Chapter 7: The Witness## Chapter 7: The Witness Who Disappeared
For fifteen Who Disappeared
For fifteen years, Daniel Brooks had been the person I trusted most outside my family.
years, Daniel Brooks had been the person I trusted most outside my family.
He had stood beside me at my wedding to Danielle. He had held my newborn daughter while IHe had stood beside me at my wedding to Danielle. He had held my newborn daughter while I signed the hospital discharge papers.
He had helped me buy my first house, negotiate my business contracts, signed the hospital discharge papers. He had helped me buy my first house, negotiate my business contracts, and arrange Danielle's funeral.
He had even delivered the speech at her memorial.
Now I was and arrange Danielle's funeral.
He had even delivered the speech at her memorial.
Now I was learning that he might have helped orchestrate the events that killed her.
Detective Reynolds watched me carefully learning that he might have helped orchestrate the events that killed her.
Detective Reynolds watched me carefully.
"Marcus, I need you to stay focused. We have a witness who may have evidence connecting.
"Marcus, I need you to stay focused. We have a witness who may have evidence connecting Daniel to the hospital records.""
"Then let's go find her.""
"We will Daniel to the hospital records.""
"Then let's go find her.""
"We will. But I need you to understand something. If Daniel was involved, he may.
But I need you to understand something. If Daniel was involved, he may know we're getting close.""
I looked at the detective.
"Then what are we waiting for?""
He picked up his jacket.
"An opportunity to make sure he doesn't disappear know we're getting close.""
I looked at the detective.
"Then what are we waiting for?""
He picked up his jacket.
"An opportunity to make sure he doesn't disappear permanently.""
Twenty minutes later, we were driving toward the address Dr. Evelyn Price had given me.
It was a modest two-story house in permanently.""
Twenty minutes later, we were driving toward the address Dr. Evelyn Price had given me.
It was a modest two-story house in a quiet neighborhood. The front garden was overgrown, a quiet neighborhood. The front garden was overgrown, and several newspapers lay beneath the mailbox.
Detective Reynolds knocked.
Nobody answered.
He knocked again.
"Dr. Price? This is Detective Reynolds. We spoke earlier.""
Sil and several newspapers lay beneath the mailbox.
Detective Reynolds knocked.
Nobody answered.
He knocked again.
"Dr. Price? This is Detective Reynolds. We spoke earlier.""
Silence.
Then I noticed something.
The front door wasn't completely closed.
A narrow strip of darkness separated it from the frame.
Reence.
Then I noticed something.
The front door wasn't completely closed.
A narrow strip of darkness separated it from the frame.
Reynolds signaled his partner.
They entered first.
I followed only after they gave permission.
The house smelled of coldynolds signaled his partner.
They entered first.
I followed only after they gave permission.
The house smelled of cold coffee and cigarette smoke.
A lamp was still switched on in the living room. A half-empty cup sat on the table.
"Dr. Price coffee and cigarette smoke.
A lamp was still switched on in the living room. A half-empty cup sat on the table.
"Dr. Price?"" I called.
No answer.
Then I heard a faint noise upstairs.
A floorboard creaked.
Detect?"" I called.
No answer.
Then I heard a faint noise upstairs.
A floorboard creaked.
Detective Reynolds raised his hand.
His partner moved toward the staircase.
A moment later, a woman appeared at the top.
She was in her late forties, wearingive Reynolds raised his hand.
His partner moved toward the staircase.
A moment later, a woman appeared at the top.
She was in her late forties, wearing a gray cardigan. Her hair was tied back, and her face looked exhausted.
"Please don't arrest me," she said a gray cardigan. Her hair was tied back, and her face looked exhausted.
"Please don't arrest me," she said.
Reynolds lowered his hand.
"Dr. Price?""
She nodded.
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
".
Reynolds lowered his hand.
"Dr. Price?""
She nodded.
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you answer the door?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because I saw yourWhy didn't you answer the door?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because I saw your car.""
I frowned.
"You know me?""
"I saw you at the hospital. Many times.""
She slowly car.""
I frowned.
"You know me?""
"I saw you at the hospital. Many times.""
She slowly descended the stairs.
"I remember how you used to sit outside Danielle's room after visiting hours. You never descended the stairs.
"I remember how you used to sit outside Danielle's room after visiting hours. You never wanted to go home.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me something was wrong?""
Her wanted to go home.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me something was wrong?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because I was afraid.""
Detective Reynolds pulled out a notebook.
"Let's eyes filled.
"Because I was afraid.""
Detective Reynolds pulled out a notebook.
"Let's start with the medication administered on November 17.""
Dr. Price nodded.
She led us into the kitchen and opened a drawer.
From beneath several old receipts, she start with the medication administered on November 17.""
Dr. Price nodded.
She led us into the kitchen and opened a drawer.
From beneath several old receipts, she removed a small envelope.
"I kept copies.""
Inside were printed medication records, handwritten notes, and removed a small envelope.
"I kept copies.""
Inside were printed medication records, handwritten notes, and a hospital incident report.
She placed them on the table.
"This is the original medication administration a hospital incident report.
She placed them on the table.
"This is the original medication administration record. The first entry was legitimate. The second was entered after the medication had already been given.""
I stared at record. The first entry was legitimate. The second was entered after the medication had already been given.""
I stared at the page.
"Who gave the second dose?""
"I didn't see the administration itself. But the page.
"Who gave the second dose?""
"I didn't see the administration itself. But I saw Dr. Harrison enter the medication room.""
"Why?""
"He told me he needed to verify something.""
"Did you question him?""
"Yes. He told I saw Dr. Harrison enter the medication room.""
"Why?""
"He told me he needed to verify something.""
"Did you question him?""
"Yes. He told me to return to my patients.""
Reynolds examined the document.
"Did you me to return to my patients.""
Reynolds examined the document.
"Did you report the incident?""
"I filed an internal safety concern the following morning.""
"What happened?""
Dr. Price gave a report the incident?""
"I filed an internal safety concern the following morning.""
"What happened?""
Dr. Price gave a bitter laugh.
"The report disappeared.""
She opened another envelope.
"This is my copy.""
The document carried a handwritten note.
* bitter laugh.
"The report disappeared.""
She opened another envelope.
"This is my copy.""
The document carried a handwritten note.
Concern resolved following review with attending physician.
Below it was Dr. Harrison's signature.
I felt my stomach tighten.
Concern resolved following review with attending physician.*
Below it was Dr. Harrison's signature.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"He reviewed his own medication error?""
"That's what I was told.""
"Did Danielle know?""
Dr. Price nodded.
"She was alert"He reviewed his own medication error?""
"That's what I was told.""
"Did Danielle know?""
Dr. Price nodded.
"She was alert enough to speak with me the following afternoon. She asked whether I had noticed anything unusual in her treatment records.""
"What enough to speak with me the following afternoon. She asked whether I had noticed anything unusual in her treatment records.""
"What did you tell her?""
"That I had concerns, but I couldn't discuss another physician's actions without evidence.""
Dr. Price looked did you tell her?""
"That I had concerns, but I couldn't discuss another physician's actions without evidence.""
Dr. Price looked down.
"She told me she already had evidence.""
I leaned forward.
"What evidence?""
down.
"She told me she already had evidence.""
I leaned forward.
"What evidence?""
"She said she had discovered that Harrison was changing records and using patient authorizations to support financial transactions.""
Detective Reynolds stopped"She said she had discovered that Harrison was changing records and using patient authorizations to support financial transactions.""
Detective Reynolds stopped writing.
"Did she mention Daniel Brooks?""
Dr. Price looked up.
"Yes.""
My hands went cold.
"What did she say writing.
"Did she mention Daniel Brooks?""
Dr. Price looked up.
"Yes.""
My hands went cold.
"What did she say?""
"She said Daniel had brought the documents into the hospital. She believed he was helping Harrison create false authorizations.""
"Did she know why?""
Dr. Price hesitated.
?""
"She said Daniel had brought the documents into the hospital. She believed he was helping Harrison create false authorizations.""
"Did she know why?""
Dr. Price hesitated.
"Because they were being paid.""
I stared at her.
"How much?""
"I don't know. But I saw"Because they were being paid.""
I stared at her.
"How much?""
"I don't know. But I saw a bank transfer confirmation in Danielle's personal file.""
"Did you keep a copy?""
Dr. a bank transfer confirmation in Danielle's personal file.""
"Did you keep a copy?""
Dr. Price nodded.
She reached into the envelope and removed another sheet.
The transfer was dated November 14.
The amount was $175 Price nodded.
She reached into the envelope and removed another sheet.
The transfer was dated November 14.
The amount was $175,000.
The recipient was a consulting company registered under a name I recognized.
Brooks Legal Consulting.
,000.
The recipient was a consulting company registered under a name I recognized.
Brooks Legal Consulting.
Daniel's company.
I sat down.
"He was paid three days before Danielle died.""
Dr. Price nodded.
"Danielle believed theyDaniel's company.
I sat down.
"He was paid three days before Danielle died.""
Dr. Price nodded.
"Danielle believed they were preparing to move more money after her death.""
Reynolds studied the transfer.
"Why didn't were preparing to move more money after her death.""
Reynolds studied the transfer.
"Why didn't you give this to investigators earlier?""
Dr. Price's face crumpled.
"Because two days after I filed the report, someone broke you give this to investigators earlier?""
Dr. Price's face crumpled.
"Because two days after I filed the report, someone broke into my office.""
"Was anything stolen?""
"Danielle's medical records. My personal into my office.""
"Was anything stolen?""
"Danielle's medical records. My personal notes. Everything.""
"Did you report the break-in?""
"Yes.""
"And?""
"The hospital notes. Everything.""
"Did you report the break-in?""
"Yes.""
"And?""
"The hospital security department said there was no evidence of forced entry.""
She looked at me.
"I resigned a week later.""
I couldn't speak.
For almost two years, security department said there was no evidence of forced entry.""
She looked at me.
"I resigned a week later.""
I couldn't speak.
For almost two years, I had believed Danielle's death was a terrible tragedy that no one could have prevented.
But people I had believed Danielle's death was a terrible tragedy that no one could have prevented.
But people had known.
People had seen the warning signs.
And some of them had chosen silence.
Detective Reynolds placed the transfer had known.
People had seen the warning signs.
And some of them had chosen silence.
Detective Reynolds placed the transfer document inside an evidence sleeve.
"Dr. Price, we need you to come to the station and document inside an evidence sleeve.
"Dr. Price, we need you to come to the station and provide a formal statement.""
She nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"There's something else Danielle wanted you to have.""
"What?""
She walked provide a formal statement.""
She nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"There's something else Danielle wanted you to have.""
"What?""
She walked to a cabinet and removed a small flash drive.
"She gave this to me during her final week.""
I stared at it.
"Why didn't to a cabinet and removed a small flash drive.
"She gave this to me during her final week.""
I stared at it.
"Why didn't you mention it on the phone?""
"Because I wanted to be certain you were really the person she intended to you mention it on the phone?""
"Because I wanted to be certain you were really the person she intended to receive it.""
I took the drive.
"What is on it?""
"An audio recording. Danielle made it herself.""
My fingers tightened around the receive it.""
I took the drive.
"What is on it?""
"An audio recording. Danielle made it herself.""
My fingers tightened around the tiny device.
"Have you listened to it?""
Dr. Price nodded.
"Once.""
"What did she say?""
The tiny device.
"Have you listened to it?""
Dr. Price nodded.
"Once.""
"What did she say?""
The woman looked at me with an expression I would never forget.
"She said she was afraid you would be blamed for something you never did.""
Detective Reynolds immediately asked for woman looked at me with an expression I would never forget.
"She said she was afraid you would be blamed for something you never did.""
Detective Reynolds immediately asked for the drive.
"We'll examine it properly.""
I nodded.
But before he could put it away, my phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
Unknown number.
the drive.
"We'll examine it properly.""
I nodded.
But before he could put it away, my phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice spoke.
"Marcus.""
Daniel.
My entireI answered.
"Hello?""
A familiar voice spoke.
"Marcus.""
Daniel.
My entire body stiffened.
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
He sighed.
"You need to stop talking to the police.""
I looked at Reynolds body stiffened.
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
He sighed.
"You need to stop talking to the police.""
I looked at Reynolds.
He signaled for me to keep him talking.
"Why?""
"Because you're about.
He signaled for me to keep him talking.
"Why?""
"Because you're about to make a terrible mistake.""
"Did you forge my signature?""
Silence.
Then Daniel laughed quietly.
"Marcus to make a terrible mistake.""
"Did you forge my signature?""
Silence.
Then Daniel laughed quietly.
"Marcus, you signed those documents yourself.""
"That's a lie.""
"You were exhausted. You were barely, you signed those documents yourself.""
"That's a lie.""
"You were exhausted. You were barely sleeping. You wanted Danielle to receive treatment. I gave you the paperwork, and you signed it.""
"Why did you put sleeping. You wanted Danielle to receive treatment. I gave you the paperwork, and you signed it.""
"Why did you put my name on the trust?""
"Because somebody had to take responsibility.""
My jaw tightened.
"Eight my name on the trust?""
"Because somebody had to take responsibility.""
My jaw tightened.
"Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars went into that trust.""
"And it paid for things your wife needed.""
"Don't you dare pretend you hundred and fifty thousand dollars went into that trust.""
"And it paid for things your wife needed.""
"Don't you dare pretend you helped her.""
His voice hardened.
"You have no idea what Danielle was doing.""
"Then explain helped her.""
His voice hardened.
"You have no idea what Danielle was doing.""
"Then explain it.""
Daniel took a breath.
"She was trying to destroy people who had done nothing but help her.""
"Who?""
"Me. Harrison. Even Vanessa.""
I felt sick it.""
Daniel took a breath.
"She was trying to destroy people who had done nothing but help her.""
"Who?""
"Me. Harrison. Even Vanessa.""
I felt sick.
"Why did she write that you were the person I needed to investigate?""
A long pause followed.
Then Daniel said:
"Because she found out about.
"Why did she write that you were the person I needed to investigate?""
A long pause followed.
Then Daniel said:
"Because she found out about the first patient.""
My heart pounded.
"What first patient?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Someone died before Danielle. Someone whose the first patient.""
My heart pounded.
"What first patient?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Someone died before Danielle. Someone whose family never questioned the medical report.""
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Ask Evelyn what family never questioned the medical report.""
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he said something that made my blood run cold.
"Ask Evelyn what happened to her brother.""
I turned toward Dr. Price.
Her face had gone completely white.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?""
He laughed happened to her brother.""
I turned toward Dr. Price.
Her face had gone completely white.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?""
He laughed once.
"Your wife wasn't the first, Marcus.""
Then the call ended.
I looked at Dr. Price.
"Who was the once.
"Your wife wasn't the first, Marcus.""
Then the call ended.
I looked at Dr. Price.
"Who was the first patient?""
She sat down slowly.
Her hands began trembling.
"My brother," she whispered.
And then she started crying.
first patient?""
She sat down slowly.
Her hands began trembling.
May you like
"My brother," she whispered.
And then she started crying.
