Chapter 12: The Doctor Who Remembered Everything
Daniel arrived at the estate shortly after eight the following morning.
He had spent most of the night reviewing the photographs and financial records.
When he entered the library, he placed a thick folder on the table.
"Adrian, I've found Dr. Samuel Reed.""
I stood immediately.
"Where?""
"He's living outside Boston. He retired from private practice four years ago.""
"Can we contact him?""
"I already have.""
I waited.
Daniel opened the folder.
"He remembers your mother.""
"Did he treat her?""
"Yes. And according to his preliminary statement, he was concerned about her condition during the final weeks of her life.""
My throat tightened.
"What condition?""
"That's what we need to establish.""
He removed a printed email.
"Dr. Reed says he was asked to conduct an additional medical assessment shortly before Patricia died. He claims the request came from someone associated with the Cole family.""
"Who?""
"He doesn't know yet. He wants to review his archived records before making a formal statement.""
I looked at the email.
"Can we visit him?""
Daniel nodded.
"He's agreed to meet us tomorrow.""
I turned toward Martin.
"Arrange transportation.""
Daniel raised his hand.
"One thing first. We need to talk about Natalie.""
I sighed.
"What about her?""
"Her company received money from the trust. But the registration history shows it was established using funds originally supplied by your father.""
"So she was a front.""
"Possibly. But there's something else.""
He placed another document on the table.
It was a company registration form.
The original director was Richard Cole.
Natalie had become the sole director eighteen months later.
The transfer had been completed shortly after my engagement.
"Why?""
Daniel pointed toward the attached correspondence.
"Because Richard wanted to separate his personal involvement from the company before the money moved.""
I stared at the page.
"Can we prove he controlled it?""
"We have bank records, incorporation documents, and emails. It's a strong starting point.""
My phone rang.
Natalie.
I considered ignoring it.
Then I answered.
"Adrian?""
"What?""
"I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard knows you've found the documents.""
I stood.
"How?""
"He came to my apartment last night.""
"What did he want?""
"He demanded the USB drive.""
"Did you give it to him?""
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you now?""
"At the estate.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"I'm outside the main gate.""
I looked toward Martin.
He immediately checked the security monitor.
Natalie was standing beside a black car.
She looked frightened.
"Let her in," I said.
A few minutes later, she entered the library.
She carried a small handbag and wore sunglasses despite the cloudy weather.
When she removed them, I noticed a bruise near her wrist.
"What happened?""
She looked down.
"Richard grabbed me.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Did you report it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because he said he would destroy my family if I did.""
She sat down.
"I know you don't believe me, Adrian. But I have something else.""
She removed a folded document.
"This was in Richard's office.""
Daniel took it.
It was a private correspondence dated six years earlier.
The subject line read:
*Patricia Cole — Medical and Financial Contingencies.*
I stared at the page.
My mother had died six years earlier.
Daniel began reading.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He passed me the document.
It contained an exchange between Richard and an unknown recipient.
One sentence stood out.
The patient must remain unaware that the additional medication is being administered.
I felt my hands go cold.
Another sentence appeared below it.
Once the medical issue is resolved, the financial documents can be finalized.
I looked at Natalie.
"Where did you get this?""
"In a locked drawer in Richard's office.""
"How long have you had it?""
"Since last night.""
"Why didn't you give it to me earlier?""
She looked down.
"Because I was afraid.""
I placed the paper on the table.
Daniel studied the document.
"This could be extremely important. But we need the original and the complete correspondence. We cannot assume what the wording means without context.""
I nodded.
Natalie leaned forward.
"There's more.""
She removed her phone.
"I recorded Richard last night.""
Daniel immediately looked at her.
"Did he consent to being recorded?""
"No. He called me after I refused to give him the USB drive. I recorded the conversation because I was afraid he might threaten me again.""
Daniel considered this.
"We'll preserve it and have the circumstances reviewed before using it.""
Natalie pressed play.
My father's voice filled the library.
"You have no idea what you've done.""
Natalie answered:
"I want nothing to do with this anymore.""
Richard laughed.
"You think Adrian will protect you? He'll throw you away the moment he finds out everything.""
"I already told him about the money.""
Silence followed.
Then my father's voice became colder.
"You told him what?""
"The transfer.""
A chair scraped against the floor.
"You stupid girl.""
Natalie began crying.
"You said it was legal.""
"I said it was necessary.""
"You told me Patricia's documents were useless.""
"They were supposed to be useless!""
My entire body went rigid.
Daniel paused the recording.
We stared at each other.
Then I asked Natalie to continue.
Richard's voice returned.
"Do you understand what happens if Adrian finds the original agreement?""
Natalie answered quietly.
"Yes.""
"No, you don't. That document doesn't just protect the estate. It proves that I never had the authority to make the transfers.""
There was a long silence.
Then Natalie asked:
"What about Patricia?""
My father's voice dropped.
"Patricia should have kept her mouth shut.""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath me.
For six years, I had believed my mother had died from an unfortunate medical emergency.
Now I had a recording of my father speaking about her as though her death had been the solution to a financial problem.
Daniel finally broke the silence.
"Adrian, I need you to listen carefully. We cannot conclude that your father caused your mother's death from this recording. But we have enough reason to request a formal investigation.""
I nodded slowly.
"Do it.""
Daniel began making calls.
Natalie sat motionless.
I turned toward her.
"Why did you come here?""
She looked up.
"Because I couldn't keep pretending.""
"Is that the only reason?""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and placed another object on the table.
A small silver key.
I recognized it immediately.
The key to my grandmother's private cabinet.
"Where did you get that?""
"Richard gave it to me.""
"Why?""
"Because he wanted me to retrieve the original trust agreement.""
"Did you find it?""
Natalie shook her head.
"No.""
"Then what did you find?""
She looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
"A second envelope. It was hidden behind the cabinet's wooden backing.""
My heart began pounding.
"What's inside?""
Natalie reached into her handbag again and removed a photograph.
It showed my mother standing outside a medical building.
Beside her was a man wearing a doctor's coat.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
But that wasn't what caught my attention.
Behind them, near the entrance, stood my father.
He was holding a small paper bag.
On the back of the photograph, my mother had written a date.
The date of her death.
And beneath it were seven words:
He knew what was inside the medicine.
I stared at the photograph.
Daniel immediately took it.
"Where is the envelope?""
Natalie swallowed.
"Richard has it.""
"Where?""
"In his private office.""
I stood.
"We're going there.""
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Not without a plan.""
I looked at him.
"My mother may have been poisoned.""
"We don't know that yet.""
"Then we find out.""
Before Daniel could respond, Martin rushed into the library.
"Mr. Cole!""
"What?""
He was breathing heavily.
"Your father has just arrived.""
I looked toward the hallway.
"Where is he?""
"Outside. He's brought two lawyers and a security team.""
"Why?""
Martin swallowed.
"He says he's here to remove Elena and Mateo from the estate.""
I stared at him.
"They're staying in the guest apartment. Under my protection.""
Martin nodded.
"There's something else, sir.""
"What now?""
"Your father has a court order.""
Daniel stood immediately.
"What kind of order?""
Martin handed him the document.
Daniel read the first page.
His expression hardened.
Then he looked at me.
"Adrian, your father is claiming that you are mentally unfit to manage the family estate.""
I stared at the paper.
At the bottom was a request for emergency control of my financial affairs.
The petition included statements from two witnesses.
One was my father.
The other was Natalie.
I slowly turned toward her.
She looked horrified.
"Adrian, I didn't sign that.""
Daniel examined the signature.
"Someone did.""
I looked at Natalie.
She shook her head repeatedly.
"I swear I didn't.""
Then my father entered the library.
He looked at the papers in Daniel's hand.
And for the first time in my life, he smiled at me like I was his enemy.
"Son," he said calmly, "I think it's time we discussed your mother's final mistake.""
I stepped forward.
"What did you do to her?""
His smile disappeared.
Then he looked at Natalie.
"Did you tell him about the medication?""
She began trembling.
My father turned back to me.
And his next words changed everything.
"Ask your grandmother what happened the night your mother died.""
I froze.
Because Eleanor had told me everything she remembered.
Or so I thought.
From behind my father, a familiar voice suddenly spoke.
"Richard, stop lying.""
My grandmother stood in the doorway.
She was holding a sealed envelope.
May you like
And on its front, in my mother's handwriting, were the words:
*THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NIGHT I DIED.*
