Chapter 5: The Secret in the Hospital Report
"Don't open that door.""
Eleanor said it so quietly that I almost didn't hear her.
I stood frozen in the hallway, staring at the front entrance.
Victoria knocked again.
"Emily? I know you can hear me.""
Then came my father's voice.
"Please, sweetheart. We just want to talk.""
Eleanor closed the laptop and removed the flash drive.
"Take this.""
She slipped it into my hand.
"Put it somewhere safe.""
I tucked it into the inside pocket of my jacket.
"What about the ledger?""
"We photograph every page before we leave. The originals stay here.""
Another knock.
This time, harder.
Victoria called out, "If you don't open this door, I'm calling the police.""
Eleanor walked toward the entrance.
"Let her.""
She opened the door but kept the security chain attached.
Victoria stood on the porch wearing a cream-colored coat and oversized sunglasses.
My father stood behind her.
He looked terrible.
His shirt was wrinkled, his hair uncombed, and his eyes were red.
Victoria looked at Eleanor.
"Who gave you permission to enter this property?""
Eleanor didn't blink.
"Emily is the beneficiary of the property trust. She has every right to be here.""
Victoria removed her sunglasses.
"That's not what the documents say.""
"Which documents?""
Victoria smiled.
"The power of attorney.""
Eleanor folded her arms.
"The forged one?""
For a fraction of a second, Victoria's face changed.
Then she laughed.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"Then perhaps you should explain why the signature doesn't match Emily's verified signature.""
My father stepped forward.
"Victoria, maybe we should go.""
She turned sharply.
"Don't start, Daniel.""
I moved closer to the doorway.
"Why did you come here?""
Victoria looked at me.
"Because you're making a terrible mistake.""
"You tried to sell my mother's house.""
"We were trying to save your father's business.""
"With my money.""
"Your father built the life you enjoy.""
I stared at her.
"You burned my graduation dress.""
She shrugged.
"It was an accident.""
I laughed once.
"An accident involving lighter fluid?""
My father closed his eyes.
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Emily, you're young. You don't understand what happens when a family is drowning in debt.""
"Then why don't you sell your jewelry?""
She looked offended.
"Excuse me?""
"Your designer bags. Your watches. Your expensive car. Why is my mother's house the only thing you're willing to sacrifice?""
Victoria stepped closer to the doorway.
"Because unlike you, I have responsibilities.""
I looked directly into her eyes.
"You're not my mother.""
Her lips tightened.
"No. Thank God.""
The words landed like a slap.
My father whispered, "Victoria.""
She ignored him.
"Give me the documents, Emily.""
"What documents?""
"The things you found.""
My heart skipped.
She knew.
She knew we'd found something.
Eleanor immediately stepped between us.
"You need to leave.""
Victoria stared at her.
Then she smiled.
"Fine. But before we go, perhaps Emily should hear what happened to her mother.""
The hallway seemed to shrink.
"What do you mean?""
Victoria glanced at my father.
He looked terrified.
"Margaret wasn't nearly as sick as everyone was told," Victoria said.
"That's enough," my father snapped.
But Victoria continued.
"She was preparing to expose Daniel's financial misconduct. She was going to destroy his career and leave him with nothing.""
"That's not true," I whispered.
Victoria tilted her head.
"Ask Eleanor about the hospital report.""
I turned toward the attorney.
She said nothing.
Victoria smiled.
"Interesting, isn't it?""
Then she pulled out her phone.
"Daniel, tell your daughter what happened during Margaret's final week.""
My father shook his head.
"Not here.""
"Tell her.""
He looked at me.
His eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother was very ill, Emily. There were complications.""
"What complications?""
He swallowed.
"Her medication.""
I felt cold.
"What about it?""
Victoria interrupted.
"Your mother was taking medication that interacted badly with another prescription.""
I stared at her.
"Who prescribed it?""
My father didn't answer.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"That is enough. You are not qualified to discuss medical records, and neither of you has permission to disclose private medical information.""
Victoria laughed.
"Then perhaps you should tell Emily why the original hospital report disappeared.""
Eleanor's jaw tightened.
Victoria turned toward me.
"Ask your lawyer how much she knows.""
Then she walked down the porch steps.
My father remained for a moment.
"Emily, please don't believe everything she says.""
I stared at him.
"Then tell me the truth.""
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Finally, he followed Victoria to the car.
I watched them drive away.
Then I turned to Eleanor.
"What happened to the original hospital report?""
She closed the door.
"Your mother died from complications following an infection. The hospital conducted an internal review because there were concerns about medication administration.""
"Was someone responsible?""
"We don't know.""
"Did Victoria visit her?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Your mother requested that I not disclose certain details until we had the complete medical records.""
"That's not an answer.""
"I understand.""
I stepped closer.
"Was Victoria involved in Mom's treatment?""
Eleanor took a slow breath.
"She was not a medical professional. But she had access to your father's household and, according to the records, she delivered some personal items to your mother during her hospitalization.""
"What items?""
"Food. Clothing. Medication containers.""
My stomach turned.
"Medication?""
"That's why the hospital report matters.""
I looked down at the flash drive.
"Can we find it?""
"Possibly. The hospital maintains archived records, but access may require a formal legal request.""
"Then let's request them.""
Eleanor nodded.
We spent the next hour photographing the ledger and reviewing the scanned documents.
The more we examined, the stranger things became.
Victoria had received payments from my mother's accounts.
But the payments weren't random.
They were labeled as consulting fees, property management expenses, and medical support services.
The total exceeded $180,000.
"Why would my mother pay her?"" I asked.
Eleanor studied one entry.
"Maybe she was documenting money that Victoria had already taken.""
Then I found something.
A handwritten note in the margin.
V knows about the second beneficiary. Do not tell Daniel until the transfer is complete.
I read it aloud.
Eleanor looked up.
"Second beneficiary?""
I checked the page number.
It was connected to a document titled Supplemental Estate Instructions.
The document wasn't in the folder.
Only its reference number remained.
"Where is it?""
Eleanor searched the cabinet.
Nothing.
I checked the envelopes.
Nothing.
Then I remembered the photograph.
My mother standing in the greenhouse.
I pulled it out of the file.
There was a small tear along the lower edge.
Something was tucked inside the frame backing.
I carefully removed the paper.
It was a second key.
This one was silver.
Attached was a small label.
*Storage Unit 417.*
I looked at Eleanor.
"What's in storage unit 417?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from my father.
Emily, please meet me alone tonight. I need to tell you something about your mother.
I stared at the screen.
Before I could respond, another message appeared.
Victoria doesn't know I kept the original hospital report.
My breath caught.
I showed Eleanor.
She read the message twice.
Then she looked at me.
"Your father has something Victoria desperately wants.""
"What?""
Eleanor pointed to the phone.
"The original report.""
I typed a reply.
Where?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, my father answered.
Storage unit 417. But Emily, there's something you need to know before you go there.
A final message arrived.
The report doesn't just mention Victoria. It mentions someone else who was in your mother's hospital room that night.
I looked at the silver key.
Then at Eleanor.
"Who?""
My phone rang.
It was my father.
I answered.
His voice was barely audible.
"Emily, I need you to promise me something.""
"What?""
"Whatever you find in that storage unit, don't let Victoria get the original document.""
"Why?""
He whispered four words.
May you like
"Because I signed it.""
The call ended.
