Chapter 8: The First## Chapter 8: The First Patient
Dr Patient
Dr. Price stared at the floor for several seconds.
Then. Price stared at the floor for several seconds.
Then she reached for the back of a chair and lowered herself into it.
"My brother's name was Thomas she reached for the back of a chair and lowered herself into it.
"My brother's name was Thomas," she said.
Detective Reynolds pulled out another chair.
"Tell us what happened.""
Evelyn rubbed her palms against her cardigan.
"Thomas was," she said.
Detective Reynolds pulled out another chair.
"Tell us what happened.""
Evelyn rubbed her palms against her cardigan.
"Thomas was forty-six. He had a heart condition, but it was manageable. He worked as an forty-six.
He had a heart condition, but it was manageable. He worked as an accountant, had two children, and was married to a wonderful woman named Laura.""
She paused.
"He was admitted to Harrison's accountant, had two children, and was married to a wonderful woman named Laura.""
She paused.
"He was admitted to Harrison's hospital after experiencing chest pain. The doctors recommended a procedure, and he agreed.""
"What happened?"" hospital after experiencing chest pain. The doctors recommended a procedure, and he agreed.""
"What happened?"" I asked.
"His condition deteriorated unexpectedly. Harrison told the family there had been complications.""
"Was that true?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. I asked.
"His condition deteriorated unexpectedly. Harrison told the family there had been complications.""
"Was that true?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. Thomas received medication that wasn't prescribed for him. The hospital later classified his death as a complication of his underlying condition.""
Thomas received medication that wasn't prescribed for him. The hospital later classified his death as a complication of his underlying condition.""
I stared at her.
"Was Harrison responsible?""
"I believe he was. But I couldn'tI stared at her.
"Was Harrison responsible?""
"I believe he was. But I couldn't prove it.""
Detective Reynolds leaned forward.
"Why would he target your brother?""
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"Thomas had a substantial prove it.""
Detective Reynolds leaned forward.
"Why would he target your brother?""
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"Thomas had a substantial life insurance policy. He also owned two properties. Before his death, someone had approached his wife about transferring certain financial responsibilities life insurance policy.
He also owned two properties. Before his death, someone had approached his wife about transferring certain financial responsibilities to a private trust.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The same trust?""
"Yes.""
"Who approached her?""
"Daniel Brooks.""
The name to a private trust.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"The same trust?""
"Yes.""
"Who approached her?""
"Daniel Brooks.""
The name landed like a hammer.
I stood.
"Daniel knew your brother?""
"He had met him twice. He told Laura he was helping the landed like a hammer.
I stood.
"Daniel knew your brother?""
"He had met him twice. He told Laura he was helping the family organize their financial affairs.""
"Did she sign anything?""
"She signed a document after Thomas died. She family organize their financial affairs.""
"Did she sign anything?""
"She signed a document after Thomas died. She believed it was necessary to release the insurance proceeds.""
Detective Reynolds wrote something down.
"Did she receive the money?""
"Not all of it.""
"How much?""
believed it was necessary to release the insurance proceeds.""
Detective Reynolds wrote something down.
"Did she receive the money?""
"Not all of it.""
"How much?""
"She was supposed to receive almost six hundred thousand dollars. Instead, she received less"She was supposed to receive almost six hundred thousand dollars. Instead, she received less than half.""
I shook my head.
"And nobody investigated?""
"We tried. Laura hired an attorney, but the documents than half.""
I shook my head.
"And nobody investigated?""
"We tried. Laura hired an attorney, but the documents were complicated. She eventually ran out of money.""
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"Then she died three years later.""
I looked at her.
"How?""
"An were complicated. She eventually ran out of money.""
Evelyn's voice cracked.
"Then she died three years later.""
I looked at her.
"How?""
"An accident. A single-car collision.""
Detective Reynolds exchanged a glance with his partner.
"Was it investigated?""
"Yes. The police concluded she lost control of her vehicle during accident. A single-car collision.""
Detective Reynolds exchanged a glance with his partner.
"Was it investigated?""
"Yes. The police concluded she lost control of her vehicle during heavy rain.""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"Before she died, she called me. She said someone had been following her.""
A terrible silence settled over the kitchen heavy rain.""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"Before she died, she called me. She said someone had been following her.""
A terrible silence settled over the kitchen.
I thought about Danielle.
About her fear.
About the blue folder.
About the strange financial transfers.
And about the people who had apparently been trying to silence anyone.
I thought about Danielle.
About her fear.
About the blue folder.
About the strange financial transfers.
And about the people who had apparently been trying to silence anyone who asked questions.
"Dr. Price, did Danielle know about Thomas?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She found his records while researching Harrison's treatment who asked questions.
"Dr. Price, did Danielle know about Thomas?""
Evelyn nodded.
"She found his records while researching Harrison's treatment history.""
"How?""
"She had access to some patient advocacy documents. Thomas's widow history.""
"How?""
"She had access to some patient advocacy documents. Thomas's widow had contacted the hospital years earlier, and Danielle discovered the complaint.""
I sat down again.
"So she realized had contacted the hospital years earlier, and Danielle discovered the complaint.""
I sat down again.
"So she realized Harrison had done this before.""
"Yes.""
"And she decided to expose him.""
Evelyn nodded.
"She told me she wasn't going to let another family go through what happened Harrison had done this before.""
"Yes.""
"And she decided to expose him.""
Evelyn nodded.
"She told me she wasn't going to let another family go through what happened to Thomas.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"She to Thomas.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Evelyn looked at me.
"She said she was afraid you'd confront Harrison before she had enough evidence.""
I looked away.
That said she was afraid you'd confront Harrison before she had enough evidence.""
I looked away.
That sounded exactly like Danielle.
She had always been protective.
Even when she was sick, she worried more sounded exactly like Danielle.
She had always been protective.
Even when she was sick, she worried more about Nia and me than herself.
But now I was beginning to understand the terrible price of that protection.
Detective Reynolds placed the flash drive on about Nia and me than herself.
But now I was beginning to understand the terrible price of that protection.
Detective Reynolds placed the flash drive on the table.
"We need to listen to this recording.""
He connected it to a secured laptop.
A few seconds later, Danielle's voice filled the kitchen.
"Dr the table.
"We need to listen to this recording.""
He connected it to a secured laptop.
A few seconds later, Danielle's voice filled the kitchen.
"Dr. Price, if you're hearing this, it means I wasn't able to finish what I started.""
I stopped breathing.
It was her voice.
My wife's. Price, if you're hearing this, it means I wasn't able to finish what I started.""
I stopped breathing.
It was her voice.
My wife's voice.
Not a memory.
Not an old voicemail.
A recording made during the final days of her life.
"Marcus doesn't know about the documents. I voice.
Not a memory.
Not an old voicemail.
A recording made during the final days of her life.
"Marcus doesn't know about the documents. I didn't tell him because I was afraid Daniel would use his desperation against him.""
I closed my eyes.
Danielle continued.
"Daniel didn't tell him because I was afraid Daniel would use his desperation against him.""
I closed my eyes.
Danielle continued.
"Daniel has convinced Marcus that every signature is routine. He knows Marcus has convinced Marcus that every signature is routine. He knows Marcus will sign anything if it means I can receive another treatment.""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
The recording continued.
"I found evidence that Daniel and Harrison have will sign anything if it means I can receive another treatment.""
I pressed my hand against my mouth.
The recording continued.
"I found evidence that Daniel and Harrison have been using medical authorization forms to transfer insurance proceeds into private accounts. They did it to Thomas Price. They did it to at least two other families.""
Detective Reynolds looked at been using medical authorization forms to transfer insurance proceeds into private accounts. They did it to Thomas Price. They did it to at least two other families.""
Detective Reynolds looked at Evelyn.
She was crying silently.
Danielle took a breath.
"There's something Evelyn.
She was crying silently.
Danielle took a breath.
"There's something else. The money isn't the only reason they're doing this. Harrison has been falsifying medical records to hide medication errors. Daniel creates the legal else.
The money isn't the only reason they're doing this. Harrison has been falsifying medical records to hide medication errors. Daniel creates the legal paperwork afterward. Together, they make the families believe everything was authorized.""
My hands began shaking.
Then Danielle said something that made my paperwork afterward. Together, they make the families believe everything was authorized.""
My hands began shaking.
Then Danielle said something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, if you're hearing this, I need you to know that you did not kill me.""
I broke.
blood run cold.
"Marcus, if you're hearing this, I need you to know that you did not kill me.""
I broke.
I lowered my head, and the tears came before I could stop them.
For almost two years, I had replayed every decision I had made during Danielle's illness.
EveryI lowered my head, and the tears came before I could stop them.
For almost two years, I had replayed every decision I had made during Danielle's illness.
Every treatment.
Every hospital visit.
Every moment I had left her alone.
I had wondered whether I should have taken her somewhere else.
Whether I should have demanded another opinion.
Whether I had missed something.
And now her voice was telling treatment.
Every hospital visit.
Every moment I had left her alone.
I had wondered whether I should have taken her somewhere else.
Whether I should have demanded another opinion.
Whether I had missed something.
And now her voice was telling me that she knew.
She knew I would blame myself.
"Marcus," Danielle continued, "they me that she knew.
She knew I would blame myself.
"Marcus," Danielle continued, "they may tell you that you signed a document authorizing the final treatment. They may even show you your signature.""
I looked at the detective.
"But you must remember something. The may tell you that you signed a document authorizing the final treatment. They may even show you your signature.""
I looked at the detective.
"But you must remember something. The document I saw had a different date from the one they later showed you. Someone document I saw had a different date from the one they later showed you. Someone changed it.""
The recording crackled.
Then Danielle's voice became quieter.
"There's a blue folder. It contains the original changed it.""
The recording crackled.
Then Danielle's voice became quieter.
"There's a blue folder. It contains the original authorization forms, the payment records, and a list of everyone involved. I hid it somewhere Daniel would never look.""
I leaned toward the laptop.
"Where?"" I whispered.
authorization forms, the payment records, and a list of everyone involved. I hid it somewhere Daniel would never look.""
I leaned toward the laptop.
"Where?"" I whispered.
The recording continued.
"If you can't find it, look inside the place where we promised neverThe recording continued.
"If you can't find it, look inside the place where we promised never to forget.""
I froze.
I knew that sentence.
Danielle and I had used it for years.
It referred to one place.
Our first house.
The little white house to forget.""
I froze.
I knew that sentence.
Danielle and I had used it for years.
It referred to one place.
Our first house.
The little white house on Maple Street.
The one where we had brought Nia home.
The recording wasn't finished.
Danielle's voice trembled.
"There's one on Maple Street.
The one where we had brought Nia home.
The recording wasn't finished.
Danielle's voice trembled.
"There's one final thing, Marcus. Don't trust anyone who tells you Vanessa came into our lives by accident.""
The audio ended.
Nobody spoke.
I stared at the laptop.
"What final thing, Marcus. Don't trust anyone who tells you Vanessa came into our lives by accident.""
The audio ended.
Nobody spoke.
I stared at the laptop.
"What did she mean?""
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
"I don't know.""
Detective Reynolds removed the flash drive.
"We'll need to preserve the original recording and verify did she mean?""
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
"I don't know.""
Detective Reynolds removed the flash drive.
"We'll need to preserve the original recording and verify its authenticity.""
I nodded.
But my mind was already somewhere else.
Maple Street.
Our first house.
The place where Danielle had hidden something important.
The place we its authenticity.""
I nodded.
But my mind was already somewhere else.
Maple Street.
Our first house.
The place where Danielle had hidden something important.
The place we had sold four years earlier.
I looked at the detective.
"We need to go there.""
He nodded.
"We'll arrange it.""
Before we had sold four years earlier.
I looked at the detective.
"We need to go there.""
He nodded.
"We'll arrange it.""
Before we could leave, Evelyn stood.
"Wait.""
She walked could leave, Evelyn stood.
"Wait.""
She walked to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out another envelope.
"Danielle gave me this too.""
Inside was a small photograph.
It showed Danielle standing in front of our to the kitchen cabinet and pulled out another envelope.
"Danielle gave me this too.""
Inside was a small photograph.
It showed Danielle standing in front of our old house, holding N old house, holding Nia.
On the back was a handwritten message.
The truth is underneath the place where we first became three.
I stared at it.
The front porch.
The small wooden bench.
The place where Danielle had sat while pregnant, rubbing her stomach and telling me our daughter was going to change everything.
But before Iia.
On the back was a handwritten message.
The truth is underneath the place where we first became three.
I stared at it.
The front porch.
The small wooden bench.
The place where Danielle had sat while pregnant, rubbing her stomach and telling me our daughter was going to change everything.
But before I could say anything, Detective Reynolds's phone rang.
He answered.
"Reynolds.""
His expression changed.
"Where?""
He listened could say anything, Detective Reynolds's phone rang.
He answered.
"Reynolds.""
His expression changed.
"Where?""
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, we've located Daniel Brooks.""
"Where?""
"At a private airfield outside the city.""
My heart dropped.
.
Then he looked at me.
"Mr. Carter, we've located Daniel Brooks.""
"Where?""
"At a private airfield outside the city.""
My heart dropped.
"Is he leaving?""
"He's trying to.""
The detective grabbed his jacket.
Then his phone rang"Is he leaving?""
"He's trying to.""
The detective grabbed his jacket.
Then his phone rang again.
He listened for several seconds.
When he hung up, his expression was grim.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"Daniel isn't alone.""
" again.
He listened for several seconds.
When he hung up, his expression was grim.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"Daniel isn't alone.""
"Who is with him?""
May you like
The detective looked directly at me.
"Vanessa.""
