Documentation Completed.*
The message contained only three sentences.
The records have been prepared as requested.
The authorization should be sufficient.
Please confirm the transfer once the remaining signatures are secured.
Dad stared at the email.
"Who was it sent to?""
Graham pointed.
"Vanessa.""
Rebecca looked at the date.
October 16.
Two days after my mother's final hospital admission.
She immediately requested the original electronic copy.
Graham agreed to provide it.
Then Dad asked the question I had been afraid to hear.
"Did Vanessa know Eleanor was dying?""
Graham looked at him.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"She was told by Dr. Hayes that Eleanor's condition was deteriorating.""
Dad's eyes filled with anger.
"And she still went ahead with the transfer?""
Graham nodded.
"Yes.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Graham reached into his folder and removed one final document.
"This is the reason I agreed to meet you.""
It was a photocopy of an internal company ledger.
One entry had been highlighted.
*Payment: $18,000. Recipient: V. Whitmore.*
The date was October 18.
The day my mother died.
Dad looked at it.
Then at Graham.
"Where did the money go?""
Graham swallowed.
"To Vanessa's personal account.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Is there a transaction reference?""
Graham pointed to the bottom.
"Yes.""
Dad read the reference number.
Then he slowly lowered the paper.
Because the account number wasn't Vanessa's alone.
It was a joint account.
May you like
And the second account holder was someone who had been standing beside my mother's hospital bed when she took her final breath.
*Dr. Richard Hayes.*
