Chapter 4: The Name on the Envelope
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of my own heartbeat.
Victoria Lawson.
The name was written in my late friend's handwriting.
I turned the envelope over again, hoping I had somehow misread it.
I hadn't.
Victoria was standing about twenty feet away, speaking urgently to Richard. When she noticed me staring at her, her expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" she asked.
I held up the envelope.
"Do you recognize this?""
She glanced at it.
For a fraction of a second, her face went pale.
Then she laughed.
"Why would I recognize an old envelope?""
"Because your name is written on it.""
Richard immediately stepped closer.
"Victoria, what's going on?""
"Nothing," she snapped.
I looked at Emily.
"Did your mother tell you anything else about this?""
Emily shook her head.
"She said the envelope contained something important. She wanted you to have it personally.""
"When did she give it to you?""
"Three weeks before she died.""
I stared at the handwriting.
Michael had written it.
I knew his handwriting better than my own. We'd spent eight years building a company together. I'd seen him sign thousands of contracts, scribble notes on restaurant napkins, and write ridiculous birthday cards.
There was no doubt.
"Daniel," Victoria said, stepping toward me, "whatever that is, I suggest you don't make assumptions.""
I looked at her.
"Why? Are you worried about what's inside?""
"Don't be absurd.""
"Then you won't mind if I open it.""
Her eyes flickered toward Richard.
"Actually, I think we should discuss this privately.""
"Why?""
"Because this is clearly some kind of misunderstanding.""
I broke the seal.
Inside was a folded letter, a small flash drive, and a photocopy of a hospital security report.
My hands began shaking as I unfolded the letter.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, then I wasn't able to tell you the truth myself.
I have carried this secret longer than I should have. Michael asked me to protect you until you were strong enough to face what happened.
The night of your accident was not the night everything went wrong. It was the night someone tried to make sure you would never discover what had happened before it.
I stopped reading.
The ballroom seemed to tilt.
Emily stepped closer.
"Mr. Carter?""
I continued.
Your accident was not planned. But the circumstances surrounding it were not entirely accidental either.
Someone had been accessing patient records from our rehabilitation trials. Michael discovered it. He found evidence that someone had been selling confidential medical information to an outside company.
He was going to confront that person.
The name is in the security report.
I unfolded the photocopy.
The document listed an incident at St. Mary's Rehabilitation Hospital five years earlier.
At the bottom was a visitor entry.
*Authorized visitor: Victoria Lawson.*
I felt something cold move through my chest.
Victoria shook her head.
"This is ridiculous.""
I looked up.
"Why were you at St. Mary's that night?""
She stared at me.
"I visited hospitals all the time. I knew people there.""
"Not that hospital.""
"I don't remember.""
"Then perhaps this will help.""
I showed her the report.
Richard took it from my hand and read the entry.
His face hardened.
"Victoria?""
She snatched the paper away.
"This proves absolutely nothing.""
"Then explain it.""
She looked around the ballroom.
"Not here.""
I gave a humorless laugh.
"You seem to have forgotten that you were perfectly comfortable humiliating me here ten minutes ago.""
A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Victoria lowered her voice.
"Daniel, please. Don't destroy your reputation over an old piece of paper.""
"My reputation?""
She pressed her lips together.
Richard stepped between us.
"Victoria, I think you owe him an explanation.""
She turned sharply.
"Whose side are you on?""
"I'm on the side of whatever the truth is.""
For the first time that evening, Victoria looked genuinely frightened.
I handed the security report to the event director.
"Please make a copy of this. I want the original preserved.""
Then I turned toward Emily.
"Does the flash drive belong to your mother?""
She nodded.
"She kept it in a locked drawer. I found it when we cleared her apartment.""
"Did you look at it?""
"No. I don't know how to access it.""
I looked toward the foundation's technology director, James.
"James, can you secure this and examine it?""
"Of course.""
He carefully placed the drive inside an evidence pouch.
Then something happened that I hadn't expected.
Richard looked at the report again.
"Daniel, I need to tell you something.""
Victoria grabbed his sleeve.
"Richard, don't.""
He pulled his arm away.
"Five years ago, I acquired a small medical data company called Meridian Health Analytics.""
I stared at him.
"What does that have to do with this?""
"Meridian purchased a patient database from an intermediary. We were told the information had been legally obtained.""
"Who was the intermediary?""
Richard looked at Victoria.
"Her brother.""
The ballroom went silent again.
Victoria's face turned white.
"Richard, stop talking.""
He ignored her.
"At the time, I didn't know where the information came from. When I learned there might have been a breach, I ordered an internal review.""
"Did you find anything?""
"Yes.""
He took a breath.
"The records were connected to MotionBridge's early rehabilitation trials.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why didn't you contact me?""
"I tried. Your company was already going through the aftermath of the accident. Then someone sent me a legal notice threatening to sue if I disclosed confidential information.""
"Who sent it?""
Richard didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Victoria had stopped looking at me.
She was staring at the floor.
I turned back to the letter.
There was one final paragraph.
Daniel, whatever you do, don't trust the person who tells you Michael died because of a simple phone call. Check the original hospital recording. The truth is there.
I folded the letter.
Then I looked directly at Victoria.
"Did you know Michael was going to meet me that night?""
Her lips parted.
No answer.
"Victoria?""
Finally, she whispered, "I knew he was going to talk to you.""
"About what?""
She looked at Richard.
Then back at me.
"About the money.""
My entire body went still.
"What money?""
She closed her eyes.
And when she opened them, she said something that made the last five years of my life feel like a lie.
"The money your company was supposed to receive from the hospital contracts. Michael found out that someone had been diverting it.""
"Who?""
Victoria looked at me.
"Daniel, I think you should sit down.""
I glanced at my wheelchair.
Then at her.
"Tell me who.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"Your lawyer.""
