Chapter 15: The Witness Nobody Expected
The name came the following morning.
Martin stood in Mabel's kitchen with a printed copy of Dr. Bell's statement.
He looked as though he hadn't slept.
"His name is Samuel Price.""
Mabel frowned.
"Who is that?""
"A hospital security officer. He worked the night shift when Arthur died.""
Dean leaned against the counter.
"Why wasn't he in the visitor log?""
"Because he wasn't visiting a patient. He was working.""
Daniel looked at the statement.
"What did he see?""
Martin turned to the relevant paragraph.
"According to Dr. Bell, Samuel entered Arthur's room shortly after Patricia left. He saw someone standing beside the bed.""
Mabel swallowed.
"Who?""
Martin hesitated.
"Laura.""
Dean frowned.
"That isn't new.""
"No," Martin replied.
"But Samuel reportedly saw her carrying a small medical container.""
Mabel felt her stomach tighten.
"Did he see her give it to Arthur?""
"Dr. Bell says Samuel witnessed Laura hand the container to Patricia.""
Daniel stood.
"Then Patricia gave Arthur the medication.""
"That's what Bell claims.""
Mabel looked at Martin.
"Where is Samuel now?""
Martin checked the statement.
"He retired five years ago. His last known address is in Dayton.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"Dayton?""
Martin nodded.
"Why?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Because I know him.""
Everyone turned.
"You know Samuel Price?"" Dean asked.
Daniel nodded.
"He worked security at the courthouse when I was on trial.""
Mabel looked surprised.
"Did he testify?""
"No. But he approached me after the verdict.""
Daniel looked down.
"He told me he knew the case against me was wrong.""
Martin leaned forward.
"Why didn't he come forward?""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"He said he had a family and couldn't risk losing his job.""
Mabel's eyes filled.
"Did he know you were innocent?""
"He said he had seen Laura and Patricia meeting with someone from the prosecutor's office before my trial.""
Martin's expression hardened.
"Who?""
Daniel shook his head.
"He wouldn't tell me.""
Martin closed the folder.
"Then we need to find him.""
By noon, Martin had contacted Samuel.
He agreed to meet them at a public library in Dayton.
Daniel insisted on going.
Mabel wanted to accompany him, but Martin advised her to remain at home until they knew whether the meeting was safe.
Dean stayed with her.
Michael took Emily to school.
At two o'clock, Daniel called.
"We found him.""
Mabel stood.
"Is he talking?""
Daniel's voice sounded strained.
"Yes. But he wants to speak to you.""
Mabel looked at Dean.
"Put him on.""
A moment later, an older man's voice came through.
"Mrs. Whitmore?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Samuel Price. I knew your husband.""
Mabel held the phone tightly.
"Did you see what happened that night?""
There was a long pause.
"Yes.""
Mabel closed her eyes.
"Please tell me.""
Samuel spoke slowly.
"I was making rounds outside the intensive care unit. I saw Patricia Collins enter Arthur's room carrying a small white paper bag.""
Mabel felt her knees weaken.
"Was Laura with her?""
"No. Laura was already inside.""
"What happened?""
"I saw Patricia hand something to your daughter. Laura opened the bag and removed a small bottle.""
Mabel began crying.
"Did you see what was in it?""
"No. But I saw Laura pour something into a medication cup.""
Dean stepped closer.
"Did you report it?""
Samuel heard his voice.
"Yes. I reported it to my supervisor.""
"What happened?""
"My supervisor told me the medication had been approved by the attending physician.""
Mabel wiped her eyes.
"Did you see Patricia leave?""
"Yes. She walked out carrying the empty bag.""
Samuel paused.
"Then Laura stayed in the room for another twenty minutes.""
"What happened afterward?""
"Arthur's monitor alarm sounded.""
Mabel could barely speak.
"Did you see Laura leave?""
"Yes.""
"Was she upset?""
Samuel gave a bitter laugh.
"No. She looked calm.""
The words struck Mabel harder than she expected.
Samuel continued.
"After Arthur was taken for emergency treatment, I saw Dr. Bell speaking with Laura near the nurses' station.""
Martin's voice came through the phone.
"What did you hear?""
Samuel hesitated.
"I heard Dr. Bell say, 'You told me this was only to keep him quiet.''"
Mabel stopped breathing.
"What did Laura say?""
Samuel answered.
"She said, 'You did what I paid you to do.''"
Silence filled the kitchen.
Dean looked away.
Martin asked, "Did you hear anything else?""
Samuel nodded, though they couldn't see him.
"Laura told him to change the medication record.""
Mabel covered her mouth.
"And Dr. Bell?""
"He said he wouldn't.""
"What happened?""
Samuel's voice lowered.
"Laura reminded him that she had copies of documents proving he'd taken money from another patient's family.""
Martin looked sharply at Daniel.
"Did he change the records?""
Samuel answered.
"Yes.""
When Daniel returned home that evening, he brought Samuel's signed statement.
Martin placed it beside the others.
The evidence was becoming impossible to ignore.
Arthur had accused Laura and Patricia of stealing.
Daniel had been framed.
Mabel's home had been targeted.
Emily had been isolated.
And now two hospital employees had independently connected Laura and Patricia to suspicious activity on Arthur's final night.
But Martin was careful.
"These statements must be corroborated. The investigators will need the hospital's original medication records, the chain of custody for any preserved samples, and independent forensic review.""
Dean nodded.
"At least now they have witnesses.""
Martin looked at Mabel.
"Yes. And we need to protect them.""
He called Helen Brooks, the prosecutor.
She agreed to meet Samuel the next morning and arrange a formal interview.
Then Martin received another call.
He answered.
"Reeves.""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Mr. Reeves, this is Patricia Collins.""
Martin immediately put the call on speaker.
Mabel went still.
"What do you want?"" Martin asked.
Patricia sounded breathless.
"I need to speak with Mabel.""
Mabel stepped forward.
"I'm here.""
There was a pause.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I know you hate me.""
Mabel's voice was quiet.
"Do you know why?""
Patricia began crying.
"I didn't mean for things to go this far.""
Mabel closed her eyes.
"Did you give my husband something that night?""
Silence.
Then Patricia whispered:
"I didn't know it would hurt him.""
Dean's jaw tightened.
Martin leaned closer to the phone.
"Patricia, you need to speak with investigators.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Laura will kill me.""
Mabel felt a chill.
"Where is Laura?""
"I don't know.""
"What are you afraid of?""
Patricia's breathing became ragged.
"She has everything. The documents. The recordings.
The bank records. She told me she would destroy me if I ever talked.""
Martin spoke carefully.
"Do you have evidence?""
"Yes.""
"What kind?""
"Original documents. The insurance application. The medical authorization. And the first will.""
Martin's expression changed.
"The first will?""
"Laura had it rewritten. But I kept the original.""
Mabel looked at Martin.
"Why would you keep it?""
Patricia began sobbing.
"Because I knew one day she'd blame me for everything.""
Martin remained calm.
"Where are you?""
Patricia hesitated.
"At a motel outside Dayton.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"Which one?""
Patricia gave the name.
Martin wrote it down.
"Do not leave. We will contact the authorities and arrange a safe meeting.""
Patricia's voice dropped.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"Laura knows about the box at First County Bank.""
Daniel went pale.
"How?""
"She saw the key in your apartment before you were arrested. She told me she would get it eventually.""
Martin looked at Daniel.
"Is there anything else in that box?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
Patricia continued.
"She knows you found the original records.""
Daniel stepped toward the phone.
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"Patricia, tell me!""
"I swear I don't know. But she called me this morning and said she was leaving town.""
Mabel gripped the table.
"Leaving?""
Patricia whispered:
"She said she had one last thing to take care of.""
Martin's voice hardened.
"What thing?""
Patricia began crying again.
"Emily.""
Michael received the call while he was driving home with Emily.
He pulled into a parking lot and listened to Martin explain the threat.
Then he looked at his daughter.
"Sweetheart, I need you to stay with Grandma tonight.""
Emily frowned.
"Why?""
"Because something important is happening.""
"Is Mom coming?""
Michael hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Emily looked out the window.
"She always comes back when she's angry.""
Michael's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"Has she ever told you to go somewhere with her without telling me?""
Emily nodded slowly.
"Last week.""
Michael turned.
"Where?""
"She said she wanted to take me to see Grandma's old house.""
Michael went still.
"What did you tell her?""
"I said I wanted Dad to come too.""
He closed his eyes.
"Did she get angry?""
Emily nodded.
"She said I was becoming just like you.""
Michael immediately called Martin.
"Emily told me Laura tried to arrange a trip with her last week.""
Martin's voice sharpened.
"When?""
"She didn't give me a date. But she said Laura wanted to take her somewhere without telling me.""
Martin paused.
"Michael, bring her directly to Mabel's house. Don't make any stops.""
Michael started the car.
Then Emily pointed toward the passenger-side mirror.
"Dad?""
"What?""
"That's Mom's car.""
Michael looked.
A black SUV had pulled out behind them.
He recognized the license plate.
His blood ran cold.
He accelerated toward the main road.
The SUV followed.
He called Dean.
"Dean, I need help.""
"What's wrong?""
"Laura's following us.""
Dean stood up from the kitchen chair.
"Where are you?""
Michael gave him the location.
"Get Emily somewhere safe," Dean said.
"Don't stop for her.""
Michael glanced at the mirror again.
The SUV was getting closer.
Then his phone rang.
Laura's name appeared on the screen.
He answered through the car speaker.
"Leave us alone, Laura.""
Her voice was calm.
"Michael, pull over.""
"No.""
"I just want to talk to my daughter.""
"You're not taking her anywhere.""
Laura laughed softly.
"You still think you can stop me?""
Michael tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"Stay away from Emily.""
Laura's voice turned cold.
"Then you should have thought about that before you helped my mother.""
The call ended.
Emily began crying.
"Dad, I'm scared.""
Michael reached across and held her hand.
"Look at me, sweetheart. We're going to Grandma's.""
May you like
Behind them, the black SUV suddenly accelerated.
And as Michael turned toward the police station, Laura's vehicle swerved into the lane beside him.
