Chapter 19: The Recording Laura Tried to Bury
Martin read Patricia's message twice.
Then he looked at Mabel.
"She's offering us the original recording.""
Mabel held her phone tightly.
"Then we need to get it.""
"Not without the police," Martin replied.
"If Patricia has evidence, we need to preserve it properly.""
Daniel paced the kitchen.
"Why would she wait until now?""
Dean answered quietly.
"Because she's scared. And because she knows Laura is about to make her the only person responsible.""
Mabel looked at the photograph of Arthur's grave.
"Patricia helped Laura destroy our family. Why should we trust her?""
"We shouldn't," Martin said.
"But we can verify what she gives us.""
He called Helen Brooks and explained the message.
Helen agreed to arrange a monitored meeting at the prosecutor's office. Patricia was told not to approach the Whitmore home and not to contact Laura.
An hour later, she replied.
*I will come. But I need protection. Laura knows where my sister lives.*
Martin forwarded the message to Helen.
The prosecutor arranged for officers to secure Patricia's sister's residence while they prepared the meeting.
Patricia arrived shortly after six.
She looked nothing like the confident woman Mabel remembered.
Her red glasses were crooked. Her hair was unwashed, and she wore a gray sweater beneath an oversized coat.
Two investigators escorted her into the conference room.
Mabel sat opposite her.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Patricia removed her glasses.
"Mrs. Whitmore, I'm sorry.""
Mabel looked at her.
"Are you sorry because you hurt Arthur, or because Laura is no longer protecting you?""
Patricia lowered her eyes.
"Both.""
"Did you give my husband medication that wasn't prescribed to him?""
Patricia's lips trembled.
"Yes.""
Mabel gripped the edge of the table.
"Why?""
"Laura told me he needed to sleep. She said he was becoming confused and agitated.""
"Did you know the medication wasn't authorized?""
Patricia nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know it could hurt him?""
"I didn't think—"
"Did you know?""
Patricia began crying.
"Yes.""
Mabel looked away.
Martin placed a recorder on the table.
"Patricia, before you continue, understand that this meeting is being documented. You have the right to consult an attorney. Any statement you make may be provided to investigators.""
Patricia nodded.
"I understand.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small black flash drive.
"This is the original recording.""
Martin didn't touch it immediately.
"Where did it come from?""
"Arthur's personal recorder. He kept it in his bedside drawer.""
Mabel looked up.
"He had a recorder?""
Patricia nodded.
"He used it to dictate notes because he was getting tired of writing.""
Martin asked, "How did you obtain it?""
"Laura asked me to clear out his hospital belongings after he died. I found it inside the drawer. She told me to destroy it.""
"But you didn't.""
Patricia looked at Mabel.
"I listened to it first.""
"Why?""
"Because I heard your husband's voice.""
She swallowed.
"I couldn't destroy it.""
Martin placed the flash drive in an evidence envelope.
"Do you know what is on it?""
Patricia nodded.
"Arthur recorded a conversation with Laura the afternoon before he died.""
Mabel leaned forward.
"What did they say?""
Patricia looked at her.
"He told Laura he knew about the money. He told her he had changed his will. He said he was going to make sure you and Emily were protected.""
Mabel's eyes filled.
"And Laura?""
Patricia hesitated.
"She threatened him.""
Martin asked, "What exactly did she say?""
Patricia looked down.
"She said that if he left everything to you, she would make sure you never had access to it.""
Mabel closed her eyes.
Martin signaled to the investigator.
"Let's hear it.""
The recording began with a faint rustling sound.
Then Arthur's voice emerged.
"Laura, I know what you've done.""
Laura answered sharply.
"You don't know anything.""
"I have the bank statements.""
"Those accounts are complicated.""
"Forty-six thousand seven hundred dollars is not complicated.""
Silence.
Then Laura spoke.
"You were going to give everything to Mom anyway.""
"Because she is my wife.""
"She can't manage it.""
"She can manage her own life.""
"She forgets things.""
"She has never forgotten who she is.""
Mabel covered her mouth.
Arthur continued.
"I've spoken to Martin. The house is hers. The trust is hers. Emily's education is protected.""
Laura laughed.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No. I am correcting one.""
A chair scraped.
Then Laura's voice became quieter.
"What happens if you don't make it out of this hospital?""
Arthur answered firmly.
"Your mother will be protected.""
"By whom?""
"By the law.""
Laura gave a cold laugh.
"You still think paperwork can protect people.""
The recording crackled.
Then Arthur said something that made Mabel grip the table.
"You're threatening your own father.""
Laura replied:
"I'm telling you that you have no idea how far I'll go.""
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Mabel stared at the recorder.
"Play the rest.""
Martin looked at the file.
"There is another section.""
He pressed play.
This time, Arthur's voice was weaker.
"If anything happens to me, I want this conversation preserved.""
A second voice answered.
It was Patricia.
"Mr. Whitmore, I don't think you should be recording this.""
Arthur replied:
"Then you should have nothing to fear.""
Patricia sounded frightened.
"Laura said she would take care of everything.""
Arthur asked, "What does that mean?""
Patricia didn't answer.
Arthur continued.
"Did she ask you to bring something into this room?""
Silence.
Then Patricia whispered:
"Yes.""
Mabel looked at Patricia.
The woman began sobbing.
Arthur's voice returned.
"Did you bring it?""
"Yes.""
"What is it?""
"A medication.""
"Was it prescribed?""
"No.""
A long silence followed.
Then Arthur said:
"Patricia, listen to me. You can still stop this.""
The recording ended.
Patricia covered her face.
Mabel stood.
"You knew.""
Patricia nodded.
"I knew.""
"You heard him asking you to stop.""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't.""
Patricia couldn't look at her.
Mabel's voice broke.
"Why?""
Patricia whispered, "I was afraid of Laura.""
Mabel shook her head.
"So was I. But I never gave her the power to hurt someone else.""
Patricia cried harder.
Martin signaled the investigators.
"That's enough for now.""
The recording was sent for forensic examination.
Helen Brooks listened to it that night.
The next morning, she informed Martin that investigators had obtained additional evidence from the hospital and Dr. Bell's clinic.
The recording appeared consistent with the original audio files on Arthur's recorder.
Patricia's statement also corroborated the medication order and the visitor records.
Helen requested that Laura's proposed immunity agreement be withdrawn.
She would not be allowed to shift responsibility onto Patricia without examination of the evidence.
Daniel asked Martin whether Laura could still escape prosecution.
Martin answered carefully.
"That depends on the investigation and the charges ultimately filed. But the evidence is much stronger now.""
Mabel looked at the table.
"Will Patricia go to prison?""
"If the allegations are proven, she may face criminal consequences.""
"Even though she came forward?""
"Cooperation may be considered, but it doesn't erase what she did.""
Mabel nodded.
"Good.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Mom?""
She met his eyes.
"I don't want revenge. I want the truth recorded where nobody can erase it.""
That afternoon, Martin received one final document from the forensic examiner.
It was a transcript of the recording's last thirty seconds.
The examiner had enhanced a section that had previously been almost inaudible.
At the very end, after Patricia believed the recording had stopped, another voice could be heard.
A man's voice.
"Laura, you said this wouldn't happen.""
Laura answered:
"Then you should have done what I told you.""
The man's voice was unmistakable.
Dr. Bell.
Martin immediately called Helen.
But before he could explain, his office phone rang.
The caller was Helen herself.
"Mr. Reeves, we have a problem.""
"What is it?""
"Dr. Bell has changed his statement.""
Martin went still.
"How?""
"He says Laura was not the only person who planned the medication incident.""
"Who else?""
Helen hesitated.
"Patricia says she acted under Laura's instructions. Bell now claims someone else arranged the entire plan.""
Martin looked at the transcript.
"Who?""
Helen lowered her voice.
"Arthur's own son.""
Daniel, standing nearby, heard the words.
His face went white.
"What?""
Martin looked at him.
Helen continued.
"Dr. Bell claims Daniel visited Arthur the afternoon before his death and asked him to change the insurance beneficiary.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That's a lie.""
Martin immediately answered.
"We have evidence Daniel was not at the hospital that afternoon.""
Helen replied, "I know. But Bell has produced a visitor entry bearing Daniel's name.""
Martin's expression hardened.
"Send it to me.""
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Mabel.
"Mom, I never went there.""
Mabel reached for his hand.
"I believe you.""
But Martin was already studying the document Helen had sent.
The signature beside the visitor entry was Daniel's.
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And beneath it was a handwritten note:
*Visitor authorized by Laura Whitmore.*
