Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
The following morning, Thomas and I returned to the hospital.
Dr. Helen Morris agreed to meet us.
She looked genuinely surprised when Thomas placed the access report on her desk.
"I've never authorized Ms. Reed to access a patient's records," she said.
"Then why does your name appear here?"" Thomas asked.
Dr. Morris examined the document.
"Someone used my credentials.""
I leaned forward.
"Can that happen?""
"Unfortunately, yes. But this is serious.""
She turned toward her computer.
"Give me a moment.""
After checking several records, she frowned.
"There's another entry.""
"What entry?"" I asked.
"Your patient portal account was accessed from an external device the evening before your delivery.""
"By whom?""
"The system identifies the login as yours.""
I shook my head.
"I was at home. I wasn't accessing anything.""
Dr. Morris printed the activity report.
The login had originated from a device registered to Daniel.
Thomas photographed the document.
"That establishes that someone had access to the account," he said.
Dr. Morris nodded.
Then she opened another file.
"There's something else. Your prenatal specialist documented a recommendation for immediate hospital observation. The appointment was canceled, but the cancellation wasn't made by you.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Who canceled it?""
Dr. Morris examined the record.
"Daniel Carter.""
I stared at her.
"Can you confirm that?""
"His phone number was used to verify the cancellation.""
I looked down at my hands.
My husband had canceled the appointment that might have prevented the emergency.
He had hidden the warnings.
Then he had refused to take me to the hospital.
The pieces were beginning to form a picture I couldn't bear to look at.
Thomas asked the doctor one more question.
"Do you have any record of Mr. Carter visiting the hospital on the night of the delivery?""
Dr. Morris checked the visitor log.
Her expression changed.
"Yes.""
I felt my heart stop.
"At what time?""
"9:06 p.m.""
I looked at Thomas.
Daniel had told me he never came.
But the hospital had recorded his arrival.
"Was he alone?"" I asked.
Dr. Morris shook her head.
"No. A woman accompanied him.""
"Vanessa?""
The doctor checked the entry.
"That's the name recorded at reception.""
I covered my mouth.
They had come to the hospital.
They had seen me.
And they had still allowed me to believe my husband hadn't even cared enough to check whether I survived.
After leaving the hospital, Thomas received a call from the police investigator.
They had obtained a statement from the administrator whose credentials had been used.
The administrator claimed Vanessa had approached her several weeks earlier, pretending to be an authorized insurance representative.
She had offered money in exchange for access to certain patient records.
The administrator had initially refused.
But Vanessa returned with a document bearing Daniel's signature and a forged authorization from the hospital.
The administrator eventually allowed her to access the file.
"Did she download anything?"" Thomas asked.
"Yes," the investigator replied.
"Several documents.""
"Which documents?""
"Prenatal screening results, insurance information, and emergency contact details.""
I felt sick.
Why would Vanessa need my medical records?
Thomas looked at me.
"Emily, I think the answer may be connected to the insurance investigation.""
I shook my head.
"I don't understand.""
He explained that insurance fraud sometimes involved false claims supported by stolen medical information.
But there was another possibility.
Someone might have been trying to determine exactly how vulnerable I was.
I remembered the doctor's warnings.
The canceled appointment.
Daniel's strange calmness when I begged for help.
My voice broke.
"Did they know I might die?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
"We don't have proof that anyone intended that outcome.""
I nodded.
But I knew one thing.
They had known I was at risk.
And they had done everything possible to keep me away from the people who could help.
That afternoon, Vanessa called.
I answered while Thomas listened.
"Emily," she said, her voice unusually gentle.
"What do you want?""
"I think we should talk.""
"We have nothing to discuss.""
"Please. Daniel isn't telling you the whole story.""
I almost laughed.
"That's the first honest thing you've said.""
She sighed.
"I can explain the insurance policy.""
"Go ahead.""
"Daniel didn't create that policy to hurt you.""
"Then why did he change the beneficiary to you?""
Silence.
Then Vanessa said, "Because he promised me the money.""
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
"Why?""
"Because he owed me.""
"For what?""
She hesitated.
"Investments.""
I looked at Thomas.
He gestured for me to keep her talking.
"What investments?""
"Daniel borrowed money from me. A lot of it. He promised to repay me after the property transfer.""
"And the insurance payout?""
"That was part of the arrangement.""
I felt my hands shaking.
"Did you know I was pregnant?""
"Of course.""
"Did you know I had a medical complication?""
Vanessa was silent.
Then she said, "Daniel told me you were fine.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"He told you I was fine?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you access my medical records?""
Her voice became defensive.
"Because I didn't trust him.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel lies to everyone, Emily. Including me.""
I took a slow breath.
"Did you go to the hospital that night?""
No answer.
"Vanessa?""
Finally, she whispered, "Yes.""
"Did you see me?""
"Yes.""
I felt tears gathering.
"Where were you?""
"Outside the maternity ward.""
"And you knew I was in danger?""
Her breathing became uneven.
"Emily, I didn't know what was going to happen.""
"Did you hear me crying?""
Silence.
"Did you hear me asking for my husband?""
A faint sob escaped her.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I asked the question that mattered most.
"Why didn't you call someone?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Because Daniel told me not to.""
I felt something inside me break.
Not because I was surprised.
Because the woman who had helped destroy my marriage had stood outside the room where I was fighting for my life and chosen to obey him.
I ended the call.
Thomas immediately saved the recording.
"That was important," he said.
I looked at him.
"Important?""
"It establishes that she was present and that she knew you were in the hospital.""
I shook my head.
"I don't care about the case right now.""
I looked toward Lily's photograph on my phone.
"I want to know how someone can hear a woman begging for help and do nothing.""
Thomas didn't pretend to have an answer.
Two days later, Daniel appeared outside my mother's house.
This time, he didn't bring a lawyer.
He didn't bring Vanessa.
He came alone.
His suit was wrinkled.
His hair was uncombed.
He looked as though he hadn't slept in days.
I opened the door but remained on the porch.
"What do you want?""
He looked at me with red eyes.
"I need five minutes.""
"You've had six months.""
"Emily, please.""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph.
It was from our wedding.
We were standing beneath a white arch, smiling.
He held it toward me.
"Do you remember this day?""
I looked at the photograph.
"Yes.""
"You told me you'd never leave me.""
I stared at him.
"And you promised to protect me.""
His face crumpled.
"I know.""
"Then why didn't you?""
He lowered his head.
"I was terrified.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing everything.""
I shook my head.
"You were willing to lose me.""
He looked up.
"That's not true.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
He wiped his face.
"Vanessa had been threatening me. She knew about the debts. She knew about the insurance. She said she would expose everything unless I transferred the house.""
"And you agreed?""
"I thought I could fix it.""
"By leaving me in labor?""
He began crying.
"I didn't think it would get that bad.""
I stared at him.
"That's your explanation?""
He nodded helplessly.
Then he reached into his pocket and removed a folded piece of paper.
"There's something you need to see.""
I didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"A letter from Vanessa.""
"What about?""
He looked toward the road.
"About what happened before you went into labor.""
I finally took the paper.
There were only three sentences.
*Daniel, the hospital has already warned us about her condition. If you want the money, you need to make sure the transfer happens before the baby arrives. Don't let her speak to anyone about the policy.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Daniel.
"Why did you keep this?""
He swallowed.
"Because I needed proof that she was the one behind everything.""
I stared at him.
"You knew.""
He didn't answer.
"You knew what she wanted.""
He began sobbing.
And then he said the words that finally destroyed whatever remained of my sympathy.
"Emily, I didn't think you would actually die.""
I stepped backward.
For a moment, I couldn't recognize the man standing in front of me.
He wasn't apologizing because he had hurt me.
He was apologizing because his gamble hadn't gone the way he expected.
I handed him the letter.
"Leave.""
"Emily, please.""
"Leave before I call the police.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he walked toward his car.
But before getting inside, he turned around.
"You're going to regret this.""
I watched him drive away.
Then I closed the door.
I thought the worst was finally behind me.
I was wrong.
That evening, Thomas called with an update.
"The bank has completed its preliminary audit.""
"What did they find?""
"Daniel's business is effectively insolvent. His creditors are moving forward with enforcement.""
I sat down.
"And?""
"There's a court hearing scheduled for Monday.""
"What does that have to do with me?""
Thomas paused.
"Daniel has submitted a claim stating that you agreed to guarantee his debts.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"With another forged signature?""
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
Then Thomas added:
"There's something else. He's claiming that you secretly transferred the original inheritance money into an account under your mother's name.""
I stared at the wall.
"That's a lie.""
"I know. But he has submitted a document that appears to support his allegation.""
I felt a familiar chill.
"Who signed it?""
May you like
Thomas took a breath.
"Your mother.""
