Chapter 12: Margaret's Secret
I found Margaret in the kitchen.
She was standing beside the island, holding a cup of tea she hadn't touched.
When she saw me, she immediately stood.
"Mrs. Whitmore?""
I placed the black notebook on the counter.
"Would you like to explain this?""
Her face changed.
She looked at the notebook.
Then at me.
For a moment, she seemed unable to breathe.
"Where did you get that?""
"Vanessa gave it to me.""
Margaret slowly sat down.
I opened the notebook to the final page.
"Did you deliver medication to Richard on the morning he died?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Yes, ma'am.""
"Did Thomas ask you to?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Margaret pressed a hand to her mouth.
"Because I didn't know what he had given me.""
I pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Start from the beginning.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Mr. Richard called me to his study the night before he died. He said he was feeling unwell and wanted me to collect a prescription from Mr. Thomas.""
"What prescription?""
"He said it was an emergency medication recommended by his doctor.""
"Did you see the label?""
Margaret shook her head.
"It was already inside a small brown bottle.""
I stared at her.
"Where did Thomas get it?""
"I don't know.""
She began crying.
"He told me to give it to Mr. Richard with his breakfast. He said you knew about it.""
"I didn't.""
"I understand that now.""
I closed the notebook.
"Margaret, why did you keep this record?""
Her eyes moved toward the kitchen window.
"Because Mr. Richard asked me to.""
My heart began pounding.
"What?""
"He told me that if anything happened to him, I should write down everything Thomas asked me to do. He said not to trust anyone who claimed to be acting on his behalf.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you show me?""
Margaret lowered her head.
"Because Thomas threatened my daughter.""
I went still.
"What did you say?""
"My daughter, Emily. She was twenty-three at the time. She worked for one of the companies connected to the foundation.""
I remembered Emily.
She'd been a quiet young woman who occasionally visited the estate.
"What happened?""
"Thomas told me that if I spoke about the medication or the financial records, he'd make sure Emily was arrested for fraud.""
"Was she involved?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No. She was an administrative assistant. She processed documents that Thomas gave her. She didn't know what they contained.""
I sat back.
"Did Thomas show you proof?""
Margaret nodded.
"He showed me copies of bank transfers with Emily's employee number. He said he could make it look like she'd approved everything.""
My stomach tightened.
"So you stayed silent to protect her.""
Margaret began sobbing.
"Yes, ma'am. I know I should have come to you. I've regretted it every day.""
I looked at the notebook again.
The entries were precise.
Dates.
Medication descriptions.
Times.
And one final note.
Mr. Thomas said the second dose must be given before noon.
I pointed to it.
"What happened after you gave Richard the medication?""
Margaret wiped her cheeks.
"He became dizzy. He said his chest hurt. I called Thomas.""
"What did Thomas say?""
"He told me to wait. He said Mr. Richard was having a reaction and that the doctor was already on his way.""
I stood.
"Did you call an ambulance?""
Margaret looked down.
"No.""
The kitchen seemed to fall silent.
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Thomas told me not to. He said the doctor would handle everything privately.""
"Margaret, my husband was dying.""
She covered her face.
"I know.""
I stepped away from the counter.
For eleven years, I'd thought the hospital had been called immediately.
I'd thought Richard had received emergency treatment.
But the truth was much worse.
"How long did you wait?""
"Almost forty minutes.""
My voice broke.
"Forty minutes?""
She nodded.
"Then Thomas arrived. He called the ambulance himself.""
I closed my eyes.
Richard had been alone for forty minutes while the person responsible for his medication controlled the response.
I couldn't bear it.
Daniel entered the kitchen.
He had heard enough.
"Margaret.""
She looked up.
"Mr. Daniel...""
He approached the counter.
"Did you know what was in the bottle?""
"No, sir.""
"Did you give it to my father?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know he was in danger?""
Margaret shook her head.
Daniel looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he asked:
"Why did you help us investigate Vanessa if you knew you were connected to Dad's death?""
Margaret stood.
"Because I couldn't stay silent anymore. I watched Miss Reed enter Mrs. Whitmore's office.
I knew what she was doing. I knew the same people were still taking money from the foundation.""
Daniel's voice softened slightly.
"Why now?""
"Because Mr. Thomas told me last week that he intended to destroy the old records.""
I frowned.
"What records?""
"The medical records. The financial records. Everything connected to your father's death.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Does he know you kept this?""
Margaret nodded.
"He found out two days ago.""
My blood ran cold.
"How?""
"He called me. He said he knew I'd been keeping a private record. He told me to hand it over.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"And you refused?""
"Yes.""
"Then why are you still here?""
Margaret looked at him.
"Because I wanted Mrs. Whitmore to know the truth before it was too late.""
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke.
"Mrs. Whitmore, this is Detective Harris. We've been reviewing the documents you provided.""
I straightened.
"Yes?""
"We have reason to believe the medication administered to your husband contained a substance that should never have been prescribed to him.""
I gripped the counter.
"Can you prove that?""
"We're arranging a forensic review of the original medical records. However, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The prescription was issued under the name of a doctor who claims he never authorized it.""
I looked at Margaret.
She was trembling.
"Who signed the prescription?""
The detective paused.
Then he said:
"Your family physician, Dr. Samuel Bennett.""
My stomach dropped.
"Dr. Bennett told me Thomas brought the medication.""
"That's correct. But according to the records, Dr. Bennett's signature was forged.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He had heard every word.
"Then who issued the prescription?""
The detective lowered his voice.
"We traced the pharmacy order to a private account registered under the name Vanessa Reed.""
I couldn't speak.
Daniel slowly sat down.
Margaret whispered:
"Oh, dear God.""
The detective continued.
"Mrs. Whitmore, we need to locate Miss Reed immediately. We believe she may have access to additional evidence.""
I looked toward the kitchen entrance.
Vanessa's suitcase was gone.
So was she.
I called her phone.
It rang once.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Daniel grabbed his jacket.
"She's not getting away.""
I caught his arm.
"Daniel, wait. The police are handling this.""
He turned toward me.
"She may have been involved in Dad's death.""
"I know.""
"Then how can you ask me to wait?""
Before I could answer, Margaret suddenly reached into her apron.
She removed a folded piece of paper.
"I didn't tell you everything.""
I stared at her.
"What else is there?""
She unfolded the paper.
It was an old pharmacy receipt dated eleven years earlier.
The medication listed was the same substance the detective had just mentioned.
But beneath the patient's name was another name.
Not Richard Whitmore.
*Eleanor Whitmore.*
My name.
I looked at Margaret.
"Why is my name on this?""
She began crying again.
"Because Mr. Thomas told the pharmacy the prescription was for you.""
I felt Daniel grab my hand.
Then Margaret whispered the sentence that made everything fall into place.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I think your husband was never the intended victim.""
I stared at the receipt.
The prescription had originally been prepared for me.
The medication had been redirected to Richard.
And the date was the morning before his death.
Someone had planned to poison me.
But Richard had taken the medication instead.
And if that was true, then the question wasn't simply who had killed my husband.
It was who had wanted me dead in the first place.
At that moment, Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face went white.
It was Vanessa.
He answered.
"Where are you?""
Her voice came through clearly.
"Somewhere your mother should have stayed out of.""
Daniel put the call on speaker.
"What do you want?""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"I want you to understand something, Daniel. Your father didn't die because he discovered the financial fraud.""
There was a pause.
"He died because he found out who was supposed to receive that medication.""
I leaned toward the phone.
"Who?""
Vanessa's answer was barely audible.
Then she said:
May you like
"Your mother.""
And the call disconnected.
