Chapter 7: The Doctor Who Refused to Forget
Dr. Helen Foster chose a small café on the outskirts of Charleston for their meeting.
It wasused to Forget
Dr. Helen Foster chose a small café on the outskirts of Charleston for their meeting.
It was nearly four in the afternoon when Marcus arrived with Evelyn and Daniel. Rain tapped against the windows nearly four in the afternoon when Marcus arrived with Evelyn and Daniel. Rain tapped against the windows, and the smell of roasted coffee mingled with the damp wool of their coats.
A woman in, and the smell of roasted coffee mingled with the damp wool of their coats.
A woman in her late fifties sat alone at a table near the back.
She wore a gray cardigan and kept her late fifties sat alone at a table near the back.
She wore a gray cardigan and kept both hands wrapped around a cup she hadn't touched.
When Marcus approached, she stood.
“Mr both hands wrapped around a cup she hadn't touched.
When Marcus approached, she stood.
“Mr. Whitmore,” she said.
“You look like your father.””
Marcus felt an unexpected ache in his chest.
“I've. Whitmore,” she said.
“You look like your father.””
Marcus felt an unexpected ache in his chest.
“I've heard that before.””
Dr. Foster gestured toward the chairs.
“Please sit. I don't have heard that before.””
Dr. Foster gestured toward the chairs.
“Please sit. I don't have much time.””
“Are you afraid of someone?”” Marcus asked.
She looked at Evelyn before answering.
“I've much time.””
“Are you afraid of someone?”” Marcus asked.
She looked at Evelyn before answering.
“I've been afraid of being wrong for six years.””
Nobody spoke.
Dr. Foster opened a leather handbag been afraid of being wrong for six years.””
Nobody spoke.
Dr. Foster opened a leather handbag and removed a thin folder.
“The night your father died, I was on duty at St. Catherine and removed a thin folder.
“The night your father died, I was on duty at St. Catherine's Hospital. The ambulance called ahead to report a cardiac emergency.
Your father arrived with no's Hospital. The ambulance called ahead to report a cardiac emergency. Your father arrived with no pulse.””
Marcus gripped the edge of the table.
“Was there anything unusual about his condition?””
“At pulse.””
Marcus gripped the edge of the table.
“Was there anything unusual about his condition?””
“At the time, not enough to establish anything unusual. He had a documented heart condition. His symptoms were consistent the time, not enough to establish anything unusual.
He had a documented heart condition. His symptoms were consistent with a severe cardiac event.””
“And Dr. Reed?””
“He arrived shortly before the ambulance. He told with a severe cardiac event.””
“And Dr. Reed?””
“He arrived shortly before the ambulance. He told me he'd examined your father at home.””
“Did he say what happened?””
“He said your father had complained of chest discomfort and me he'd examined your father at home.””
“Did he say what happened?””
“He said your father had complained of chest discomfort and shortness of breath. He claimed he had administered a medication appropriate to the situation shortness of breath. He claimed he had administered a medication appropriate to the situation.””
“Which medication?””
Dr. Foster hesitated.
“That's where things became complicated.””
She opened.””
“Which medication?””
Dr. Foster hesitated.
“That's where things became complicated.””
She opened the folder.
Inside were copies of medical records, a handwritten note, and a page from a hospital incident log.
“Dr. Reed told me the folder.
Inside were copies of medical records, a handwritten note, and a page from a hospital incident log.
“Dr. Reed told me he'd given your father a prescribed medication. However, the documentation he provided afterward did not match the medication he'd given your father a prescribed medication. However, the documentation he provided afterward did not match the medication list in your father's medical file.””
Marcus stared at the papers.
“Did you report it?””
“I questioned him list in your father's medical file.””
Marcus stared at the papers.
“Did you report it?””
“I questioned him. He insisted the discrepancy was an administrative error. The next morning, he submitted a corrected record.””
“And you accepted it?””
“I accepted the record because I had no proof. He insisted the discrepancy was an administrative error. The next morning, he submitted a corrected record.””
“And you accepted it?””
“I accepted the record because I had no proof of wrongdoing. Your father had died, and the available evidence supported a natural cause of of wrongdoing. Your father had died, and the available evidence supported a natural cause of death.””
Marcus felt his anger rise.
“You knew there was a discrepancy and did nothing?””
Dr death.””
Marcus felt his anger rise.
“You knew there was a discrepancy and did nothing?””
Dr. Foster held his gaze.
“I documented my concerns. I also requested an internal review. The hospital. Foster held his gaze.
“I documented my concerns. I also requested an internal review. The hospital found no evidence that the discrepancy had contributed to his death, but they could not independently verify found no evidence that the discrepancy had contributed to his death, but they could not independently verify what had been administered at the house.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I regret that I didn't push harder.””
Marcus looked at the incident log.
“Did what had been administered at the house.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I regret that I didn't push harder.””
Marcus looked at the incident log.
“Did you sign the death certificate?””
“No. I completed the hospital's clinical documentation, but the official certification was handled by another physician you sign the death certificate?””
“No. I completed the hospital's clinical documentation, but the official certification was handled by another physician under the applicable procedures.””
“Who?””
“Dr. Samuel Reed signed the attending physician under the applicable procedures.””
“Who?””
“Dr. Samuel Reed signed the attending physician's section of the medical certification.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Marcus felt as's section of the medical certification.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Marcus felt as if somebody had pulled the floor from beneath him.
The family physician who had been present at the house had also signed the document if somebody had pulled the floor from beneath him.
The family physician who had been present at the house had also signed the document establishing the official cause of death.
“Did he have the authority to do that?””
“Under the circumstances, he could certify the death if he had sufficient establishing the official cause of death.
“Did he have the authority to do that?””
“Under the circumstances, he could certify the death if he had sufficient medical grounds. Whether those grounds were sufficient is a question for an independent review.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
He appreciated her medical grounds. Whether those grounds were sufficient is a question for an independent review.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
He appreciated her precision. She wasn't claiming murder. She wasn't claiming that the medication caused his father's death.
She was telling him precision. She wasn't claiming murder. She wasn't claiming that the medication caused his father's death.
She was telling him what she knew—and what nobody had been able to establish.
“What happened to the envelope my father left?”” what she knew—and what nobody had been able to establish.
“What happened to the envelope my father left?”” he asked.
Dr. Foster looked at him sharply.
“So Nathan told you about that?””
“No. We he asked.
Dr. Foster looked at him sharply.
“So Nathan told you about that?””
“No. We found a photograph of him holding an envelope with Dr. Reed.
Daniel contacted you, and you said my found a photograph of him holding an envelope with Dr. Reed. Daniel contacted you, and you said my father left something addressed to me.””
She stared at the table for several seconds.
“Your father arrived at father left something addressed to me.””
She stared at the table for several seconds.
“Your father arrived at the hospital conscious but seriously ill. Before he deteriorated, he asked me to keep a sealed the hospital conscious but seriously ill. Before he deteriorated, he asked me to keep a sealed envelope safe. He said it contained information about a financial dispute and that I should give it directly to you.””
envelope safe. He said it contained information about a financial dispute and that I should give it directly to you.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“What was in it?””
“I never opened it.””
“WhereMarcus leaned forward.
“What was in it?””
“I never opened it.””
“Where is it now?””
“Nathan collected it the following morning.””
Evelyn made a small, wounded sound.
Dr is it now?””
“Nathan collected it the following morning.””
Evelyn made a small, wounded sound.
Dr. Foster continued.
“He told me your father had changed his mind and wanted the envelope delivered to the estate attorney instead. Foster continued.
“He told me your father had changed his mind and wanted the envelope delivered to the estate attorney instead. He presented a signed authorization.””
“Did you verify it?””
“I tried to. He presented a signed authorization.””
“Did you verify it?””
“I tried to. I called the number on the form, and someone claiming to be the estate attorney confirmed. I called the number on the form, and someone claiming to be the estate attorney confirmed the request. At the time, I had no reason to believe it was fraudulent.””
“Who was the attorney?””
“ the request. At the time, I had no reason to believe it was fraudulent.””
“Who was the attorney?””
“Richard Cole.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The same man.
The same network.
The same quiet, carefully managed liesRichard Cole.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The same man.
The same network.
The same quiet, carefully managed lies.
“Did you ever see the authorization again?”” he asked.
“No. But I kept a note.
“Did you ever see the authorization again?”” he asked.
“No. But I kept a note of the transaction because I was uncomfortable with the way it had been handled.””
She of the transaction because I was uncomfortable with the way it had been handled.””
She slid a handwritten page across the table.
At the bottom was a reference number and the initials slid a handwritten page across the table.
At the bottom was a reference number and the initials of the person who had collected the envelope.
N.W.
Nathan Whitmore.
Marcus stared at the initials until of the person who had collected the envelope.
N.W.
Nathan Whitmore.
Marcus stared at the initials until the letters blurred.
“Why didn't you contact me when you realized the situation might the letters blurred.
“Why didn't you contact me when you realized the situation might be suspicious?””
Dr. Foster's expression tightened.
“I didn't realize the full significance be suspicious?””
Dr. Foster's expression tightened.
“I didn't realize the full significance until last month. I received an anonymous letter containing a copy of the same trust amendment until last month. I received an anonymous letter containing a copy of the same trust amendment you found.
The writer asked whether I remembered your father's final hours you found. The writer asked whether I remembered your father's final hours.””
She reached into her handbag again and removed a sealed plastic sleeve.
Inside.””
She reached into her handbag again and removed a sealed plastic sleeve.
Inside was a photocopy of the letter.
Marcus read it.
*Dr. Foster, you were was a photocopy of the letter.
Marcus read it.
*Dr. Foster, you were the last independent physician to review the circumstances surrounding Arthur Whitmore's death. If you still the last independent physician to review the circumstances surrounding Arthur Whitmore's death.
If you still have the records, preserve them. His family is preparing to repeat the same crime have the records, preserve them. His family is preparing to repeat the same crime under the cover of a wedding.*
Marcus looked up.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know. It under the cover of a wedding.*
Marcus looked up.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know. It was mailed without a return address.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“Did you recognize was mailed without a return address.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“Did you recognize the handwriting?””
“No.””
Marcus read the letter again.
Repeat the same crime.
the handwriting?””
“No.””
Marcus read the letter again.
Repeat the same crime.
“What did my father discover before he died?”” he asked.
Dr. Foster folded“What did my father discover before he died?”” he asked.
Dr. Foster folded her hands.
“I believe he suspected someone was using his medical condition as cover for financial her hands.
“I believe he suspected someone was using his medical condition as cover for financial misconduct. But I never saw the evidence he claimed to possess.””
“Did he mention Nathan misconduct. But I never saw the evidence he claimed to possess.””
“Did he mention Nathan?””
“Yes.””
Marcus went still.
“What did he say?””
“He asked me whether stress could cause?””
“Yes.””
Marcus went still.
“What did he say?””
“He asked me whether stress could cause a person to become dangerously impulsive. I told him stress could affect judgment, but it couldn't explain away deliberate a person to become dangerously impulsive. I told him stress could affect judgment, but it couldn't explain away deliberate decisions.””
Evelyn stared at the table.
Dr. Foster looked at Marcus.
“He said he was worried his older decisions.””
Evelyn stared at the table.
Dr. Foster looked at Marcus.
“He said he was worried his older son would destroy himself trying to prove he deserved something he had never been denied.””
Marcus swallowed.
son would destroy himself trying to prove he deserved something he had never been denied.””
Marcus swallowed.
That sounded exactly like his father.
“Did he say anything else?””
Dr. Foster's eyes filled.
That sounded exactly like his father.
“Did he say anything else?””
Dr. Foster's eyes filled.
“He said, 'If anything happens to me, please don't let Marcus believe his brother stopped loving him.''”
The café“He said, 'If anything happens to me, please don't let Marcus believe his brother stopped loving him.''”
The café seemed to fall silent.
Marcus looked away, unable to speak.
For years seemed to fall silent.
Marcus looked away, unable to speak.
For years, he had believed his father chose him because Nathan was less capable, less patient, less, he had believed his father chose him because Nathan was less capable, less patient, less trustworthy.
But his father had worried about Nathan. He had tried to help him. Even in his final hours, he had feared what trustworthy.
But his father had worried about Nathan. He had tried to help him. Even in his final hours, he had feared what would happen to his sons if resentment became more powerful than love.
Marcus wiped his face.
“ would happen to his sons if resentment became more powerful than love.
Marcus wiped his face.
“I'm sorry,” Dr. Foster said.
He shook his head.
“Don't beI'm sorry,” Dr. Foster said.
He shook his head.
“Don't be. You came here because you thought you were wrong. You kept the records. That's.
You came here because you thought you were wrong. You kept the records. That's more than anyone else did.””
Dr. Foster pushed the folder toward him.
“These are copies. The originals are preserved more than anyone else did.””
Dr. Foster pushed the folder toward him.
“These are copies. The originals are preserved with the hospital. Your attorney can request them through the appropriate legal process.””
Marcus took the with the hospital. Your attorney can request them through the appropriate legal process.””
Marcus took the folder.
“Thank you.””
She stood, then paused.
“There is one more thing.””
Marcus folder.
“Thank you.””
She stood, then paused.
“There is one more thing.””
Marcus looked up.
“Before your father died, he asked me to give you a message if the envelope ever disappeared.””
“What message?””
Dr. Foster reached into the folder looked up.
“Before your father died, he asked me to give you a message if the envelope ever disappeared.””
“What message?””
Dr. Foster reached into the folder and removed a small slip of paper.
His father's handwriting covered the front.
*Marcus, if you are and removed a small slip of paper.
His father's handwriting covered the front.
Marcus, if you are reading this, trust the person who tells you what they did wrong—not the person who explains reading this, trust the person who tells you what they did wrong—not the person who explains why everyone else is to blame.
Marcus stared at the words.
Evelyn began to cry silently why everyone else is to blame.*
Marcus stared at the words.
Evelyn began to cry silently.
Then Dr. Foster said, “There's something you should know about the anonymous letter.””
Marcus.
Then Dr. Foster said, “There's something you should know about the anonymous letter.””
Marcus looked up.
“It was postmarked two days ago.””
“Two days?””
“Yes. But the writer mentioned looked up.
“It was postmarked two days ago.””
“Two days?””
“Yes. But the writer mentioned something that happened at your father's house last week.””
“What happened?””
Dr. Foster's voice dropped something that happened at your father's house last week.””
“What happened?””
Dr. Foster's voice dropped.
“The writer said someone had returned to the study and found a document your father had hidden behind the.
“The writer said someone had returned to the study and found a document your father had hidden behind the old fireplace.””
Marcus slowly rose from his chair.
The old fireplace.
His father's study had been old fireplace.””
Marcus slowly rose from his chair.
The old fireplace.
His father's study had been renovated after his death, but the original stone mantel had remained untouched.
“What document?”” he asked.
Dr. Foster renovated after his death, but the original stone mantel had remained untouched.
“What document?”” he asked.
Dr. Foster shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“We're going home.””
His phone vibrated before shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“We're going home.””
His phone vibrated before they reached the café door.
A message from Aaliyah appeared.
**Marcus, please come they reached the café door.
A message from Aaliyah appeared.
**Marcus, please come back to the hotel. Nathan is here. He's telling everyone you stole money from the company, back to the hotel.
Nathan is here. He's telling everyone you stole money from the company, and he has documents to prove it.**
Another message arrived immediately afterward.
*He's also and he has documents to prove it.*
Another message arrived immediately afterward.
*He's also telling them your mother helped Dad hide the money.*
Marcus stopped telling them your mother helped Dad hide the money.**
Marcus stopped in the rain.
His brother wasn't waiting for him to return.
He was already rewriting the story.
And in the rain.
His brother wasn't waiting for him to return.
May you like
He was already rewriting the story.
And this time, he was making sure the entire family heard his version first.
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