Chapter 8: The Nurse Who Disappeared
The police arrived at Dr. Collins's office twenty minutes later.
Two detectives entered the room.
One was a tall woman with dark hair pulled into a tight bun. The other was a broad-shouldered man carrying a leather notebook.
“I'm Detective Harris,” the woman introduced herself.
“This is Detective Miller.””
Dad stood.
“I'm Marcus Bennett. This is my daughter, Maya.””
Detective Harris looked at the photograph on the desk.
“Is this Eleanor Bennett?””
“Yes,” I answered.
“And the nurse?””
“Rebecca Shaw.””
Detective Miller opened his notebook.
“Dr. Collins informed us you have information about a missing person.””
The doctor nodded.
“Rebecca worked at the hospital during Eleanor's final admission. She contacted me several years ago, claiming she had witnessed something concerning.””
“What exactly?”” Detective Harris asked.
Dr. Collins looked at me.
Then he answered.
“She said Vanessa Bennett had entered Eleanor's room shortly before the cardiac emergency.””
Dad's face tightened.
“And nobody reported this?””
“Rebecca filed an internal complaint. The hospital investigated, but the complaint was closed.””
“Why?””
Dr. Collins looked uncomfortable.
“Rebecca withdrew her statement.””
Detective Harris wrote something down.
“Did she explain why?””
“No.””
I leaned forward.
“Could Vanessa have threatened her?””
The detective looked at me.
“We're not going to assume that. But we will investigate.””
She turned to Dr. Collins.
“When did you last speak to Rebecca?””
“Three days ago.””
“Did she seem frightened?””
“Yes.””
“What did she say?””
The doctor hesitated.
“She told me she had found something that could prove Eleanor's treatment records had been deliberately altered.””
Detective Miller stopped writing.
“What?””
“A copy of the original medication administration sheet.””
Dad gripped the back of his chair.
“Where is it?””
“I don't know.””
“Did she tell you?””
Dr. Collins shook his head.
“No. She said she would contact me when she was ready.””
Detective Harris exchanged a look with her colleague.
“We need you to provide everything you have.””
They collected copies of the original medical report, the photograph, and the correspondence.
Before leaving, Detective Harris turned to me.
“Have you received any threatening messages?””
I showed her the unknown number.
She photographed the screen.
“Don't delete anything. Don't respond. If you receive another message, contact us.””
Dad walked them out.
I remained in the office with Dr. Collins.
“Do you think my mother knew she was going to die?””
He looked at me for a long time.
“I think she knew something was wrong. But I don't believe she knew what would happen that night.””
I swallowed.
“Did she suffer?””
His expression softened.
“She was frightened. But she was conscious when I last spoke with her.””
I looked down.
“Did she ask for me?””
“Yes.””
My eyes filled.
“She did?””
He nodded.
“She asked whether you were safe. Then she asked me to make sure the blue box was protected.””
I covered my mouth.
“Thank you.””
He looked away.
“I should have done more.””
We left his office shortly after noon.
Dad drove without turning on the radio.
I watched the city pass through the window.
Finally, I asked, “Where are Vanessa and Caleb?””
“I'm not sure.””
“Have you spoken to them?””
“No.””
“Do you think they're together?””
“I imagine so.””
I looked at him.
“Dad, what happens if the money is gone?””
“We'll pursue every legal option available.””
“And what happens if Mom's death wasn't properly investigated?””
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Then we'll cooperate with the authorities.””
I nodded.
For the first time, I believed he might actually do what he was saying.
When we reached home, there was a black envelope tucked beneath the front door.
Dad picked it up.
No return address.
My name was written across the front.
We went inside before opening it.
Inside was a photograph of our mansion.
Taken from across the street.
The date stamp showed that it had been taken that morning.
Someone had been watching us.
Behind the photograph was a handwritten note.
*Stop digging into the past. Your mother made her choices. Don't destroy the family she left behind.*
Dad immediately called Detective Harris.
While he explained the note, I noticed something else inside the envelope.
A small business card.
Bennett Strategic Ventures.
Caleb's company.
On the back, someone had written:
*Ask your brother what happened to the money.*
I looked at Dad.
“We need to find Caleb.””
Dad shook his head.
“No. The police need to find him.””
“But he knows something.””
“And we don't know what he's capable of.””
I wanted to argue.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered before Dad could stop me.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice whispered:
“Maya?””
“Who is this?””
“It's Rebecca.””
I stood up.
“Rebecca Shaw?””
“Yes.””
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Are you safe?””
She began crying.
“Not really.””
Dad moved closer.
I put the call on speaker.
“Rebecca, the police are looking for you,” I said.
“I know. I saw the news about the investigation.””
“Why did you disappear?””
“Because Vanessa found out I still had the original medication sheet.””
Dad leaned toward the phone.
“Rebecca, this is Marcus Bennett.””
She went silent.
Then she spoke.
“Mr. Bennett. I'm sorry.””
“Please. We need to know what happened to my wife.””
Rebecca began breathing unevenly.
“Your wife was conscious at 11:47 p.m. She was asking for her daughter.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then what happened?””
“I heard Vanessa arguing with her.””
“What were they arguing about?””
“The trust documents. Your wife refused to sign something.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Did Vanessa administer medication?””
“I didn't see her inject anything. But I saw her bring a small bottle into the room.””
“What was in it?””
“I don't know.””
Rebecca's voice dropped.
“But after she left, Eleanor's condition changed.””
I felt my legs weaken.
“Did you report it?””
“Yes. I told the charge nurse. I documented the medication discrepancy.””
“What happened to the report?””
“Someone removed it.””
Dad gripped the phone.
“Who?””
“I don't know. But I know who had access.””
“Who?””
Rebecca began to cry again.
“Your wife wasn't alone that night, Mr. Bennett.””
Dad went completely still.
“Who else was there?””
A long silence followed.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“Your son.””
Dad looked confused.
“Caleb?””
“No. Your biological son.””
The room went silent.
I turned toward Dad.
“What?””
Dad's face had lost all color.
He shook his head.
“That's impossible.””
Rebecca continued.
“He came into the hospital just before midnight. He was arguing with Vanessa in the corridor.””
Dad gripped the counter.
“I don't have a son.””
Rebecca stopped speaking.
Then she said something that made my heart pound.
“Mr. Bennett, I think you need to check your old family records.””
The call disconnected.
Dad stared at the phone.
I slowly turned toward him.
“Dad, do you have another child?””
He didn't answer.
Then he walked into his study, opened an old locked drawer, and pulled out a photograph.
It showed him standing beside a young woman.
She was holding a newborn baby.
On the back, he had written:
*For the son I never got to raise.*
I looked at him.
“Who is that woman?””
Dad sat down.
His voice was barely audible.
“Her name was Lauren.””
“Who was the baby?””
May you like
He closed his eyes.
“His name was Daniel.””
