Chapter 6: The Doctor Who Knew Too Much
I spent the entire drive home staring at the photograph.
Dr. Adrian Cole.
I remembered him standing beside Marcus at our wedding reception, raising a glass of champagne and congratulating us.
He had been introduced as an old college friend.
A successful physician.
A man Marcus trusted completely.
I'd even sent him a Christmas card every year.
Now his face was attached to the last photograph taken outside my father's hospital room.
Rebecca glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
"Are you okay?""
"No.""
She nodded.
"That's understandable.""
"Do you think my husband and that doctor were working together?""
"I think that's something Mr. Whitmore needs to investigate.""
I looked at the flash drive in my lap.
"How do I know who I can trust anymore?""
Rebecca didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "You don't have to trust everyone. You only need to verify what they tell you.""
It was a simple sentence.
But it stayed with me.
When I arrived home, I found three missed calls from Marcus.
Then another.
I ignored them.
A message appeared.
We need to talk. I'm coming home.
I typed a reply.
This is my home. You no longer have permission to enter without arranging it with my attorney.
His response came almost immediately.
Don't be childish.
Then another.
You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.
I put the phone down.
Daniel called ten minutes later.
I told him everything Margaret had revealed.
He listened without interrupting.
When I mentioned Dr. Cole, his voice changed.
"Are you certain that was the same physician?""
"Absolutely.""
"Send me the photograph.""
"I will.""
"Evelyn, don't contact him.""
"Why?""
"Because if he was involved in any irregularity, we need to preserve evidence without alerting him.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Daniel, what if he did something to my father?""
"Then we need proof. Not suspicion.""
I hated that answer.
But I knew he was right.
"There's something else," I said.
"Margaret gave me a recording.""
"Have you listened to it?""
"Not yet.""
"Don't play it on your phone. Bring the drive to my office. We'll make a secure copy and review it together.""
I agreed.
Before ending the call, Daniel added, "And one more thing. The board has scheduled an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning.""
"About Marcus?""
"Yes. They're reviewing the financial records and his authority within the company.""
"What happens if they remove him?""
"That depends on the findings. But you should prepare for him to become increasingly aggressive.""
I looked toward the dining room.
The anniversary decorations were still there.
The flowers had begun to droop.
The cake remained untouched.
"I think he already has.""
That evening, I packed a small overnight bag.
Not because I was leaving my home.
Because I didn't know what Marcus might do next.
At 7:45 p.m., someone knocked on the front door.
I looked through the security camera.
Marcus.
He stood on the porch holding a bouquet of white roses.
For a moment, I couldn't believe it.
After everything he'd said, everything I'd discovered, he had come back with flowers.
I opened the door but kept the security chain attached.
"What do you want?""
He lifted the bouquet.
"Can we talk?""
"No.""
"Evelyn, please.""
"You have five minutes.""
He looked past me.
"Can I come in?""
"No.""
He sighed.
"Fine. I deserve that.""
He placed the flowers on the porch railing.
"I've been thinking about last night.""
"How thoughtful.""
"I know I handled things badly.""
I stared at him.
"Badly?""
"Yes. I shouldn't have brought Vanessa into our home.""
I almost laughed.
That was his apology?
Not for the affair.
Not for the forged documents.
Not for the secret marriage.
Just for bringing Vanessa into the dining room.
He continued.
"I was confused. Things got complicated.""
"Did you marry her?""
He looked away.
"That's not what it seems.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
The word came out quietly.
I gripped the edge of the door.
"Why?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"She was threatening me.""
"With what?""
"She had information about the company. She wanted protection. She wanted money.""
"So you married her?""
"It was a mistake.""
"You told me she was your future.""
"I was trying to keep her quiet.""
I stared at him.
For the first time, I saw how little he respected either of us.
He thought every woman around him could be managed with the right combination of promises and threats.
"Why did you forge my father's signature?""
Marcus's expression changed.
"I didn't.""
"The declaration is dated after his death.""
"Someone made a mistake.""
"Margaret Ellis has the original records.""
His eyes narrowed.
"You've spoken to Margaret?""
"Yes.""
He took a step closer.
"What did she tell you?""
"Enough.""
He gripped the porch railing.
"Evelyn, you need to stay away from that woman.""
"Why?""
"Because she has been lying to your family for years.""
"Then why did my father trust her?""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Your father wasn't thinking clearly toward the end.""
The sentence hit me like a slap.
"Don't you dare.""
"I'm just saying he was sick.""
"You told me you couldn't visit him.""
Marcus looked at the ground.
"What?""
"The hospital log says you were there at 9:14 p.m. the night before he died.""
He went completely still.
I continued.
"Why did you lie to me?""
He swallowed.
"I was trying to protect you.""
"From what?""
"Your father's paranoia.""
I stared at him.
"My father was paranoid?""
"He thought everyone was stealing from him. He accused people constantly. He was confused.""
"And Dr. Cole?""
Marcus's eyes flickered.
Just once.
But I saw it.
"What about him?""
"Why was he with you outside my father's room?""
Marcus looked at me.
Then he smiled.
It was the same smile he'd used when he told me I needed to accept sharing him.
A smile without warmth.
"You should stop asking questions you don't understand.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"Get off my property.""
"Evelyn—"
"Now.""
He picked up the flowers.
For a moment, I thought he might throw them.
Instead, he leaned toward the gap in the door.
"You think Daniel Whitmore is going to save you? Your father trusted the wrong people, and look where it got him.""
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
Marcus stepped back.
"Ask Daniel why he never told you what happened after your father died.""
Then he turned and walked toward his car.
I stood in the doorway until his taillights disappeared.
My hands were shaking again.
I immediately called Daniel.
He answered quickly.
"Evelyn?""
"Marcus just left.""
"Did he threaten you?""
"He said my father trusted the wrong people. Then he told me to ask you why you never told me what happened after Dad died.""
Silence.
A long silence.
"Daniel?""
He exhaled.
"There's something I should have told you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
"After your father's death, the hospital contacted my office. They reported that a member of the family had requested a copy of the medical records.""
"Marcus?""
"No.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Your mother.""
I stopped breathing.
"My mother died when I was twelve.""
"I know.""
"That's impossible.""
"That's what I thought too.""
I gripped the phone.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?""
He continued carefully.
"Someone used your mother's identity to request the records. The signature on the application was accepted by the hospital, but the address provided was not one we recognized.""
"Did you investigate?""
"Yes. The request was traced to a private mailbox.""
"Who rented it?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said something that made my entire body go cold.
"Margaret Ellis.""
I couldn't speak.
The woman who'd given me the flash drive.
The woman who'd claimed to be protecting my father.
The woman who'd shown me photographs of Marcus outside the hospital.
She had requested my father's medical records using my dead mother's identity.
"Why would she do that?""
"We don't know.""
"Does she know you found out?""
"I don't believe so.""
I looked toward the window.
A car was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
I couldn't see who was inside.
"Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"I think someone is watching my house.""
His voice immediately sharpened.
"Go upstairs. Lock the doors. I'm sending someone.""
I moved away from the window.
Then my phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from an unknown sender.
No greeting.
No explanation.
Just one attachment.
A scanned photograph.
I opened it.
It showed a woman standing in front of a hospital nursery, holding a newborn baby.
The woman looked exactly like my mother.
I zoomed in.
On the back of the photograph, someone had written a date.
The date was twenty-nine years earlier.
And beneath it were six words:
Your father didn't bring you home.
I stared at the photograph until the words blurred.
Then I noticed something else.
The hospital bracelet around the baby's wrist.
It didn't carry my name.
May you like
It carried another girl's name.
*Evelyn Hart's birth certificate had been issued to a baby who wasn't listed in the hospital photograph.*
