Chapter 6: The Secret Hidden in My Hospital Records
"Your wife didn't arrange the accident alone.""
Claire's words hung in the living room.
Outside, the police officers were approaching the front door. Blue lights flashed against the windows, illuminating Vanessa's terrified face.
I looked at Claire.
"Who helped her?""
She tightened her grip on the leather briefcase.
"Someone at the hospital.""
Nathan stepped closer.
"What are you talking about?""
Claire glanced at him before answering.
"After Marcus was admitted, someone accessed his medical records without authorization. His medication schedule was changed twice. His neurological assessments were altered. And one of the doctors signed reports claiming his condition was more severe than it actually was.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would anyone do that?""
Claire looked directly at me.
"Because someone wanted you to remain incapacitated.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"She's lying!""
Claire didn't flinch.
"Then you won't mind if I show him the documents.""
She removed another folder.
Inside were photocopies of hospital reports, medication charts, and several emails.
I recognized the hospital's logo.
I recognized my patient identification number.
But I didn't recognize the doctor's signature.
"Who is this?"" I asked.
"Dr. Samuel Reeves," Claire replied.
"He was one of the physicians involved in your treatment.""
I remembered the name.
He had visited my room several times during the first weeks after the accident. He was always polite, always reassuring.
He had told me that my vision loss might be permanent.
He had also recommended that Vanessa become my primary medical representative.
"Was he paid?"" I asked.
Claire nodded.
"Three payments were made to a private consulting company connected to him.""
"By whom?""
She looked at Vanessa.
"Adrian.""
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"That's ridiculous. Adrian doesn't know any doctors.""
Claire opened her briefcase and removed a bank transfer.
"Then explain why he transferred $85,000 to a company registered under Dr. Reeves's brother.""
Vanessa's face went blank.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the front door opened.
Two police officers entered, followed by a woman in a dark navy suit.
She introduced herself as Detective Laura Mitchell.
"Mr. Hale?""
"Yes.""
"I'm Detective Mitchell. We received information about suspected financial fraud and possible criminal tampering involving your vehicle.""
I nodded.
"There's more.""
I handed her the phone containing the recorded conversation between Vanessa and Adrian.
She listened without interrupting.
When the recording ended, she looked toward Vanessa.
"Mrs. Hale, I need you to come with us.""
Vanessa immediately stepped backward.
"Absolutely not.""
"You're not under arrest at this moment. We need to ask you some questions.""
"I have a lawyer.""
"That's fine. You can contact one.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Marcus, tell them this is a misunderstanding.""
I said nothing.
"Marcus!""
She grabbed my wheelchair.
"You know me. You know I would never hurt you.""
I looked down at her fingers gripping the armrest.
Then I looked at her face.
"I knew the woman I married.""
Her fingers slowly loosened.
Detective Mitchell approached Claire.
"Miss Bennett, we'll need to speak with you as well.""
Claire nodded.
"I understand.""
Before leaving, she placed a final envelope in my lap.
"There's something in there you need to see.""
"What?""
She looked at Vanessa.
Then back at me.
"Your medical records show that you weren't supposed to receive one of the medications prescribed during your first week in intensive care.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a medication administration report.
A particular sedative had been administered at doses significantly higher than the original prescription.
The authorization carried Dr. Reeves's signature.
But the handwriting beneath it was different.
It belonged to Vanessa.
I stared at the page.
"She was signing medical orders?""
Claire nodded.
"She was listed as your authorized representative. The hospital allowed her to communicate certain care instructions.""
"Could she have changed the dosage?""
"Not legally.""
I looked at the report again.
For months, I had blamed my slow recovery on the severity of my injuries.
I had believed my confusion, exhaustion, and inability to concentrate were normal consequences of trauma.
Now I wondered how much of my suffering had been deliberately prolonged.
Detective Mitchell returned.
"Mr. Hale, we found something else in the preliminary investigation.""
"What?""
"Your accident report was modified after the initial investigation.""
"By whom?""
She showed me a printed record.
The original report had identified possible brake-line tampering.
The final report had classified the incident as mechanical failure.
A reviewing officer had approved the change.
His name was Officer Daniel Price.
I stared at the name.
"Do you know him?"" she asked.
"No.""
Detective Mitchell nodded.
"Neither did we, until we discovered that he received two payments from an account associated with Aster Holdings.""
My hands tightened around the report.
Aster Holdings.
The company that was supposed to receive my house.
The same company connected to Vanessa's plan.
"Is Officer Price still working?""
"No. He resigned six weeks ago.""
Detective Mitchell paused.
"We've issued a request for his financial records.""
Then she turned toward Vanessa.
"Mrs. Hale, we need to leave now.""
Vanessa looked at me one last time.
Her eyes were swollen.
"Marcus, please. Remember our wedding.""
I remembered it.
The white flowers.
The music.
The promise she had whispered against my ear.
I also remembered the red dress she had worn that afternoon while kissing Adrian.
"Take her," I said.
The officers escorted her outside.
As the door closed, I felt no relief.
Only exhaustion.
Nathan crouched beside my wheelchair.
"You okay?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll get through this.""
I looked at him.
"There's something I need to ask you.""
"Anything.""
"Why didn't you tell me about the insurance documents earlier?""
He looked away.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
He hesitated.
Then he whispered, "Because I signed one of them.""
My entire body went still.
"What?""
Nathan lowered his head.
"I signed the document that allowed Vanessa to access your company accounts.""
I stared at my brother.
"Why?""
"She told me you had authorized it before the accident. She said she needed temporary control while you recovered.""
"Did you believe her?""
"I wanted to.""
"That's not an answer.""
Nathan's eyes filled.
"No. I didn't.""
He stood and walked toward the window.
Then he turned back.
"Marcus, there's another person we haven't talked about.""
"Who?""
He swallowed.
"Your mother.""
My heart skipped.
"My mother died three years ago.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you bringing her up?""
Nathan took a folded document from his jacket.
"Because she left something for you. And Vanessa has been trying to find it ever since.""
I unfolded the paper.
It was an old letter.
My mother's handwriting was unmistakable.
At the bottom was a sentence that made my blood run cold.
*Marcus, if anything ever happens to you, make sure you know who really owns the house.*
I looked at Nathan.
"What does this mean?""
He took a deep breath.
"Your mother never transferred the property to you, Marcus.""
I stared at him.
"Then whose name is on the deed?""
Nathan looked toward the front door.
May you like
And whispered:
"Yours was never the only name on it.""
