Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Mother Who Was Buried Twice
Frank watched: The Mother Who Was Buried Twice
Frank watched the video again.
Then he watched it a the video again.
Then he watched it a third time.
Daniel's face remained frozen on the screen third time.
Daniel's face remained frozen on the screen, his eyes filled with the same exhaustion Frank remembered from the last time they had argued.
But the final words kept, his eyes filled with the same exhaustion Frank remembered from the last time they had argued.
But the final words kept echoing.
It's our mother.
Their mother had been dead for twenty-two years.
Frank echoing.
It's our mother.
Their mother had been dead for twenty-two years.
Frank remembered the hospital room. The smell of disinfectant. The sound of rain remembered the hospital room. The smell of disinfectant.
The sound of rain against the window. He remembered holding her against the window. He remembered holding her hand while Daniel stood beside the bed, crying like a little boy.
He remembered the funeral.
He remembered lowering the coffin.
So how could Daniel possibly hand while Daniel stood beside the bed, crying like a little boy.
He remembered the funeral.
He remembered lowering the coffin.
So how could Daniel possibly claim she was alive?
“Play it again,” Frank claim she was alive?
“Play it again,” Frank said.
Ray looked at him.
“Frank, we've already watched it three times.””
“Then watch it a fourth.””
Detect said.
Ray looked at him.
“Frank, we've already watched it three times.””
“Then watch it a fourth.””
Detective Mitchell took the tablet.
“I'm going to need the original file. Theive Mitchell took the tablet.
“I'm going to need the original file. The technical team can examine the recording for signs of editing.””
Frank barely heard her.
He was staring at the silver technical team can examine the recording for signs of editing.””
Frank barely heard her.
He was staring at the silver key in his palm.
D.C. — 11/02.
Daniel had left it for him.
key in his palm.
D.C. — 11/02.
Daniel had left it for him.
And someone wanted him to bring it to Room 17 at midnight.
Ray pulled up a chair.
“There'sAnd someone wanted him to bring it to Room 17 at midnight.
Ray pulled up a chair.
“There's something you need to tell me.””
Frank looked at him.
“Not now.””
“Actually, now is exactly when you need to something you need to tell me.””
Frank looked at him.
“Not now.””
“Actually, now is exactly when you need to tell me. Your brother says your dead mother is in an underground facility. A woman who supposedly tell me. Your brother says your dead mother is in an underground facility.
A woman who supposedly died seven years ago has your niece. And somebody is asking you to walk into a building alone died seven years ago has your niece. And somebody is asking you to walk into a building alone.””
Frank rubbed his face.
“Mother's name was Eleanor.””
Ray nodded.
“She died in 200.””
Frank rubbed his face.
“Mother's name was Eleanor.””
Ray nodded.
“She died in 2004.””
“That's what we were told.””
Frank looked toward the clubhouse window.
“She4.””
“That's what we were told.””
Frank looked toward the clubhouse window.
“She was sick for months. Daniel and I visited her every day. was sick for months.
Daniel and I visited her every day. One evening, the hospital called and said she'd taken a turn for the worse.””
“What happened?””
“They told us she died before midnight.””
Ray leaned forward.
“Did you see her body One evening, the hospital called and said she'd taken a turn for the worse.””
“What happened?””
“They told us she died before midnight.””
Ray leaned forward.
“Did you see her body?””
Frank nodded slowly.
“I saw her in the hospital. But the?””
Frank nodded slowly.
“I saw her in the hospital. But the funeral arrangements were handled by the hospital's contracted service. Daniel and I were told the coffin funeral arrangements were handled by the hospital's contracted service. Daniel and I were told the coffin had to remain closed because of her medical condition.””
Ray's expression hardened.
“And had to remain closed because of her medical condition.””
Ray's expression hardened.
“And you never questioned it?””
“We were grieving.””
Frank swallowed.
“Daniel did question it. He wanted you never questioned it?””
“We were grieving.””
Frank swallowed.
“Daniel did question it. He wanted an independent examination. I told him to stop being disrespectful.””
Ray sat back.
“ an independent examination. I told him to stop being disrespectful.””
Ray sat back.
“Frank…”
“I know.””
For twenty-two years, Frank had believed heFrank…”
“I know.””
For twenty-two years, Frank had believed he was protecting his mother's memory.
Now he wondered whether he had helped was protecting his mother's memory.
Now he wondered whether he had helped bury the truth.
At 8:30 a.m., Detective Mitchell received the bury the truth.
At 8:30 a.m., Detective Mitchell received the preliminary report from the digital forensics team.
The video was genuine.
The location metadata indicated it preliminary report from the digital forensics team.
The video was genuine.
The location metadata indicated it had been recorded inside a facility owned by Bell Medical Holdings.
More importantly, Daniel's face matched photographs had been recorded inside a facility owned by Bell Medical Holdings.
More importantly, Daniel's face matched photographs from the 2006 missing-person investigation.
He was alive.
Mitchell from the 2006 missing-person investigation.
He was alive.
Mitchell placed the report on the table.
“We have enough to establish that the video wasn't fabricated placed the report on the table.
“We have enough to establish that the video wasn't fabricated. But we still don't know whether Eleanor Callahan is alive.””
Frank looked at her.
“Then find. But we still don't know whether Eleanor Callahan is alive.””
Frank looked at her.
“Then find out.””
“We're working on it.””
“Work faster.””
Mitchell didn't take offense out.””
“We're working on it.””
“Work faster.””
Mitchell didn't take offense.
Instead, she opened a second folder.
“There's something else. We found a connection between Eleanor's.
Instead, she opened a second folder.
“There's something else. We found a connection between Eleanor's hospital records and Willow Creek.””
She placed two documents side by side.
The first was Eleanor's original hospital hospital records and Willow Creek.””
She placed two documents side by side.
The first was Eleanor's original hospital admission.
The second was a transfer record dated three days before her reported death.
Frank examined admission.
The second was a transfer record dated three days before her reported death.
Frank examined the paperwork.
“What's this?””
“A transfer to a private neurological facility.””
the paperwork.
“What's this?””
“A transfer to a private neurological facility.””
“But she was dying.””
“According to the hospital, yes“But she was dying.””
“According to the hospital, yes. But the transfer document says she was medically stable.””
Frank stared.
“Who authorized it?””
Mitchell pointed. But the transfer document says she was medically stable.””
Frank stared.
“Who authorized it?””
Mitchell pointed to the signature.
Daniel Callahan.
Frank shook his head.
“No.””
“Does the to the signature.
Daniel Callahan.
Frank shook his head.
“No.””
“Does the signature look familiar?””
“Yes. It's his.””
“Then why would your signature look familiar?””
“Yes. It's his.””
“Then why would your brother authorize the transfer?””
Frank looked again.
Because something didn't fit brother authorize the transfer?””
Frank looked again.
Because something didn't fit.
Daniel had never mentioned moving their mother.
Not once.
Then he noticed a handwritten.
Daniel had never mentioned moving their mother.
Not once.
Then he noticed a handwritten note in the margin.
*Patient must remain under observation until November note in the margin.
Patient must remain under observation until November 2.
Frank's fingers tightened around the paper.
November 2.
The same date engraved on the key.
The 2.*
Frank's fingers tightened around the paper.
November 2.
The same date engraved on the key.
The same date appearing in Emily's notebook.
“Detective, I need you to find that same date appearing in Emily's notebook.
“Detective, I need you to find that facility.””
Mitchell nodded.
“Already done. It's the industrial property Sarah facility.””
Mitchell nodded.
“Already done. It's the industrial property Sarah mentioned.””
Frank stood.
“Then we're going.””
“No,” Mitchell replied.
“We're mentioned.””
Frank stood.
“Then we're going.””
“No,” Mitchell replied.
“We're going with a warrant and a proper team.””
Frank looked at her.
“My mother might be alive.””
going with a warrant and a proper team.””
Frank looked at her.
“My mother might be alive.””
“And your niece and her mother are still missing. We need to do this correctly.””
He wanted“And your niece and her mother are still missing. We need to do this correctly.””
He wanted to argue.
But Ray spoke first.
“She is right, Frank to argue.
But Ray spoke first.
“She is right, Frank.””
Frank turned.
Ray rarely disagreed with him.
That made.””
Frank turned.
Ray rarely disagreed with him.
That made it harder to ignore.
At noon, a message arrived from Sarah.
It contained an address and a it harder to ignore.
At noon, a message arrived from Sarah.
It contained an address and a photograph.
The photograph showed Lily sitting at a kitchen table, eating a sandwich.
She looked photograph.
The photograph showed Lily sitting at a kitchen table, eating a sandwich.
She looked frightened, but unharmed.
Beneath the picture was a message.
**SHE'S SAFE. frightened, but unharmed.
Beneath the picture was a message.
*SHE'S SAFE. I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ROOM 17 REALLY IS BEFORE YOU OPEN IT I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ROOM 17 REALLY IS BEFORE YOU OPEN IT.*
Frank immediately called the number.
Sarah answered.
“You have my attention.””
“Where.**
Frank immediately called the number.
Sarah answered.
“You have my attention.””
“Where is Lily?””
“Somewhere Dean cannot reach.””
“That's not an is Lily?””
“Somewhere Dean cannot reach.””
“That's not an answer.””
“It's the only answer I can give you right now.””
Frank lowered his voice.
“ answer.””
“It's the only answer I can give you right now.””
Frank lowered his voice.
“Daniel says our mother is alive.””
Sarah went quiet.
Then she whispered:
“He finally told you.””
“Is itDaniel says our mother is alive.””
Sarah went quiet.
Then she whispered:
“He finally told you.””
“Is it true?””
“Yes.””
Frank closed his eyes.
“Why did you let us bury an true?””
“Yes.””
Frank closed his eyes.
“Why did you let us bury an empty coffin?””
“I didn't. Dean arranged the funeral.””
Frank opened his eyes.
“Dean empty coffin?””
“I didn't. Dean arranged the funeral.””
Frank opened his eyes.
“Dean?””
“His father worked with the hospital. They were involved in moving patients into private facilities without?””
“His father worked with the hospital. They were involved in moving patients into private facilities without their families knowing.””
“Why our mother?””
“Because Eleanor discovered what they were doing.””
their families knowing.””
“Why our mother?””
“Because Eleanor discovered what they were doing.””
Frank's stomach tightened.
“What did she discover?””
“That they were changing medical records, transferring assetsFrank's stomach tightened.
“What did she discover?””
“That they were changing medical records, transferring assets, and declaring patients incompetent so they could control their finances.””
Frank looked at Mitchell, and declaring patients incompetent so they could control their finances.””
Frank looked at Mitchell.
The detective was listening.
Sarah continued.
“Your mother found the original records..
The detective was listening.
Sarah continued.
“Your mother found the original records. She threatened to expose them. Two weeks later, she was transferred.””
“Why She threatened to expose them. Two weeks later, she was transferred.””
“Why didn't Daniel tell me?””
“Because he believed you had already helped them.””
Frank's didn't Daniel tell me?””
“Because he believed you had already helped them.””
Frank's voice broke.
“I never signed anything.””
“I know that now.””
“What about Daniel voice broke.
“I never signed anything.””
“I know that now.””
“What about Daniel?””
“He tried to get her out. But Dean's father threatened to have him arrested for?””
“He tried to get her out. But Dean's father threatened to have him arrested for stealing confidential medical records.””
Frank closed his eyes.
“And Daniel disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“Where is stealing confidential medical records.””
Frank closed his eyes.
“And Daniel disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“Where is he now?””
“Trying to reach Emily.””
Frank gripped the phone.
“Where is Emily?””
“Room 17.””
he now?””
“Trying to reach Emily.””
Frank gripped the phone.
“Where is Emily?””
“Room 17.””
The words hit him like a physical blow.
Sarah continued.
“She's been keptThe words hit him like a physical blow.
Sarah continued.
“She's been kept there because she found the original patient ledger. It contains every name, every there because she found the original patient ledger. It contains every name, every transfer, and every payment.””
“Then why haven't you gone to the police?””
“Because someone inside the police department has been transfer, and every payment.””
“Then why haven't you gone to the police?””
“Because someone inside the police department has been protecting the operation for years.””
Frank looked at Mitchell.
Sarah lowered her protecting the operation for years.””
Frank looked at Mitchell.
Sarah lowered her voice.
“And Frank, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“Your mother doesn't remember you.””
Frank couldn't speak.
“She's been heavily voice.
“And Frank, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“Your mother doesn't remember you.””
Frank couldn't speak.
“She's been heavily medicated for years. Sometimes she remembers Daniel. Sometimes she doesn't recognize anyone.””
Frank stared at the floor.
“Can I see her?””
A long silence followed.
“Mid medicated for years. Sometimes she remembers Daniel. Sometimes she doesn't recognize anyone.””
Frank stared at the floor.
“Can I see her?””
A long silence followed.
“Midnight,” Sarah said.
“Room 17.””
Then the call ended.
Frank looked at the clocknight,” Sarah said.
“Room 17.””
Then the call ended.
Frank looked at the clock.
Twelve hours.
He had twelve hours to find his mother, his brother, and the family he.
Twelve hours.
He had twelve hours to find his mother, his brother, and the family he hadn't known existed.
And somewhere in that underground facility, Dean was waiting for him.
May you like
hadn't known existed.
And somewhere in that underground facility, Dean was waiting for him.
