Chapter 13: The Doctor Across the Street
Dean didn't move toward the window.
He simply stepped between Mabel and the glass.
"Stay back," he said.
Mabel clutched the phone.
"That's Dr. Bell?""
"I can't be certain from here.""
"But Linda said he was involved.""
Dean pulled out his own phone and photographed the sedan's license plate.
Across the street, the driver remained motionless.
Then the car's headlights flashed twice.
A moment later, it pulled away.
Dean watched until it disappeared around the corner.
"Frank," he said into his phone.
"I need you at Mabel's place. Now. Bring nobody who hasn't been cleared by Martin.""
He ended the call.
Mabel sat down.
"Why would a doctor watch my house?""
"That's a question for the police.""
"What if he knows we have the hospital records?""
Dean looked at her.
"Then we make sure he knows we aren't afraid to use them.""
But Mabel wasn't thinking about fear.
She was thinking about Arthur.
A document.
A statement accusing Laura of stealing from him.
And a name.
"Dean, I need to know what Arthur was trying to tell me.""
"We'll find out.""
Martin arrived forty minutes later.
He listened carefully while Mabel described the call.
When she mentioned the sedan, he asked Dean for the license plate photograph.
Martin studied it.
"I recognize the vehicle.""
"Whose is it?"" Dean asked.
"Dr. Bell's clinic registered it under a medical practice leasing company.""
Mabel looked confused.
"Does that mean he was there?""
"It establishes a connection, but not who was driving.""
Martin placed his briefcase on the table.
"I've also received a response from the hospital.""
He removed a letter.
"The hospital has agreed to preserve all original records relating to Arthur's treatment. They've also confirmed that the medication entries were amended after his death.""
Mabel leaned forward.
"Who changed them?""
"Dr. Bell's credentials were used.""
Dean crossed his arms.
"Can they prove he did it?""
"Not yet. The hospital's audit system records the user account, not necessarily the individual operating the computer.""
Martin paused.
"However, there is another development.""
He opened his laptop.
"Linda Foster has contacted me.""
Mabel's eyes widened.
"She's alive?""
"Yes. She called my office from a different number. She says she wants to make a formal statement.""
"Why didn't she tell me everything on the phone?""
"She claims someone has been monitoring her communications.""
Dean looked toward the window.
"Who?""
"She doesn't know. But she's frightened.""
Martin typed something.
"She's agreed to meet us tomorrow morning at a secure location.""
Mabel nodded.
"Will she tell us what Arthur signed?""
Martin looked at her.
"She says she has something that may answer that question.""
The following morning, Martin drove Mabel to a small law office on the opposite side of town.
Dean followed in his truck.
Frank waited outside.
Linda Foster was already inside.
She looked older than Mabel remembered from the hospital. Her hair had gone mostly gray, and she held a thick envelope in both hands.
When Mabel entered, Linda stood.
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
Mabel approached her.
"You knew Arthur?""
"I cared for him during his final week.""
"Did he suffer?""
Linda looked down.
"I'm sorry.""
Mabel sat opposite her.
"Please tell me the truth.""
Linda opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
The date was the night Arthur died.
At the top, Arthur had written:
I am making this statement because I believe my daughter, Laura Whitmore, has been taking money from my wife and me without permission.
Mabel's hand trembled.
Linda continued.
"Arthur asked me to witness this statement. He was frightened that the documents he'd prepared would disappear.""
Martin leaned forward.
"Did he sign it?""
Linda nodded.
"I watched him sign it. I also signed as a witness.""
Mabel looked at the page.
The signature was unmistakably Arthur's.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
Linda's eyes filled.
"Because I was told it had been placed in his medical file. Later, when I checked, it was gone.""
Martin asked, "Who told you that?""
"Dr. Bell.""
"And you believed him?""
"I did at first.""
Linda took another paper from the envelope.
"This is a copy I made before the original disappeared.""
Martin examined it.
The statement contained three paragraphs.
Arthur described the missing $46,700.
He described Laura's attempts to gain control of his insurance.
And he named someone who had helped her.
Mabel read the final line aloud.
"Patricia Collins.""
Linda nodded.
"Arthur believed Patricia had been helping Laura obtain financial documents and redirect correspondence.""
Martin studied the statement.
"Did Arthur explain why he was making it?""
Linda hesitated.
"He said he wanted to protect his wife. He was afraid Laura would convince Mabel she was incapable of managing her own affairs.""
Mabel looked away.
"He knew.""
"Yes," Linda said softly.
"He knew.""
Dean stood near the door.
"Did Dr. Bell know about this statement?""
Linda nodded.
"He saw Arthur writing it.""
Martin looked up.
"What did he do?""
"He told Arthur he shouldn't upset himself. Then he asked me to leave the room.""
Mabel frowned.
"Did you leave?""
"For a few minutes. When I returned, Arthur was upset. He told me the doctor had asked him to reconsider the statement.""
"Did he?""
"No.""
Linda opened the envelope again.
"There is something else.""
She produced a small folded sheet.
It was a hospital medication order.
Martin examined the date.
"What's this?""
"An order for a sedative that wasn't listed in Arthur's regular treatment plan.""
Dean stepped closer.
"Who authorized it?""
Linda pointed to the signature.
Dr. Richard Bell.
Mabel stared.
"Was it given to Arthur?""
Linda shook her head.
"Not by me.""
"Then who gave it?""
Linda looked at Martin.
"I saw Patricia Collins carrying a medication cup when she came out of his room.""
Martin's face tightened.
"Did you report that?""
"I confronted Dr. Bell. He told me the medication was approved by the family.""
"Which family member?""
"Laura.""
Mabel felt the room tilt.
"Did you see Laura give it to him?""
"No. But I saw Patricia enter the room with the cup.""
Dean's voice became hard.
"Why didn't you stop her?""
Linda began crying.
"I was called away to an emergency in another room. When I returned, the cup was gone.""
Silence settled over the office.
Martin placed the medication order in a protective folder.
"This needs to go directly to the investigators.""
Linda nodded.
"I know.""
Mabel looked at her.
"Why are you telling us now?""
Linda wiped her eyes.
"Because I received a letter last week.""
She handed it to Martin.
The envelope had no return address.
Inside was a typed message.
*You have kept quiet for six years. Keep it that way.*
At the bottom was a photograph.
Linda standing outside her home.
Taken from across the street.
Dean studied it.
"Someone's been following you.""
Linda nodded.
"Three nights ago, my car was vandalized. Yesterday, I found my front door unlocked.""
Martin looked at her.
"You need to report this immediately.""
"I will.""
Mabel reached across the table and held Linda's hand.
"You shouldn't have to be afraid.""
Linda squeezed her fingers.
"Neither should you.""
When they returned to Mabel's house, Daniel Whitmore was waiting on the porch.
He stood beside Michael, looking pale.
Mabel hurried toward him.
"Daniel?""
He embraced her.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Mabel whispered, "I thought you were dead.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I know, Mom.""
She pulled back and touched his face.
"Laura told me you died in an accident.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"She told me you had forgotten me.""
Mabel began to cry.
"I'm sorry.""
"Don't apologize. She did this.""
He looked toward the living room.
Martin was already laying out the newly recovered documents.
Daniel approached the table.
"What did you find?""
Martin showed him Arthur's statement.
Daniel read it carefully.
When he reached Patricia's name, his expression changed.
"That explains it.""
Mabel looked at him.
"What?""
Daniel took a breath.
"When I was in prison, Patricia visited Laura twice. She brought paperwork for me to sign.""
"What paperwork?""
"A confession.""
Martin leaned forward.
"What did it say?""
"That I had stolen the money from Arthur's estate and acted alone.""
Dean frowned.
"But you refused.""
Daniel nodded.
"Both times.""
Michael asked, "Why didn't you tell the court Patricia was involved?""
"I tried. My attorney told me the prosecution had bank records proving I transferred the money. I didn't know the records had been altered.""
Martin studied him.
"Do you still have evidence?""
Daniel looked at him.
"I found something in the storage locker.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small key.
"Laura kept copies of everything. I stole these before I was arrested.""
Martin examined the key.
"What's it for?""
"An old safety deposit box at First County Bank.""
Mabel frowned.
"What's inside?""
Daniel's expression darkened.
"The original records that could prove Laura framed me.""
He paused.
"And something else.""
"What?""
May you like
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Arthur's missing statement.""
