\u201cDoctor, did someone steal your birthday cake?\u201d <\/p>\n I stared through Emily\u2019s kitchen window, my phone still trembling in my hand. I stared at Emily, trying to understand what she had just told me. Alicia had discovered something about her medical treatment. Something serious enough to hide evidence inside a wooden … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-story","category-read-story","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=345"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":352,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions\/352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/48"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/storylexausa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI\u2019d blinked.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cYou look like you\u2019ve been personally offended by happiness.\u201d
\nI\u2019d tried not to smile.
\nAnd she\u2019d laughed even harder.
\nBut what had I given her?
\nThen I remembered.
\nA strawberry gelatin cup.
\nShe\u2019d complained that the nurses kept bringing orange gelatin even though she hated it.
\nI\u2019d gone to the staff refrigerator and found a strawberry one.
\nShe\u2019d held it up like a trophy.
\n\u201cMy hero.\u201d
\nI closed my eyes.
\nEven now, Alicia was finding ways to make me smile through the pain.
\n\u201cStrawberry,\u201d I whispered.
\nEmily frowned.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe password. I think it\u2019s strawberry.\u201d
\nI slipped the USB drive into my pocket.
\nThen I looked at Emily.
\n\u201cWe need to get somewhere private.\u201d
\nShe nodded.
\n\u201cMy apartment is ten minutes away.\u201d
\nBefore we could move, a car pulled into the cemetery parking lot.
\nA black SUV.
\nIts windows were tinted.
\nIt slowed near Margaret\u2019s vehicle.
\nThen stopped.
\nI watched the driver\u2019s door open.
\nA tall man stepped out, wearing a dark jacket and sunglasses.
\nEmily grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cOh, God.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s Daniel.\u201d
\nI felt my entire body tense.
\nDaniel Reeves.
\nThe man who had abandoned Alicia and Sophie three years earlier.
\nThe man who had just called me demanding something from the box.
\nHe walked toward us with a smile that never reached his eyes.
\n\u201cDoctor Bennett.\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t answer.
\nHe stopped a few feet away.
\n\u201cNice to finally meet you.\u201d
\nI looked him up and down.
\nHe was younger than I\u2019d expected, perhaps twenty-one or twenty-two.
\nHis clothes were expensive.
\nHis watch looked worth more than my monthly salary.
\nAnd despite having just attended the funeral of the mother of his child, he showed no sign of grief.
\n\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d I asked.
\nDaniel shrugged.
\n\u201cPaying my respects.\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re late.\u201d
\nHis smile faded slightly.
\n\u201cExcuse me?\u201d
\n\u201cThe funeral ended an hour ago.\u201d
\nHe glanced toward the cemetery.
\n\u201cWell, I had business.\u201d
\nI felt anger rise inside me.
\n\u201cThen you should get back to it.\u201d
\nDaniel looked past me at the wooden box.
\n\u201cLooks like Alicia left you a present.\u201d
\nI stepped in front of it.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s none of your concern.\u201d
\nHe chuckled.
\n\u201cActually, Doctor, I think you\u2019ll find it concerns me quite a bit.\u201d
\nEmily moved beside me.
\n\u201cDaniel, leave.\u201d
\nHe turned toward her.
\n\u201cHello, Emily. Still pretending you\u2019re in charge of everything?\u201d
\n\u201cStay away from Sophie.\u201d
\nHis expression hardened.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s my daughter.\u201d
\n\u201cYou haven\u2019t acted like her father for three years.\u201d
\n\u201cPeople change.\u201d
\nEmily laughed bitterly.
\n\u201cFunny how you changed right after learning about Alicia\u2019s trust.\u201d
\nFor a moment, Daniel\u2019s jaw tightened.
\nThen he smiled again.
\n\u201cCareful. Accusations can get expensive.\u201d
\nI stepped forward.
\n\u201cIs that a threat?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s advice.\u201d
\nHe lowered his sunglasses.
\n\u201cLook, Doctor. I don\u2019t want trouble. All I want is a small black drive Alicia took from the hospital.\u201d
\nMy blood ran cold.
\nHe knew exactly what was inside.
\nI kept my face expressionless.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d
\nDaniel stared at me.
\nThen he sighed.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re a smart man, Lucas. Don\u2019t insult me.\u201d
\n\u201cThen explain something.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cWhy would Alicia be hiding medical information from the father of her daughter?\u201d
\nHis eyes flickered.
\nJust for a second.
\nBut I saw it.
\n\u201cBecause Alicia didn\u2019t understand what she was looking at.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd you do?\u201d
\nDaniel\u2019s smile returned.
\n\u201cMore than you realize.\u201d
\nI took another step toward him.
\n\u201cThen tell me.\u201d
\nHe leaned closer.
\n\u201cYour wife was very sick, Doctor. Sick people sometimes get confused.\u201d
\nSomething inside me snapped.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d
\nDaniel raised his eyebrows.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t what?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t stand here and insult her memory.\u201d
\nHe stared at me.
\nThen, unexpectedly, he laughed.
\n\u201cYou really loved her, didn\u2019t you?\u201d
\nI said nothing.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s almost sweet.\u201d
\nEmily stepped forward.
\n\u201cLeave, Daniel.\u201d
\nHe ignored her.
\nInstead, he looked directly at me.
\n\u201cLet me give you some friendly advice. Forget the drive. Go back to your hospital. Live your life.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd Sophie?\u201d
\nHis expression changed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s family business.\u201d
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cShe is family.\u201d
\nDaniel smirked.
\n\u201cNot yours.\u201d
\nThe words hit harder than I expected.
\nBecause legally, he might have been right.
\nI\u2019d married Alicia only days before she died.
\nI had no biological connection to Sophie.
\nNo automatic right to make decisions for her.
\nBut I couldn\u2019t forget the little girl\u2019s question.
\nAre you going to leave me too?
\nI looked Daniel straight in the eyes.
\n\u201cI\u2019m not going to help you hurt that child.\u201d
\nFor the first time, his smile disappeared completely.
\n\u201cYou have no idea what you\u2019re getting involved in.\u201d
\n\u201cThen enlighten me.\u201d
\nHe stepped closer.
\n\u201cThat drive contains information that could destroy people\u2019s lives.\u201d
\n\u201cWhose lives?\u201d
\nHe hesitated.
\nAnd that hesitation told me more than his threats.
\n\u201cDaniel,\u201d I said quietly, \u201care you protecting yourself or someone else?\u201d
\nHis face tightened.
\nThen he reached into his jacket.
\nEmily gasped.
\nI instinctively moved in front of her.
\nBut Daniel only pulled out a business card.
\nHe pressed it against my chest.
\n\u201cWhen you realize how much trouble you\u2019re in, call this number.\u201d
\nI took the card without looking at it.
\nDaniel turned toward his SUV.
\nThen he stopped.
\n\u201cOh, and Doctor?\u201d
\nI said nothing.
\nHe glanced toward Margaret\u2019s car.
\n\u201cTell Sophie I\u2019ll be seeing her soon.\u201d
\nEmily went pale.
\nDaniel climbed into his vehicle and drove away.
\nFor several seconds, neither of us spoke.
\nThen Emily whispered, \u201cWe need to get Sophie out of here.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cRight now.\u201d
\nWe hurried toward Margaret\u2019s car.
\nSophie was sitting in the back seat, humming softly while brushing her rabbit\u2019s fur with her fingers.
\nShe looked up as I opened the door.
\n\u201cDoctor Lucas!\u201d
\nI forced a smile.
\n\u201cHey, sweetheart.\u201d
\n\u201cDid you finish talking?\u201d
\n\u201cAlmost.\u201d
\nShe studied my face.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re still sad.\u201d
\nI crouched beside her.
\n\u201cA little.\u201d
\nShe held out her rabbit.
\n\u201cOliver can help.\u201d
\nMy throat tightened.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s very good at that, isn\u2019t he?\u201d
\nSophie nodded seriously.
\n\u201cMommy said he helped her when she was little.\u201d
\nI gently touched the rabbit\u2019s missing ear.
\n\u201cShe told me about him.\u201d
\nSophie\u2019s eyes widened.
\n\u201cShe did?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nShe smiled.
\nThen she whispered something that nearly brought me to my knees.
\n\u201cMommy said if I missed her too much, I should find you.\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t speak.
\nMargaret turned toward the window, wiping her eyes.
\nEmily covered her mouth.
\nSophie continued.
\n\u201cShe said you knew how to make people feel less scared.\u201d
\nI swallowed hard.
\n\u201cYour mommy was very brave.\u201d
\nSophie shook her head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI blinked.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cShe was scared sometimes.\u201d
\nHer little voice became quieter.
\n\u201cAt night, when she thought I was sleeping, I heard her crying.\u201d
\nMy heart broke.
\nSophie hugged Oliver tightly.
\n\u201cOne time I asked her why.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d
\nSophie looked at me with those beautiful, familiar eyes.
\n\u201cShe said she wasn\u2019t scared of going to heaven.\u201d
\nI waited.
\n\u201cShe was scared nobody would remember to love me when she was gone.\u201d
\nI felt tears slide down my cheeks.
\nBefore I could stop myself, I reached for Sophie\u2019s tiny hand.
\n\u201cSweetheart, listen to me.\u201d
\nShe looked up.
\n\u201cThere are people who love you very much.\u201d
\n\u201cAunt Emily?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAunt Margaret?\u201d
\n\u201cOf course.\u201d
\nShe hesitated.
\nThen asked softly, \u201cYou too?\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t answer immediately.
\nNot because I didn\u2019t care.
\nBut because I understood how much a promise could mean to a child who had already lost so much.
\nFinally, I said, \u201cI\u2019m here with you today, Sophie. And I want to help your family take care of you.\u201d
\nShe seemed to think about that.
\nThen she smiled.
\n\u201cOkay.\u201d
\nAnd somehow, that single word felt heavier than anything I\u2019d ever heard.
\nAn hour later, we arrived at Emily\u2019s apartment.
\nMargaret took Sophie into the living room and turned on her favorite cartoon.
\nEmily brought me to the kitchen.
\nI borrowed her laptop.
\nThen I placed the black USB drive on the table.
\nFor a long moment, I simply stared at it.
\n\u201cAre you ready?\u201d Emily asked.
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nShe sat beside me.
\n\u201cMe neither.\u201d
\nI inserted the drive.
\nA password window appeared.
\nI typed:
\nSTRAWBERRY.
\nThe screen unlocked.
\nA folder appeared.
\nALICIA \u2014 PRIVATE.
\nInside were six files.
\nFour documents.
\nOne photograph.
\nAnd one video.
\nI opened the first document.
\nIt was a copy of Alicia\u2019s treatment schedule.
\nAt first, everything looked familiar.
\nMedication names.
\nDosages.
\nLaboratory results.
\nDates.
\nBut then I noticed something strange.
\nA handwritten notation beside one treatment.
\nA medication administration entry had been changed.
\nThe original time was crossed out.
\nA new time had been written above it.
\nThere were initials beside the correction.
\nR.C.
\nDr. Raymond Collins.
\nI frowned.
\nCorrections happened in medical records.
\nThat alone proved nothing.
\nBut the next document was a copy of an internal incident report.
\nIts status read:
\nCLOSED \u2014 NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.
\nI scrolled down.
\nThe incident involved a medication discrepancy.
\nAlicia\u2019s name appeared in the patient section.
\nAnd below it was the name of the person who had reviewed the report.
\nDr. Raymond Collins.
\nI looked at Emily.
\n\u201cThis doesn\u2019t prove anyone intentionally harmed her.\u201d
\nShe nodded.
\n\u201cBut why would Alicia hide it?\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what we need to understand.\u201d
\nI opened the third document.
\nIt was an email.
\nFrom Alicia.
\nTo Dr. Collins.
\nThe subject line read:
\nREQUEST FOR EXPLANATION \u2014 TREATMENT RECORDS.
\nThe email was brief.
\nDr. Collins,
\nI noticed that two different copies of my medical records show different medication details for the same date.
\nI understand there may be an innocent explanation, but nobody has answered my questions.
\nI would like a full copy of my records and an explanation of the changes.
\nPlease don\u2019t contact my sister about this yet.
\nI want to understand it myself.
\nThank you,
\nAlicia Morgan.
\nThe email had been sent twenty-three days before her death.
\nUnderneath was a reply from Dr. Collins.
\nAlicia,
\nThese are routine administrative corrections.
\nThere is no reason for concern.
\nPlease focus on resting and following your treatment plan.
\nRegards,
\nDr. Raymond Collins.
\nI leaned back.
\nSomething about the response bothered me.
\nAlicia had asked a reasonable question.
\nAnd instead of answering it directly, Dr. Collins had dismissed her concern.
\nStill, I knew better than to jump to conclusions.
\n\u201cEmily, did Alicia ever show these records to another doctor?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy not?\u201d
\n\u201cShe said she was waiting for someone to call her back.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nEmily looked confused.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nI opened the fourth document.
\nIt was a scanned letter.
\nThe top contained the name of a hospital employee.
\nNURSE CAROLINE REED.
\nI recognized her.
\nCaroline was a senior oncology nurse who had worked at the hospital for nearly fifteen years.
\nShe was meticulous.
\nKind.
\nAnd absolutely devoted to her patients.
\nThe letter was dated four days before Alicia\u2019s wedding.
\nDear Alicia,
\nI am writing because I can no longer ignore what you brought to my attention.
\nYou were right to ask questions.
\nI have reviewed the entries you showed me, and I believe there are discrepancies that require an independent review.
\nI cannot tell you what caused them.
\nI also cannot promise that they affected your treatment outcome.
\nBut I can confirm that your concerns deserve answers.
\nI have saved copies of the records you provided.
\nIf anything happens to prevent me from speaking with you, please contact the patient safety office and request an external review.
\nI am sorry you have had to fight so hard just to be heard.
\nSincerely,
\nCaroline Reed.
\nI read the letter three times.
\nThen I whispered, \u201cCaroline.\u201d
\nEmily looked at me.
\n\u201cYou know her?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cCan we call her?\u201d
\nI pulled out my phone.
\nI searched for Caroline\u2019s number.
\nThen I dialed.
\nIt rang.
\nOnce.
\nTwice.
\nThree times.
\nFinally, a recorded voice answered.
\nThe number you have dialed is no longer in service.
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s strange.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cCaroline\u2019s number isn\u2019t working.\u201d
\nEmily moved closer.
\n\u201cMaybe she changed it.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe.\u201d
\nI opened the hospital staff directory on my phone.
\nI searched her name.
\nNothing.
\nI searched again.
\nStill nothing.
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s not listed anymore.\u201d
\nEmily stared at me.
\n\u201cLucas, what does that mean?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\nThen I remembered a conversation from two weeks earlier.
\nA colleague had mentioned that Caroline had suddenly taken leave.
\nThere had been rumors about a disagreement with management.
\nBut nobody seemed to know what happened.
\nI looked back at the laptop.
\nOne file remained.
\nThe video.
\nIts title was:
\nFOR LUCAS \u2014 PLEASE WATCH ALONE.
\nEmily saw it too.
\nHer eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cShe recorded something for you.\u201d
\nMy throat tightened.
\nI hesitated.
\nThen I clicked.
\nThe screen went black.
\nA moment later, Alicia appeared.
\nShe was sitting in her hospital bed.
\nHer white scarf was wrapped loosely around her head.
\nHer cheeks were pale.
\nHer breathing was shallow.
\nBut she was smiling.
\nThe same beautiful smile that had made me fall in love with her.
\n\u201cHi, handsome.\u201d
\nI covered my mouth.
\nAlicia laughed softly.
\n\u201cLook at you. You\u2019re probably making that serious doctor face right now.\u201d
\nI began crying.
\nShe paused, catching her breath.
\n\u201cIf you\u2019re watching this, I guess I didn\u2019t get to tell you everything.\u201d
\nHer smile faded.
\n\u201cLucas, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nShe looked down at her hands.
\n\u201cI never wanted our last days together to be about fear or hospital records.\u201d
\nThen she looked directly into the camera.
\n\u201cI need you to know something.\u201d
\nHer voice trembled.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know whether anyone did anything wrong. I don\u2019t even know if the changes in my records affected my treatment.\u201d
\nShe wiped her eyes.
\n\u201cBut I asked questions, and someone told me to stop.\u201d
\nMy entire body went cold.
\nAlicia continued.
\n\u201cTwo nights ago, a man came into my room after visiting hours.\u201d
\nI leaned closer.
\n\u201cHe told me that sick girls shouldn\u2019t make accusations they can\u2019t prove.\u201d
\nEmily gasped.
\nAlicia\u2019s eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cHe said if I kept asking questions, things could become difficult for Emily and Sophie.\u201d
\nI clenched my fists.
\n\u201cWho was he?\u201d I whispered at the screen.
\nAlicia swallowed.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t recognize him at first.\u201d
\nShe took a shaky breath.
\n\u201cThen I saw him again the next morning.\u201d
\nMy heart hammered against my ribs.
\n\u201cHe was standing outside Dr. Collins\u2019s office.\u201d
\nAlicia stopped speaking for several seconds.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cLucas, I think someone is trying to protect a secret.\u201d
\nThe video flickered.
\nAlicia reached toward the camera, adjusting it.
\nThen she said something that made me freeze.
\n\u201cBut there\u2019s something else I need to tell you.\u201d
\nShe looked frightened.
\nMore frightened than I had ever seen her.
\n\u201cDaniel didn\u2019t come back because he suddenly wanted to be Sophie\u2019s father.\u201d
\nEmily grabbed my wrist.
\nAlicia\u2019s voice broke.
\n\u201cHe came back because someone paid him to.\u201d
\nI stopped breathing.
\nOn the screen, Alicia began crying.
\n\u201cAnd Lucas\u2026\u201d
\nShe pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
\n\u201cThe person who paid him works at your hospital.\u201d
\nThe room went completely silent.
\nThen Alicia leaned closer to the camera.
\n\u201cI know who it is.\u201d
\nMy heart nearly stopped.
\nShe opened her mouth to say the name.
\nBut suddenly, a loud knock sounded from somewhere outside her hospital room.
\nAlicia turned toward the door.
\nHer face drained of color.
\nThe video shook.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cOh, no. He\u2019s here.\u201d
\nThe recording ended.
\nI stared at the black screen.
\nEmily was crying beside me.
\nNeither of us moved.
\nThen my phone vibrated.
\nA text message.
\nUnknown number.
\nI opened it.
\nThere was a photograph.
\nIt showed me sitting at Emily\u2019s kitchen table.
\nThe laptop was open in front of me.
\nEmily was beside me.
\nThe photograph had been taken through the kitchen window.
\nOnly seconds earlier.
\nUnderneath was a message.
\n\u201cYour wife should have listened when she was told to stop asking questions.\u201d<\/strong>
\nI slowly turned toward the window.
\nAnd standing across the street, beside a parked black SUV, was a man holding a phone.
\nHe looked up.
\nOur eyes met.
\nThen he smiled.
\nBut what terrified me wasn\u2019t his smile.
\nIt was the white hospital identification badge clipped to his jacket.
\nI recognized the face printed on it.
\nBecause I had seen that man walking through the oncology department almost every day.
\nAnd he wasn\u2019t Dr. Collins.
\nHe was the hospital\u2019s director of patient safety.
\nThe very person Alicia had been told to contact for an independent investigation.
\nTO BE CONTINUED \u2014 PART 5: THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HER<\/strong><\/p>\nPART 5 \u2014 THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HER<\/h1>\n
\nAcross the street, the man wearing the hospital identification badge stood beside the black SUV.
\nHe wasn\u2019t hiding.
\nHe wasn\u2019t running.
\nHe was smiling at me as though he knew something I didn\u2019t.
\n\u201cLucas?\u201d Emily whispered. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\nI slowly turned the phone toward her.
\nShe looked at the photograph.
\nThen at the threatening message.
\nHer face drained of color.
\n\u201cOh my God.\u201d
\n\u201cStay away from the window,\u201d I whispered.
\n\u201cWho is that man?\u201d
\n\u201cHis name is Dr. Victor Hayes.\u201d
\n\u201cWho\u2019s that?\u201d
\nI swallowed.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s the hospital\u2019s director of patient safety.\u201d
\nEmily stared at me.
\n\u201cThe person Alicia was supposed to contact?\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nShe covered her mouth.
\nFor a moment, neither of us spoke.
\nThen she whispered, \u201cLucas, he\u2019s watching us.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d
\nI looked toward the living room.
\nSophie was sitting on the carpet beside Margaret, laughing at something on television.
\nShe was holding Oliver, her stuffed rabbit, by his missing ear.
\nShe had no idea what was happening.
\nNo idea that her mother\u2019s last message had just led us into something dangerous.
\nI looked back at Emily.
\n\u201cFirst, we get Sophie away from the windows.\u201d
\nEmily nodded quickly.
\nShe walked into the living room, trying to keep her voice calm.
\n\u201cHey, Sophie. Want to play in your bedroom?\u201d
\nSophie looked up.
\n\u201cCan Doctor Lucas come?\u201d
\nEmily hesitated.
\n\u201cMaybe later, sweetheart.\u201d
\nSophie frowned.
\n\u201cBut Mommy said he tells good stories.\u201d
\nI felt a sharp pain in my chest.
\nEmily looked at me helplessly.
\nI walked over and crouched beside Sophie.
\n\u201cHow about you show Aunt Margaret your favorite books first?\u201d
\nSophie considered that.
\nThen she nodded.
\n\u201cOkay. But you have to promise me a story.\u201d
\nI smiled sadly.
\n\u201cI can tell you one before I leave.\u201d
\nShe held out her little finger.
\n\u201cPinky promise?\u201d
\nI hesitated.
\nThen gently hooked my finger around hers.
\n\u201cPinky promise.\u201d
\nShe smiled and ran toward her bedroom.
\nThe moment her door closed, I called the police.
\nI reported the threatening message, the photograph taken through the window, and the man outside.
\nThe dispatcher asked us to remain inside and avoid confronting anyone.
\nWhen I looked out again, the SUV was gone.
\nBut the threat remained on my phone.
\nEmily stood beside me, shaking.
\n\u201cHe\u2019s gone.\u201d
\n\u201cFor now.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat if he comes back?\u201d
\nI looked at the laptop.
\n\u201cThen we make sure we\u2019re not dealing with this alone.\u201d
\nI saved copies of Alicia\u2019s files to a secure folder and carefully placed the USB drive back inside its case.
\nThen I photographed the threatening message.
\nEmily watched silently.
\n\u201cLucas, do you really think someone at your hospital was involved?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cBut Alicia said\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cAlicia had concerns. Caroline found discrepancies. And now someone is threatening us.\u201d
\nI looked directly at her.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s enough to justify an investigation. But we need actual evidence before accusing anyone.\u201d
\nEmily nodded.
\nThen she asked the question I\u2019d been avoiding.
\n\u201cWhat if Dr. Collins and Dr. Hayes are working together?\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t answer.
\nBecause I had no proof.
\nBut I knew one thing.
\nSomeone knew Alicia had left me the USB drive.
\nSomeone knew exactly where I was.
\nAnd someone wanted me to stop asking questions.
\nTwenty minutes later, two police officers arrived.
\nI showed them the message.
\nI explained the photograph.
\nI told them about Daniel\u2019s confrontation at the cemetery.
\nOne officer, a woman named Detective Sarah Mitchell, examined the screen carefully.
\n\u201cDr. Bennett, did you recognize the man outside?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cAre you certain?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m certain it looked like Victor Hayes. I work at the same hospital.\u201d
\nShe nodded and wrote something down.
\n\u201cHave you spoken with him?\u201d
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cHas he directly threatened you before?\u201d
\n\u201cNot that I know of.\u201d
\nDetective Mitchell studied me.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s an interesting answer.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\nShe pointed toward my phone.
\n\u201cThe sender knew about your wife. Knew you were viewing something she left behind. And knew where to find you.\u201d
\nI looked at Emily.
\nThe detective continued.
\n\u201cThat suggests someone may have been following you or receiving information about your movements.\u201d
\nEmily began crying again.
\n\u201cAre we safe here?\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to document what happened and make sure the appropriate officers review it,\u201d the detective answered. \u201cFor now, I\u2019d recommend that you not remain alone and that you call immediately if anyone returns.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\nThen I remembered something.
\n\u201cThe photograph.\u201d
\nDetective Mitchell looked up.
\n\u201cWhat about it?\u201d
\n\u201cThe man in the photograph Alicia left me. Dr. Collins.\u201d
\nI opened the image on the laptop.
\nThe detective leaned closer.
\n\u201cWho\u2019s the woman standing behind them?\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhat woman?\u201d
\nShe pointed toward the edge of the photograph.
\nI\u2019d been so focused on Alicia and Dr. Collins that I hadn\u2019t noticed the reflection in the glass door behind them.
\nA woman stood in the hallway.
\nHer face was partially visible.
\nI enlarged the image.
\nMy heart skipped.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s Caroline.\u201d
\n\u201cCaroline who?\u201d
\n\u201cCaroline Reed. The nurse who wrote Alicia a letter about the medical records.\u201d
\nDetective Mitchell looked interested.
\n\u201cCan we contact her?\u201d
\n\u201cI tried. Her phone is disconnected. She\u2019s also missing from the hospital directory.\u201d
\nThe detective wrote down her name.
\n\u201cDo you know where she lives?\u201d
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nEmily suddenly spoke.
\n\u201cWait.\u201d
\nWe both turned.
\n\u201cAlicia mentioned Caroline once.\u201d
\nI stared at her.
\n\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d
\nEmily closed her eyes, trying to remember.
\n\u201cShe said Caroline had somewhere safe to keep copies of the documents.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\nEmily shook her head.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. But Alicia told me something strange.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cShe said, \u2018If anything happens, look for the woman with the yellow door.’\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cThe yellow door?\u201d
\nEmily nodded.
\n\u201cI thought she was talking about a painting or something. Alicia was exhausted when she said it.\u201d
\nDetective Mitchell looked at us carefully.
\n\u201cDo you have any reason to believe Caroline is in danger?\u201d
\nI thought about the disconnected phone.
\nThe missing directory listing.
\nThe threatening message.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I admitted.
\n\u201cBut I\u2019m worried.\u201d
\nThe detective closed her notebook.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll follow up on the information you\u2019ve provided.\u201d
\nBefore leaving, she handed me her card.
\n\u201cDr. Bennett, one more thing.\u201d
\n\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t try to investigate the people threatening you yourself.\u201d
\nI nodded.
\nBut something inside me was already restless.
\nBecause Alicia had trusted me with the truth.
\nAnd I couldn\u2019t ignore it.
\nAfter the police left, Margaret came into the kitchen.
\nHer eyes were swollen.
\n\u201cLucas, Sophie is asking for you.\u201d
\nI looked toward the bedroom.
\n\u201cIs she okay?\u201d
\nMargaret shook her head.
\n\u201cShe found one of Alicia\u2019s old sweaters.\u201d
\nI felt my throat tighten.
\n\u201cShe wants to know when Mommy is coming home.\u201d
\nThe words hit me harder than anything Daniel had said.
\nI slowly walked down the hallway.
\nSophie\u2019s bedroom was small.
\nPink curtains.
\nStuffed animals.
\nA little wooden bed covered with a blanket decorated with stars.
\nAnd there, sitting on the floor, was Sophie.
\nShe was holding a pale blue sweater against her face.
\nAlicia\u2019s sweater.
\nThe same one she\u2019d worn the day we met.
\nWhen Sophie saw me, her bottom lip trembled.
\n\u201cDoctor Lucas?\u201d
\nI crouched down.
\n\u201cHey, sweetheart.\u201d
\nShe looked at me with frightened eyes.
\n\u201cAunt Margaret said Mommy isn\u2019t coming home.\u201d
\nI swallowed.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d
\n\u201cNot tomorrow?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, sweetheart.\u201d
\n\u201cNot when I get bigger?\u201d
\nMy eyes burned.
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nShe stared at the sweater.
\nThen whispered, \u201cDid I do something bad?\u201d
\nMy heart broke.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\n\u201cWas Mommy mad at me?\u201d
\n\u201cNever.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why did she go away?\u201d
\nI sat on the carpet beside her.
\nFor several seconds, I searched for words gentle enough for a three-year-old to understand.
\n\u201cYour mommy was very sick, Sophie. Her body stopped working, and the doctors couldn\u2019t make it better.\u201d
\nShe looked up.
\n\u201cBut you\u2019re a doctor.\u201d
\nMy breath caught.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cCouldn\u2019t you help her?\u201d
\nThat question felt like a knife.
\nI looked down at my hands.
\n\u201cI tried, sweetheart.\u201d
\nShe began crying.
\n\u201cThen why didn\u2019t it work?\u201d
\nI pulled a tissue from the box beside her bed.
\n\u201cSometimes, even when people try their very best, they can\u2019t stop someone from dying.\u201d
\nSophie wiped her cheeks.
\n\u201cDid Mommy know?\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWas she scared?\u201d
\nI thought about Alicia\u2019s video.
\nHer trembling voice.
\nThe way she\u2019d smiled through pain.
\n\u201cSometimes she was.\u201d
\nSophie looked at the sweater again.
\n\u201cDid someone hold her hand?\u201d
\nTears slid down my cheeks.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nI swallowed.
\n\u201cI did.\u201d
\nShe stared at me.
\n\u201cAll the time?\u201d
\n\u201cWhen I could.\u201d
\nSophie moved closer.
\nThen she placed her tiny hand inside mine.
\n\u201cGood.\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t speak.
\nShe leaned against my shoulder.
\n\u201cMommy didn\u2019t like being alone.\u201d
\nI gently rested my hand against her back.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\nWe sat quietly for a long time.
\nThen Sophie whispered,
\n\u201cCan you tell me the story about Mommy\u2019s wedding?\u201d
\nI looked at her.
\n\u201cShe told you about that?\u201d
\nSophie nodded.
\n\u201cShe said she married a prince.\u201d
\nI laughed through my tears.
\n\u201cA prince?\u201d
\n\u201cYes. But she said he wore funny shoes.\u201d
\nI looked down at my old black dress shoes.
\nAnd suddenly remembered Alicia laughing during our wedding because one of my shoelaces had come undone.
\nI smiled.
\n\u201cWell, your mommy was wearing the most beautiful white scarf.\u201d
\n\u201cWas she pretty?\u201d
\n\u201cVery.\u201d
\n\u201cDid she smile?\u201d
\nI nodded.
\n\u201cThe whole time.\u201d
\nSophie leaned against me again.
\n\u201cMommy said that was her happiest day.\u201d
\nI closed my eyes.
\nFor a moment, I could hear Alicia laughing.
\nCould feel her hand in mine.
\nCould see her holding up that ridiculous bandage ring.
\nAnd I realized something.
\nNo matter what secrets she had left behind, the love we\u2019d shared had been real.
\nIt hadn\u2019t been a trick.
\nIt hadn\u2019t been a lie.
\nIt was real.
\nA few minutes later, Sophie fell asleep against my shoulder.
\nI gently lifted her onto the bed.
\nAs I pulled the blanket over her, something slipped from the pocket of Alicia\u2019s sweater.
\nA small folded card.
\nI picked it up.
\nOn the outside was written:
\nFOR SOPHIE \u2014 WHEN SHE MISSES ME.
\nI hesitated.
\nThen quietly carried it to Emily.
\nShe opened the card.
\nInside was a short message.
\nMy precious Sophie,
\nIf you\u2019re sad because Mommy isn\u2019t there, remember that love doesn\u2019t disappear just because you can\u2019t see someone.
\nI will always be part of you.
\nEvery time you laugh.
\nEvery time you help someone.
\nEvery time you look at the stars and make a wish.
\nAnd if you\u2019re wondering whether I was happy before I left, the answer is yes.
\nBecause I met a wonderful man who reminded me that my life was still beautiful.
\nHis name is Lucas.
\nBe kind to him, sweetheart.
\nHe has a very big heart.
\nLove forever,
\nMommy.
\nEmily began sobbing.
\nI turned away, unable to hold back my own tears.
\nThen my phone rang.
\nAn unfamiliar number.
\nFor a moment, I thought it might be Daniel.
\nI answered cautiously.
\n\u201cHello?\u201d
\nSilence.
\nThen a woman\u2019s voice whispered,
\n\u201cDr. Bennett?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t say my name.\u201d
\nI felt my body tense.
\n\u201cWho is this?\u201d
\nThere was another pause.
\nThen she said,
\n\u201cYou tried to call me earlier.\u201d
\nMy heart stopped.
\n\u201cCaroline?\u201d
\n\u201cPlease. Don\u2019t say it.\u201d
\nI looked at Emily.
\nHer eyes widened.
\n\u201cWhere are you?\u201d I whispered.
\n\u201cI\u2019m somewhere they won\u2019t look. At least, I hope so.\u201d
\n\u201cCaroline, what\u2019s happening?\u201d
\nHer breathing sounded uneven.
\n\u201cI heard about Alicia.\u201d
\nMy throat tightened.
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\nCaroline began crying softly.
\n\u201cShe was such a good girl.\u201d
\n\u201cShe was.\u201d
\n\u201cI promised her I\u2019d help.\u201d
\n\u201cYou did help. She left me your letter.\u201d
\nThere was a long silence.
\nThen Caroline whispered,
\n\u201cLucas, you need to understand something about those medical records.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m listening.\u201d
\n\u201cThe discrepancy wasn\u2019t the only problem.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cAlicia wasn\u2019t the first patient to question those records.\u201d
\nI froze.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThere were others.\u201d
\n\u201cHow many?\u201d
\nCaroline hesitated.
\n\u201cAt least five that I know of.\u201d
\nMy stomach tightened.
\n\u201cFive patients?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWere they all treated by Dr. Collins?\u201d
\nAnother silence.
\nThen she answered,
\n\u201cThey were all part of the same research program.\u201d
\nI leaned against the kitchen counter.
\n\u201cWhat research program?\u201d
\nCaroline\u2019s voice trembled.
\n\u201cA privately funded treatment initiative. It was supposed to help patients with advanced cancers.\u201d
\n\u201cWas Alicia enrolled?\u201d
\n\u201cHer records suggest she received treatment associated with it, but the documentation is incomplete.\u201d
\nMy chest tightened.
\n\u201cWas she told?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know, Lucas. That\u2019s one of the questions I\u2019ve been trying to answer.\u201d
\nI closed my eyes.
\nI knew clinical research required oversight, documentation, and informed consent.
\nIf Caroline\u2019s concerns were justified, this was serious.
\nBut we still needed to know what had actually happened.
\n\u201cCaroline, do you have evidence?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cWhere?\u201d
\nShe hesitated.
\nThen whispered,
\n\u201cSomewhere safe.\u201d
\n\u201cCan you take it to the police?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to decide whom I can trust.\u201d
\nI looked toward Emily.
\n\u201cDetective Sarah Mitchell came here earlier. I can give you her number.\u201d
\nCaroline went silent.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I already spoke to someone who said he was helping the police.\u201d
\nA chill ran down my spine.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\n\u201cA man named Victor Hayes.\u201d
\nI gripped the phone.
\n\u201cCaroline, Hayes works at the hospital.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cHe was outside this apartment today.\u201d
\nHer breathing quickened.
\n\u201cOh, God.\u201d
\n\u201cHe sent me a threatening photograph.\u201d
\n\u201cLucas, listen carefully. Don\u2019t let him near your family.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nHer voice broke.
\n\u201cBecause two days after I reported my concerns, someone entered my office and removed the original files.\u201d
\nI felt my pulse pounding.
\n\u201cDo you know who?\u201d
\n\u201cNo. But I found something they missed.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cA duplicate authorization form.\u201d
\nMy heart raced.
\n\u201cWhat was on it?\u201d
\nCaroline hesitated.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cYour signature.\u201d
\nI went completely still.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cLucas, one of the treatment authorizations connected to Alicia\u2019s records was signed in your name.\u201d
\nI stared at the wall.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s impossible.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cI never signed an authorization for Alicia to participate in any research program.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m calling.\u201d
\nI felt cold from head to toe.
\n\u201cAre you saying someone forged my signature?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m saying the signature on that form does not match the ones I have seen you write.\u201d
\nI struggled to breathe.
\n\u201cCaroline, when was it dated?\u201d
\nShe told me.
\nAnd the world seemed to stop.
\nThe date was nearly four months before I\u2019d first met Alicia.
\nI whispered, \u201cThat can\u2019t be right.\u201d
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cI wasn\u2019t even assigned to oncology at that hospital then.\u201d
\nCaroline began crying again.
\n\u201cLucas, someone put your name on that form.\u201d
\nI looked down at my medical badge lying on the table.
\nMy photograph.
\nMy name.
\nThe career I\u2019d spent years building.
\nSuddenly, Daniel\u2019s warning made sense.
\nYou have no idea what you\u2019re getting involved in.
\n\u201cCaroline, why would someone use my name?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cThen what am I supposed to do?\u201d
\nHer voice dropped.
\n\u201cGet a lawyer. Give the information to an independent investigator. And don\u2019t let anyone convince you that the discrepancy is harmless without examining the original records.\u201d
\nI took a shaky breath.
\n\u201cOkay.\u201d
\nThen Caroline said something I wasn\u2019t prepared for.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s one more reason Alicia wanted you to have that drive.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat reason?\u201d
\n\u201cShe knew about the signature.\u201d
\nMy heart stopped.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cShe discovered it before your wedding.\u201d
\nI stared at the kitchen floor.
\n\u201cAnd she didn\u2019t tell me?\u201d
\nCaroline\u2019s voice became softer.
\n\u201cLucas, she was trying to find proof that you hadn\u2019t signed it.\u201d
\nMy eyes filled with tears.
\nAlicia.
\nEven as she was dying, she\u2019d been trying to protect me.
\n\u201cDid she find anything?\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\nI straightened.
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cA staff assignment record showing you were working at another hospital on the day the form was signed.\u201d
\nI closed my eyes.
\nThat might help establish that the authorization had been falsely attributed to me.
\n\u201cCaroline, where is it?\u201d
\n\u201cI have a copy.\u201d
\n\u201cCan you send it?\u201d
\n\u201cNot over this phone.\u201d
\n\u201cThen where can we meet?\u201d
\nShe hesitated.
\nThen she whispered,
\n\u201cDo you remember the old neighborhood behind St. Anne\u2019s Church?\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cYes.\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a small house on Willow Street.\u201d
\nMy heart began pounding.
\n\u201cWhat color is the front door?\u201d
\nCaroline went silent.
\nThen she answered,
\n\u201cYellow.\u201d
\nI stared at Emily.
\nShe had heard every word.
\nThe woman with the yellow door.
\nAlicia had known exactly where Caroline was keeping the evidence.
\n\u201cCaroline, we need to tell Detective Mitchell.\u201d
\n\u201cYes. But I want to give the documents to her somewhere safe, with my attorney present.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s reasonable.\u201d
\nCaroline took a shaky breath.
\n\u201cLucas, one more thing.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cWhatever happens, don\u2019t trust the hospital\u2019s internal report until the original records have been examined.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d
\nHer voice became almost inaudible.
\n\u201cBecause the report wasn\u2019t written by the person whose name is on it.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d
\n\u201cThe person listed as the investigator had resigned six months earlier.\u201d
\nI felt my stomach sink.
\n\u201cThen who wrote it?\u201d
\nCaroline began to answer.
\nBut suddenly, I heard a noise on her end.
\nA door creaking.
\nFootsteps.
\nThen a man\u2019s voice in the background.
\n\u201cCaroline?\u201d
\nShe gasped.
\n\u201cLucas, I have to go.\u201d
\n\u201cWait. Is someone there?\u201d
\nHer voice became frantic.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t come to the house!\u201d
\n\u201cCaroline\u2014\u201d
\n\u201cPlease! Tell the detective!\u201d
\nThe phone disconnected.
\nI stared at the screen.
\nEmily grabbed my arm.
\n\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cI think someone found her.\u201d
\nI immediately called Detective Mitchell.
\nI told her about Caroline\u2019s call.
\nThe yellow door.
\nThe documents.
\nThe forged authorization.
\nAnd the sudden interruption.
\nShe listened without speaking.
\nThen she said,
\n\u201cDr. Bennett, do not go to that house.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not planning to.\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll have officers check the address.\u201d
\nI gave her everything Caroline had told me.
\nThen I ended the call.
\nEmily sat down slowly.
\n\u201cLucas, this is getting worse.\u201d
\nI looked toward Sophie\u2019s bedroom.
\n\u201cI know.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d
\nI stared at Alicia\u2019s photograph on the laptop.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to make sure Sophie is safe. And we\u2019re going to let the people qualified to investigate this do their jobs.\u201d
\nEmily nodded.
\nBut before either of us could speak again, the doorbell rang.
\nWe both froze.
\nIt rang a second time.
\nMargaret appeared in the hallway.
\n\u201cAre you expecting someone?\u201d
\nI shook my head.
\n\u201cNo.\u201d
\nThe doorbell rang again.
\nThen a man\u2019s voice called through the door.
\n\u201cDr. Bennett? I know you\u2019re in there.\u201d
\nMy blood ran cold.
\nI recognized the voice.
\nDr. Raymond Collins.
\nMy former mentor.
\nThe man Alicia had been afraid of.
\nThe man whose initials appeared on her medical records.
\nEmily gripped my arm.
\n\u201cDon\u2019t open it.\u201d
\nI didn\u2019t move.
\nThen Collins spoke again.
\n\u201cLucas, I need five minutes.\u201d
\nI looked through the peephole.
\nHe stood alone, wearing a gray suit.
\nHis face looked exhausted.
\nThere were dark circles beneath his eyes.
\nHe wasn\u2019t smiling.
\nAnd he was holding a thick manila envelope.
\n\u201cGo away,\u201d I called.
\nCollins lowered his head.
\n\u201cLucas, please.\u201d
\n\u201cI have nothing to say to you.\u201d
\n\u201cThen just listen.\u201d
\nI hesitated.
\nHe leaned closer to the door.
\n\u201cVictor Hayes called me twenty minutes ago.\u201d
\nMy heart began pounding.
\nCollins continued.
\n\u201cHe told me you had Alicia\u2019s files.\u201d
\nI said nothing.
\n\u201cAnd he told me that if I didn\u2019t convince you to hand them over, he would make sure I took the blame for everything.\u201d
\nEmily covered her mouth.
\nI stared through the peephole.
\n\u201cWhy should I believe you?\u201d
\nCollins slowly raised the envelope.
\n\u201cBecause I brought the original documents Alicia was asking for.\u201d
\nI froze.
\n\u201cWhat documents?\u201d
\nHis voice cracked.
\n\u201cThe ones proving that someone altered her medical records.\u201d
\nI looked at Emily.
\nShe shook her head desperately.
\nCollins took a shaky breath.
\n\u201cLucas, I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes.\u201d
\nHis eyes filled with tears.
\n\u201cBut Alicia deserved the truth.\u201d
\nI felt my chest tighten.
\n\u201cThen why didn\u2019t you tell her?\u201d
\nCollins closed his eyes.
\n\u201cBecause I was afraid.\u201d
\n\u201cAfraid of what?\u201d
\nHe looked directly at the peephole.
\n\u201cOf losing everything.\u201d
\nI gripped the door handle.
\nThen Collins said the words that made my entire body go cold.
\n\u201cLucas, there\u2019s something you need to know about the day Alicia died.\u201d
\nI stopped breathing.
\nHe lowered his voice.
\n\u201cShe wasn\u2019t alone when her condition suddenly changed.\u201d
\nI frowned.
\n\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d
\nCollins wiped his forehead.
\n\u201cSomeone entered her room shortly before the emergency call.\u201d
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nHe stared at the door.
\nThen whispered,
\n\u201cVictor Hayes.\u201d
\nMy heart pounded.
\n\u201cHow do you know?\u201d
\nCollins raised the envelope.
\n\u201cBecause I have a copy of the corridor security footage.\u201d
\nI couldn\u2019t move.
\nHe swallowed hard.
\n\u201cAnd Lucas, there\u2019s something else.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cThe footage shows Hayes leaving Alicia\u2019s room.\u201d
\nA long silence followed.
\nThen Collins whispered,
\n\u201cBut thirty seconds later, someone else entered.\u201d
\nI felt the air leave my lungs.
\n\u201cWho?\u201d
\nCollins looked down at the envelope.
\nWhen he answered, his voice was barely audible.
\n\u201cSomeone you know.\u201d
\nMy hands began shaking.
\n\u201cTell me who.\u201d
\nCollins closed his eyes.
\nThen he said,
\n\u201cLucas, the second person was wearing your hospital coat.\u201d
\nAnd in that moment, I realized this wasn\u2019t just about what had happened to Alicia.
\nSomeone might have been trying to make it look as though I had been responsible.
\nTO BE CONTINUED \u2014 PART 6: THE PERSON WEARING MY WHITE COAT
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nClick Here to continuous Read\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b Full Ending Story
![\"\ud83d\udc49\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f449.svg\")
PART 6 \u2014 THE PERSON WEARING MY WHITE COAT<\/a><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"