Chapter 4: Room 317
The drive to Philadelphia took nearly two hours.
Nobody spoke much.
Evelyn sat in the front passenger seat, reviewing documents. Marcus drove. I sat in the back, staring at Elena's photograph.
Four days.
My wife had supposedly died on a Tuesday night.
But the hospital records said she had been alive for four more days.
I tried to remember those days.
I remembered the funeral home calling.
I remembered signing paperwork.
I remembered Simone appearing at my house with food and flowers.
She had held my hand while I cried.
She had told me Elena was finally at peace.
I had believed every word.
Now I wondered whether she had been comforting me or making sure I never asked the wrong questions.
We arrived at the assisted-living facility shortly after noon.
Dr. Hayes was sitting beside a window in the common room.
He looked older than the photograph, with thin white hair and a slight tremor in his hands.
When Evelyn introduced us, he dropped his newspaper.
“Mr. Cole?””
I nodded.
“Do you remember my wife?””
His eyes moved toward Marcus.
Then back to me.
“Yes.””
“Did she die on October 17?””
He swallowed.
“I think you should speak with the hospital.””
“I have. They won't give me her records.””
“Then there's nothing I can do.””
I pulled out the photograph.
“Room 317.””
The doctor's face drained of color.
He stared at the picture for several seconds.
Then he whispered:
“She was never supposed to tell you.””
I felt my pulse in my throat.
“Tell me what?””
He looked around.
“Not here.””
Evelyn moved closer.
“Doctor, we're her legal representatives in this matter. We need you to tell us what happened.””
He shook his head.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because I signed the papers.””
I leaned forward.
“What papers?””
“The death certificate.””
The room seemed to disappear.
“You signed a death certificate for a woman who was still alive?””
He lowered his head.
“I was told she had no chance of recovery.””
“By whom?””
He didn't answer.
I grabbed the edge of the table.
“Who told you?””
He finally looked up.
“Simone.””
Marcus stood.
“That's impossible.””
The doctor shook his head.
“She came to me before the accident. She said Elena was mentally unstable. She said the family was preparing for a difficult medical situation.””
I stared at him.
“Simone isn't a doctor.””
“No. But she brought documents. Medical reports.
Medication records. Statements claiming Elena had been diagnosed with a neurological condition.””
Evelyn opened her folder.
“Were those reports authentic?””
Dr. Hayes hesitated.
“Some were.””
“What does that mean?””
“Some had been altered.””
I felt my hands begin to shake.
“Why didn't you investigate?””
He looked at me.
“Because I was paid.””
The confession landed like a punch.
“Who paid you?””
He glanced toward the entrance.
“Simone's brother.””
Daniel Price.
The insurance representative.
My supposed future brother-in-law.
Evelyn leaned closer.
“How much?””
“Fifty thousand dollars.””
Marcus cursed under his breath.
I stared at the doctor.
“And Elena?””
His eyes filled again.
“She survived the accident. She had serious injuries, but she was conscious the following morning.””
I couldn't breathe.
“She was awake?””
He nodded.
“She asked for you.””
I gripped the chair.
“What happened?””
“Simone told me you had been informed. She said you didn't want to see Elena because you couldn't bear watching her suffer.””
“That is a lie!””
“I know that now.””
“Did you let her speak to my wife?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Once.””
“When?””
“Thursday morning.””
I remembered Thursday.
Simone had come to my house that day with a container of soup.
She had sat with me in the kitchen.
She had told me the hospital was arranging everything.
She had said Elena's body would be released soon.
And all the while, my wife had been alive.
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
“What did Elena say?””
Dr. Hayes began crying.
“She told me Simone was dangerous. She said you were being manipulated. She begged me to call you.””
“Why didn't you?””
“Because Simone threatened to expose my involvement in the falsified records. She said Daniel had copies of everything.””
Evelyn's voice was cold.
“And the death certificate?””
“Simone arranged the paperwork. I signed it.””
I stepped closer.
“Where is my wife's body?””
The doctor looked confused.
“What?””
“The funeral. The casket. The burial. Where is she?””
He shook his head.
“I don't know.””
I stared at him.
“You signed her death certificate, and you don't know where she was buried?””
He covered his face.
“I never saw the body.””
A terrible silence followed.
Marcus put a hand on my shoulder.
I pushed it away.
“Why would you do this?””
Dr. Hayes looked at me with exhausted eyes.
“Because I was afraid of losing everything. My career. My reputation. My family.””
“And my wife lost her life.””
He didn't respond.
Evelyn asked the next question.
“Doctor, what happened during those four days?””
He hesitated.
Then he said something I will never forget.
“On the fourth day, Elena disappeared.””
My knees weakened.
“Disappeared?””
“She was transferred. The paperwork said she was being moved to another facility. I didn't authorize it.””
“Who did?””
“Simone.””
I looked at Marcus.
He was already reaching for his phone.
Evelyn took a deep breath.
“Do you have copies of the original medical records?””
The doctor nodded slowly.
“I kept one file.””
“Where?””
“At home.””
“Can we see it?””
He looked toward the window.
Then he whispered:
“I have something else. Something Elena left with me.””
He reached into the pocket of his cardigan and pulled out a small envelope.
It was sealed.
My name was written across the front.
Darius.
I took it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a photograph of Elena sitting in a hospital bed.
Her face was bruised.
Her left arm was wrapped in bandages.
But she was alive.
And beside her, holding her hand, was a little girl.
Ava.
I stared at the picture.
“Why is my daughter here?””
Dr. Hayes looked at me.
“Because Simone brought her to the hospital.””
I couldn't speak.
He continued.
“Elena wanted Ava to see her before she was transferred. She said it was important that the child remember her face.””
I looked at the date.
October 20.
Three days after Elena was supposedly dead.
Then I noticed something else.
There was writing on the back.
Darius, if you are reading this, the person you trust most is the person who has kept us apart.
I turned to Dr. Hayes.
“Where did Elena go?””
He shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Who transferred her?””
“Daniel Price arranged the transport.””
Evelyn immediately wrote down the name.
Then the doctor leaned toward me.
“There was one more person involved.””
“Who?””
He looked directly into my eyes.
“Someone from your own family.””
I froze.
“Who?””
May you like
The doctor swallowed.
“Your mother.””
