Chapter 6: The Signature on the Death Certificate
“Mom,“Mom, who signed Dad's death certificate?””
Evelyn didn't answer who signed Dad's death certificate?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
She stood beside the storage unit's open door, staring at the photograph on Marcus's phone as though the past had suddenly stepped out of the shadows and demanded an explanation.
Daniel looked between them.
“Mrs. Whitmore?””
Evelyn reached for the edge of the desk.
“Not here,”.
She stood beside the storage unit's open door, staring at the photograph on Marcus's phone as though the past had suddenly stepped out of the shadows and demanded an explanation.
Daniel looked between them.
“Mrs. Whitmore?””
Evelyn reached for the edge of the desk.
“Not here,” she whispered.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“You told me everything you knew about the night Dad died. she whispered.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“You told me everything you knew about the night Dad died. You told me the doctor declared it a heart attack. You told me the police found nothing suspicious.””
You told me the doctor declared it a heart attack. You told me the police found nothing suspicious.””
“I told you what I was told.””
“That's not the same thing.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“No. It isn't.””
Marcus held up the photograph again.
“Dr. Reed was standing beside Nathan in the hospital corridor. They were holding an envelope. Someone says I“I told you what I was told.””
“That's not the same thing.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“No. It isn't.””
Marcus held up the photograph again.
“Dr. Reed was standing beside Nathan in the hospital corridor. They were holding an envelope.
Someone says I need to know who signed the death certificate. So I'm asking you.””
Evelyn looked toward the corridor, need to know who signed the death certificate. So I'm asking you.””
Evelyn looked toward the corridor, where Daniel had stationed himself near the entrance.
“Your father had two doctors where Daniel had stationed himself near the entrance.
“Your father had two doctors that night,” she said at that night,” she said at last.
“Dr. Reed was his personal physician, but he wasn't the attending physician at the hospital.””
“Who was?””
“Dr. Helen Foster. She examined your father after the ambulance arrived.””
“Then last.
“Dr. Reed was his personal physician, but he wasn't the attending physician at the hospital.””
“Who was?””
“Dr. Helen Foster. She examined your father after the ambulance arrived.””
“Then why is Reed in the photograph?””
“Because he arrived before the ambulance reached the hospital.””
Marcus stared why is Reed in the photograph?””
“Because he arrived before the ambulance reached the hospital.””
Marcus stared at her.
“How?””
“He was already at the house.””
The words struck harder than any accusation.
at her.
“How?””
“He was already at the house.””
The words struck harder than any accusation.
Marcus remembered the rain, the flashingMarcus remembered the rain, the flashing ambulance lights, Nathan standing beneath the porch roof with water running from his hair. He remembered the paramedics carrying their father out. He remembered Nathan saying he'd ambulance lights, Nathan standing beneath the porch roof with water running from his hair.
He remembered the paramedics carrying their father out. He remembered Nathan saying he'd found their father unconscious in the study.
Not once had Marcus questioned how Dr. Reed had appeared at the hospital so quickly.
“Was Reed at the house when Dad collapsed?””
found their father unconscious in the study.
Not once had Marcus questioned how Dr. Reed had appeared at the hospital so quickly.
“Was Reed at the house when Dad collapsed?””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“I learned it the following morning.””
“From whom?””
“From Nathan.””
Marcus took a step backward.
His brother had called him with the news. His brother had met him at the hospital. His brother had arranged the funeralEvelyn closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“I learned it the following morning.””
“From whom?””
“From Nathan.””
Marcus took a step backward.
His brother had called him with the news. His brother had met him at the hospital. His brother had arranged the funeral and handled the first round of legal paperwork.
And his brother had never mentioned that their father's private physician was and handled the first round of legal paperwork.
And his brother had never mentioned that their father's private physician was already at the house when the emergency began.
“Why didn't you tell me?”” Marcus asked.
“Because Nathan said Dr. Reed already at the house when the emergency began.
“Why didn't you tell me?”” Marcus asked.
“Because Nathan said Dr. Reed had been called to examine your father after he had been called to examine your father after he complained of chest pain. He said your father refused to go to the hospital until he collapsed.””
“Did you believe him?””
“I wanted to.””
Marcus looked away.
That was the worst part.
His complained of chest pain. He said your father refused to go to the hospital until he collapsed.””
“Did you believe him?””
“I wanted to.””
Marcus looked away.
That was the worst part.
His mother wasn't defending Nathan because she knew he was innocent. She was defending the version of her family mother wasn't defending Nathan because she knew he was innocent. She was defending the version of her family she had spent years trying to preserve.
Daniel returned from the corridor.
“I she had spent years trying to preserve.
Daniel returned from the corridor.
“I called James. He's arranging for an independent lawyer to meet us. We should leave the called James.
He's arranging for an independent lawyer to meet us. We should leave the ledger here until we know how to preserve it properly.””
“No,” Marcus said ledger here until we know how to preserve it properly.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“We take photographs of every page, document where we found it, and.
“We take photographs of every page, document where we found it, and have the attorney arrange secure custody. I'm not leaving it with anyone connected to Nathan.””
Daniel nodded.
“Ag have the attorney arrange secure custody. I'm not leaving it with anyone connected to Nathan.””
Daniel nodded.
“Agreed.””
Marcus photographed the final page again.
Dr. Samuel Reed's name sat beneath the entries,reed.””
Marcus photographed the final page again.
Dr. Samuel Reed's name sat beneath the entries, followed by a telephone number that had been crossed out and replaced with another.
Below followed by a telephone number that had been crossed out and replaced with another.
Below it, his father had written a short note.
*Ask Helen about the medication it, his father had written a short note.
Ask Helen about the medication.
Marcus felt the room grow colder.
“What medication?”” he murmured.
Evel.*
Marcus felt the room grow colder.
“What medication?”” he murmured.
Evelyn leaned over his shoulder.
When she read the words, she gryn leaned over his shoulder.
When she read the words, she gripped the desk.
“Your father was taking medication for his heart condition.””
“Which medicationipped the desk.
“Your father was taking medication for his heart condition.””
“Which medication?””
“I don't remember the name.””
“Would Dr. Foster know?””
“Yes.””
“Then we're?””
“I don't remember the name.””
“Would Dr. Foster know?””
“Yes.””
“Then we're going to find her.””
Evelyn nodded, but she seemed barely able going to find her.””
Evelyn nodded, but she seemed barely able to stand.
Marcus turned to Daniel.
“Can you locate Dr. Foster?””
“I'm on to stand.
Marcus turned to Daniel.
“Can you locate Dr. Foster?””
“I'm on it.””
Daniel stepped outside to make another call.
Marcus faced his mother.
“There's it.””
Daniel stepped outside to make another call.
Marcus faced his mother.
“There's something you haven't told me.””
She looked at him.
“What makes you say that?””
“Because something you haven't told me.””
She looked at him.
“What makes you say that?””
“Because when I asked who signed the death certificate, you didn't look confused. You looked afraid.””
Evelyn's when I asked who signed the death certificate, you didn't look confused. You looked afraid.””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“Marcus, I made a promise.””
“To Dad?””
She nodded lips trembled.
“Marcus, I made a promise.””
“To Dad?””
She nodded.
“What kind of promise?””
Her eyes dropped to the photograph.
“I promised I would protect.
“What kind of promise?””
Her eyes dropped to the photograph.
“I promised I would protect Nathan if anything happened to your father.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You promised to protect the Nathan if anything happened to your father.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You promised to protect the man who might have caused his death?””
“I promised to protect my son.””
“I'm your son, too man who might have caused his death?””
“I promised to protect my son.””
“I'm your son, too.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you protect him at my expense?””
Evelyn flinched.
For a moment, Marcus.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you protect him at my expense?””
Evelyn flinched.
For a moment, Marcus thought she might retreat into silence again. Instead, she sat down and began speaking in a voice so quiet he had to lean closer thought she might retreat into silence again. Instead, she sat down and began speaking in a voice so quiet he had to lean closer.
“Your father knew Nathan had been moving money. He confronted him three days before he died.
“Your father knew Nathan had been moving money. He confronted him three days before he died. They argued in the study, and your father told Nathan he would report the unauthorized transfers to the board. They argued in the study, and your father told Nathan he would report the unauthorized transfers to the board.””
Marcus remembered that week.
Nathan had appeared at the family home the.””
Marcus remembered that week.
Nathan had appeared at the family home the next morning with a split lip. He'd claimed he'd fallen while jogging.
Marcus had laughed next morning with a split lip. He'd claimed he'd fallen while jogging.
Marcus had laughed and told him to be more careful.
Their father had spent that same afternoon sitting and told him to be more careful.
Their father had spent that same afternoon sitting alone in the garden.
“What happened after the argument?”” Marcus asked.
“Your father called Dr. Reed. He alone in the garden.
“What happened after the argument?”” Marcus asked.
“Your father called Dr. Reed. He said he was worried about Nathan's health.””
Marcus frowned.
“His health?””
“ said he was worried about Nathan's health.””
Marcus frowned.
“His health?””
“Your father thought Nathan was under enormous pressure. He wanted Dr. Reed to help him. He believed Nathan wasYour father thought Nathan was under enormous pressure.
He wanted Dr. Reed to help him. He believed Nathan was behaving recklessly because he was frightened about the company's finances.””
Marcus stared at her.
“ behaving recklessly because he was frightened about the company's finances.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Dad wanted to help him?””
“He always wanted to help him.””
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
“ThatDad wanted to help him?””
“He always wanted to help him.””
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
“That evening, Nathan came to see me. He said your father had threatened to destroy his life. He was angry, but evening, Nathan came to see me. He said your father had threatened to destroy his life.
He was angry, but he was also terrified. He told me he had made mistakes with the company accounts and that he would go he was also terrified. He told me he had made mistakes with the company accounts and that he would go to prison if your father exposed them.””
“Did he admit to stealing money?””
“He said he'd to prison if your father exposed them.””
“Did he admit to stealing money?””
“He said he'd borrowed it. He insisted he intended to repay everything.””
“And you believed him.””
“I wanted to believe he borrowed it. He insisted he intended to repay everything.””
“And you believed him.””
“I wanted to believe he could still make things right.””
Marcus felt sick.
“What happened the night Dad died?””
Evelyn drew could still make things right.””
Marcus felt sick.
“What happened the night Dad died?””
Evelyn drew a trembling breath.
“I was at the charity dinner. Nathan called me and said your father was ill. When a trembling breath.
“I was at the charity dinner. Nathan called me and said your father was ill. When I arrived at the hospital, Nathan told me Dr.
Reed had given your father something to calm I arrived at the hospital, Nathan told me Dr. Reed had given your father something to calm him down.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Something to calm him down?””
“Your father had been agitated. Nathan said he him down.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“Something to calm him down?””
“Your father had been agitated. Nathan said he was struggling to breathe and that Dr. Reed had administered medication while they waited for the ambulance.””
“Did Dr. Reed tell was struggling to breathe and that Dr. Reed had administered medication while they waited for the ambulance.””
“Did Dr. Reed tell you that?””
“No. Nathan did.””
“Did Dr. Foster?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“By the time I you that?””
“No. Nathan did.””
“Did Dr. Foster?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“By the time I reached the hospital, your father was gone. Dr. Foster explained that his heart had stopped. She said his reached the hospital, your father was gone.
Dr. Foster explained that his heart had stopped. She said his medical history made a fatal cardiac event plausible.””
Marcus leaned against the desk.
“Did you ask about medical history made a fatal cardiac event plausible.””
Marcus leaned against the desk.
“Did you ask about the medication?””
“I did. Nathan told me it was a sedative prescribed by Dr. Reed.””
the medication?””
“I did. Nathan told me it was a sedative prescribed by Dr. Reed.””
“Was it?””
“I don't know.””
The answer was a confession of its own.
Marcus turned“Was it?””
“I don't know.””
The answer was a confession of its own.
Marcus turned away, struggling to contain his anger.
His father might have died from a natural heart attack. The away, struggling to contain his anger.
His father might have died from a natural heart attack. The photograph and ledger did not prove otherwise. But someone had hidden information, and photograph and ledger did not prove otherwise. But someone had hidden information, and the people who knew the most had spent years protecting one another.
“Why did you promise to protect Nathan?”” he asked the people who knew the most had spent years protecting one another.
“Why did you promise to protect Nathan?”” he asked.
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“Because after your father died, Nathan came to me and.
Evelyn's face crumpled.
“Because after your father died, Nathan came to me and said he had been in the study when it happened. He said he'd tried to help, but your said he had been in the study when it happened. He said he'd tried to help, but your father was already dying.
He begged me not to tell you because he was father was already dying. He begged me not to tell you because he was afraid you'd blame him.””
Marcus stared at her.
“He was there when afraid you'd blame him.””
Marcus stared at her.
“He was there when Dad collapsed?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he tell me he found Dad unconscious?””
Evelyn began to cry.
“I Dad collapsed?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he tell me he found Dad unconscious?””
Evelyn began to cry.
“I don't know.””
Marcus walked to the doorway and looked toward the parking lot.
His brother had lied about the don't know.””
Marcus walked to the doorway and looked toward the parking lot.
His brother had lied about the most important night of their lives.
But there was still a question that most important night of their lives.
But there was still a question that mattered more than any other.
If Nathan had been with their father when he collapsed, why had he mattered more than any other.
If Nathan had been with their father when he collapsed, why had he needed to invent a different story?
Daniel appeared at the entrance, needed to invent a different story?
Daniel appeared at the entrance, holding his phone.
“I found Dr. Foster.””
Marcus turned.
“Where is she?””
“She lives outside Charleston. She holding his phone.
“I found Dr. Foster.””
Marcus turned.
“Where is she?””
“She lives outside Charleston. She agreed to meet us, but she sounded frightened when I mentioned your agreed to meet us, but she sounded frightened when I mentioned your father's name.””
“Did she say why?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“She asked me one father's name.””
“Did she say why?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“She asked me one question.””
“What question?””
Daniel looked directly at Marcus.
“She wanted to know whether you had found the second ledger.””
Marcus felt question.””
“What question?””
Daniel looked directly at Marcus.
“She wanted to know whether you had found the second ledger.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“How would she know about that?””
Daniel checked his screen.
“Because she says his stomach tighten.
“How would she know about that?””
Daniel checked his screen.
“Because she says your father left something else at the hospital that night.””
“What?””
“A sealed your father left something else at the hospital that night.””
“What?””
“A sealed envelope addressed to you.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Why didn't she contact me?””
Daniel hes envelope addressed to you.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Why didn't she contact me?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Because, according to her, Nathan collected it before you arriveditated.
“Because, according to her, Nathan collected it before you arrived.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Marcus looked down at the photograph once more.
Nathan and.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Marcus looked down at the photograph once more.
Nathan and Dr. Reed stood beside the elevator, holding the same brown envelope.
And for the first time, Marcus understood that the Dr. Reed stood beside the elevator, holding the same brown envelope.
May you like
And for the first time, Marcus understood that the secret behind his father's death might not be hidden in what happened during those secret behind his father's death might not be hidden in what happened during those final minutes.
It might be hidden in what his brother had taken away afterward.
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