Chapter 13: The Second Person in the Hospital
"Who was with her?""
Dad's voice was barely recognizable.
On the other end of the phone, Laura Bennett hesitated.
"I need you to understand something, Mr. Reed. I tried to report what happened at the time. I really did.""
"Who was with Rebecca?""
Laura took a shaky breath.
"Dr. Stephen Miller.""
Dad grabbed the edge of the table.
"The hospital director?""
"Yes.""
Daniel immediately pulled out a notebook.
"Laura, are you saying Dr. Miller personally authorized the cancellation?""
"No. I'm saying he was present when Rebecca signed the request. He told me the transfer was no longer necessary.""
Dad shook his head.
"Why would he do that?""
"I don't know. But I heard them arguing afterward.""
"What did they say?""
Laura's voice dropped.
"Dr. Miller told Rebecca that Sarah had already discovered the financial irregularities. He said the situation was becoming dangerous.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"Did my mother hear them?""
"Yes.""
Laura began crying.
"She was awake. She asked me to call her husband. She said she needed to speak to Marcus before it was too late.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Why didn't anyone call me?""
"We tried. Your wife specifically asked us to use the number she had written on a piece of paper. But someone removed it from her bedside drawer.""
Daniel looked at Dad.
"Who had access to the room?""
Laura answered.
"Rebecca. Dr. Miller. And Arthur Whitaker.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Arthur was at the hospital that night?""
"Yes.""
The room went silent.
For years, Dad had believed Arthur was simply the attorney who handled Mom's estate.
Now we knew he had been involved in her medical records, the canceled transfer, and the disappearance of the original property documents.
Daniel asked Laura whether she had kept any evidence.
"I have copies of the nursing notes," she replied.
"And I have something else.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
Dad leaned forward.
"What recording?""
"Sarah asked me to keep it. She was afraid nobody would believe her.""
I stopped breathing.
"Can we hear it?""
Laura paused.
"Yes. But I want to meet you in person. There are things on that recording that I cannot explain over the phone.""
Daniel arranged a meeting at his attorney's office that afternoon.
Before ending the call, Laura said one final thing.
"Mr. Reed?""
"Yes?""
"Your wife wasn't afraid of dying. She was afraid of leaving Nia with the wrong people.""
Dad covered his face.
The call ended.
For a long time, nobody spoke.
Then Hailey appeared in the doorway.
She had heard everything.
"Mom knew?""
Dad looked at her.
"Apparently.""
Hailey's eyes filled.
"She told me Sarah was getting worse because she refused to cooperate with the doctors.""
I looked at her.
"Mom wanted treatment.""
Hailey shook her head.
"I know that now.""
She sat beside me.
"There's something else.""
I turned.
"What?""
"Mom kept a second phone.""
Daniel immediately looked up.
"Where?""
"In her bedroom. Inside the bottom drawer of her wardrobe.""
Dad stood.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because she told me never to touch it.""
I stared at her.
"How long have you known?""
"Since the night she came home crying after talking to Arthur.""
Dad looked confused.
"Rebecca came home crying?""
Hailey nodded.
"She said Arthur had threatened to expose something.""
Daniel exchanged a glance with Dad.
"Show us.""
We went upstairs.
Rebecca's bedroom was on the second floor, opposite mine.
The room smelled of expensive perfume and fresh laundry.
Hailey opened the wardrobe.
She moved several handbags and pulled out the bottom drawer.
At first, it appeared empty.
Then she pressed against the wooden back panel.
A small compartment opened.
Inside was an old black mobile phone.
Dad picked it up.
The battery was almost dead.
Daniel connected it to a charger.
A few minutes later, the screen lit up.
There were several saved recordings.
One was labeled:
*OCTOBER 14 — SARAH.*
Another was labeled:
*ARTHUR — FINAL AGREEMENT.*
Dad selected the first recording.
Mom's voice filled the room.
"Rebecca, please. You don't have to do this.""
A second voice answered.
Rebecca.
"You don't understand, Sarah. Everything is already arranged.""
"Then cancel it.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because Arthur has already been paid.""
Mom began crying.
"You're talking about my daughter's future.""
Rebecca's voice became colder.
"Your daughter will be taken care of.""
"Not by you.""
A door slammed.
Then a man's voice spoke.
Arthur.
"Mrs. Reed, I strongly advise you to stop making accusations.""
Mom replied:
"I have the bank statements. I have the transfer records. And I know what you've done with my medical account.""
There was a long silence.
Then Arthur said:
"You're making a very serious mistake.""
The recording ended.
Dad looked physically ill.
"She knew everything.""
Daniel selected the second recording.
Arthur's voice was clear.
"Rebecca, the transfer must be completed before the eighteenth birthday.""
Rebecca asked:
"And the medical records?""
"They'll remain sealed.""
"What if Marcus finds out?""
"Marcus has spent years trusting you. He won't question what you tell him.""
Rebecca laughed.
"And the girl?""
Arthur replied:
"Once she loses the house, she'll have no claim against the estate.""
I felt sick.
Dad closed his eyes.
Then a third voice appeared.
A voice we hadn't heard before.
"Arthur, you promised me the money would be transferred before the investigation.""
Daniel froze.
He looked at Dad.
Then at the phone.
The voice belonged to Dr. Stephen Miller.
Arthur replied:
"Everything is under control.""
Dr. Miller continued.
"Then why is Sarah still asking about the transfer?""
Arthur's answer was chilling.
"Because she hasn't understood that her husband is the only person who can stop this from becoming a public scandal.""
Dad stood completely still.
"What does he mean?""
The recording continued.
Rebecca spoke.
"Marcus won't do anything. He doesn't even know what happened to the original folder.""
Arthur laughed.
"Exactly.""
The recording ended.
Daniel immediately called his attorney.
"We have evidence. Multiple recordings. Medical records.
Forged documents. Everything.""
Dad looked at Hailey.
"Did your mother know you had this phone?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you helping us now?""
Hailey began crying.
"Because I finally understand what she was asking me to become.""
She looked at the phone.
"She wanted me to hate you enough to help her take everything.""
I didn't answer.
Then my phone vibrated.
An incoming message from an unknown number.
You have the recordings. Good. But there is one more document you haven't found.
A second message arrived.
The original deed is not in the archive.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed a small wooden box sitting on a hospital bedside table.
My mother's wooden box.
The same one Hailey had thrown onto the grass.
Except this photograph showed something I had never seen before.
A hidden compartment beneath the bottom panel.
May you like
And written across the back of the photograph were five words:
*YOUR MOTHER LEFT ONE MORE THING.*
