Chapter 6: The Hospital Records
Officer Harris stopped the recording.
“That's enough for tonight.””
Rose stared at the recorder.
“Was I supposed to die?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Marcus sat beside her.
“We don't know that yet.””
“But you heard him.””
“I did.””
Rose looked toward Caleb.
“Did your father ever hurt you?””
The boy hesitated.
“Not like he hurt you.””
“Caleb.””
He lowered his head.
“He grabbed me once when I tried to take his phone. He said if I told anyone about the recordings, he'd send me away to boarding school.””
Rose reached for his hand.
“I'm sorry.””
“It's not your fault.””
“I should have seen what was happening.””
Caleb shook his head.
“Grandma, he made sure nobody could see it.””
Officer Harris stood and spoke quietly into her radio.
She requested an investigator specializing in financial exploitation and asked for an immediate review of Rose's hospital records.
Then she turned back.
“Mrs. Bennett, I need you to tell me exactly what happened before your hospitalization.””
Rose took a slow breath.
“It was October 7. I was making soup.””
She closed her eyes, remembering.
“The kitchen smelled like onions and thyme. I had just taken a pan off the stove when I heard someone at the back door.””
“Who was it?””
“Linda.””
Rose paused.
“She said she'd come by because she wanted to talk about my medication. She brought a bottle of vitamins.””
Caleb looked up.
“What vitamins?””
Rose frowned.
“Little white tablets. She said the doctor recommended them.””
Officer Harris immediately wrote that down.
“Did you take any?””
“I took one while she was there. She said I should take another after dinner.””
“Did you feel unusual afterward?””
Rose thought carefully.
“I became dizzy. My hands were shaking. I remember trying to reach the kitchen counter, but everything went dark.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Did you fall?””
“I suppose so. I woke up in the hospital.””
Caleb stared at her.
“Grandma, Mom told Dad you fell because you forgot to eat.””
Rose looked at him.
“I had eaten lunch.””
Officer Harris exchanged a glance with the younger officer.
“Do you still have the bottle?””
Rose shook her head.
“Linda took everything from the house.””
“Did she tell you what the tablets were?””
“She called them supplements.””
Officer Harris wrote another note.
“We'll need to obtain the medical records and determine whether the hospital performed any toxicology testing.””
Rose looked frightened.
“Could someone have put something in them?””
“It's possible. We shouldn't jump to conclusions, but we need to investigate.””
The following morning, Officer Harris accompanied Rose to Cedar Falls Medical Center.
Marcus insisted on driving.
Ethan followed in his truck, while Jake and Daniel stayed with Caleb.
At the hospital, Rose was greeted by a nurse named Angela, who recognized her immediately.
“Mrs. Bennett! We were wondering how you were doing.””
Rose managed a smile.
“I'm all right, sweetheart.””
Angela noticed the police officer.
“Is everything okay?””
Officer Harris introduced herself and explained that they needed copies of Rose's medical records from her October admission.
Angela led them to the medical records department.
A supervisor named Dr. Peterson reviewed the request.
“Mrs. Bennett, before we release anything, I need your written consent.””
Rose signed the authorization.
Dr. Peterson looked through the electronic file.
“Your admission notes are here. You were brought in after a fall at home.””
“Did I have a head injury?””
“A minor concussion. You also experienced significant dizziness and confusion.””
Rose's stomach tightened.
“Was there a reason?””
Dr. Peterson continued reading.
“Your blood pressure was unusually low. You were also dehydrated.””
“Could that have made me confused?””
“Yes. Especially combined with the concussion.””
Officer Harris asked:
“Were any medications administered before she became confused?””
Dr. Peterson examined the medication record.
“According to this, she received an anti-nausea medication and pain relief after arrival.””
“What about before the fall?””
The doctor paused.
“There's an ambulance report.””
He opened another document.
“Interesting.””
Rose leaned forward.
“What?””
“The paramedics noted that a family member had provided an unlabeled container of tablets. They were told these were supplements.””
Officer Harris straightened.
“Do you still have the container?””
Dr. Peterson shook his head.
“Unfortunately, no. The ambulance crew documented the tablets, but they weren't retained.””
“Who provided them?””
The doctor read the report.
“Linda Bennett. Daughter.””
Rose stared at the paper.
Her own daughter had given the tablets to the paramedics.
Officer Harris requested a copy of the ambulance report.
Then Dr. Peterson opened another section of the file.
“There's something else.””
He turned the monitor slightly.
“On October 8, someone requested a statement about Mrs. Bennett's mental capacity.””
Rose frowned.
“What statement?””
“A request for documentation that you were unable to manage your financial affairs.””
Officer Harris leaned closer.
“Who submitted it?””
Dr. Peterson checked the electronic signature.
“Your daughter.””
Rose's lips parted.
“What did you tell them?””
“I didn't provide such a statement. I documented that Mrs. Bennett was temporarily disoriented following a concussion, but I explicitly noted that this did not establish permanent cognitive impairment.””
Officer Harris looked at Rose.
“That's important.””
Dr. Peterson printed the note.
He continued.
“There's also a nursing entry from the afternoon of October 8.””
“What does it say?”” Officer Harris asked.
The doctor read slowly.
“Patient's daughter requested that patient sign a document. Patient appeared drowsy and declined. Daughter became upset and requested that the patient be allowed additional rest.””
Rose felt her heart pounding.
“Did I refuse to sign?””
“Yes.””
The doctor scrolled farther.
“There's another entry.””
His expression changed.
“Two hours later, a visitor returned and asked to speak with you privately.””
“Who?””
“The visitor's name is recorded as Michael Bennett.””
Rose gripped the edge of the desk.
“He was there?””
Dr. Peterson nodded.
“He was denied entry because he wasn't on the approved visitor list.””
Officer Harris looked up.
“Was anyone else with him?””
The doctor checked.
“A woman identified as Patricia Collins.””
Rose glanced at the officer.
The name matched the notary on the forged property transfer.
Officer Harris immediately requested the hospital's visitor logs and security footage, if available.
Dr. Peterson made a call.
A few minutes later, he returned.
“The security system retains footage for ninety days. October 8 is still within the archive.””
Officer Harris nodded.
“Can we preserve it?””
“Absolutely. I'll submit the request to hospital security.””
Rose looked at the doctor.
“Why would someone bring a notary to a hospital?””
He didn't answer.
But Officer Harris did.
“To make it appear that you signed something while you were too unwell to understand it.””
Rose lowered her eyes.
The truth was becoming clearer.
Yet one question remained.
Why had the hospital allowed Linda to handle so much of her mother's business?
Officer Harris explained that family members could request information, but they couldn't legally assume control without proper authorization.
And according to the records, Rose had never granted anyone power of attorney.
Not Linda.
Not Michael.
Nobody.
When they left the hospital, Marcus helped Rose into the passenger seat.
She stared out the window as the building disappeared behind them.
“Marcus?””
“Yeah?””
“Do you think my daughter knew I could have died?””
He kept his eyes on the road.
“I think we need to hear her explain what she knew.””
Rose nodded.
Then her phone rang.
The screen displayed Linda's name.
Rose stared at it for several seconds before answering.
“Hello?””
Her daughter's voice was trembling.
“Mom, please. You have to listen to me.””
Rose closed her eyes.
“What now, Linda?””
“I found something in Michael's office. Something he never wanted me to see.””
“What is it?””
A pause.
Then Linda whispered:
“It's a copy of the original will. The one your father signed before he died.””
Rose frowned.
“Your father?””
“My grandfather,” Linda corrected.
“The will Thomas left before he passed away.””
Rose felt her stomach tighten.
“My husband changed his will?””
“No, Mom. That's the problem.””
Linda began crying.
“The original will says something completely different from the document Michael showed me.””
Rose gripped the phone.
“What does it say?””
Her daughter took a shaky breath.
“It says that if anything happens to you, the house and the money don't go to me.””
“Then who gets them?””
Linda whispered:
“Caleb.””
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And before Rose could respond, Linda added one final sentence.
“Mom, Michael knows I found it. He's on his way here.””
