Chapter 7: The Doctor Who Was Supposed to## Chapter 7: The Doctor Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"He's supposed to be dead.""
Marcus's words followed me long after the elevator doors closed.
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Who is Dr. Samuel Be Dead
"He's supposed to be dead.""
Marcus's words followed me long after the elevator doors closed.
I grabbed his sleeve.
"Who is Dr. Samuel Whitmore?""
Marcus looked down at my hand.
"Let go.""
"Not until you tell me why you think he's Whitmore?""
Marcus looked down at my hand.
"Let go.""
"Not until you tell me why you think he's dead.""
His gaze shifted toward the guests gathering around us. Several people had their phones out. One dead.""
His gaze shifted toward the guests gathering around us. Several people had their phones out. One woman whispered to another while pretending to examine the floral arrangements.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Not here.""
I released him.
"You have five seconds to decide whether woman whispered to another while pretending to examine the floral arrangements.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Not here.""
I released him.
"You have five seconds to decide whether you're going to answer my questions or watch me ask them in front of everyone.""
His jaw tightened.
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?""
"No. Apparently, neither does anyone else in your you're going to answer my questions or watch me ask them in front of everyone.""
His jaw tightened.
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?""
"No. Apparently, neither does anyone else in your life.""
He stared at me, then glanced at the elevators.
"Whitmore was the cardiologist who treated your father. After Thomas died, he disappeared from the hospital. Six months later, I heard he'd died in a boating accident.""
"From whom?""
"Someone who worked for the company involved in your father's property life.""
He stared at me, then glanced at the elevators.
"Whitmore was the cardiologist who treated your father. After Thomas died, he disappeared from the hospital. Six months later, I heard he'd died in a boating accident.""
"From whom?""
"Someone who worked for the company involved in your father's property dispute.""
"That's not a source. That's a rumor.""
"It's all I had.""
I studied his face.
"Then why did you tell me he was supposed to be dead as if you knew it was true?""
Marcus looked away.
Because he knew more than he was admitting.
Before I could press him, my mother appeared beside us, clutching her handbag.
"Nia, we need dispute.""
"That's not a source. That's a rumor.""
"It's all I had.""
I studied his face.
"Then why did you tell me he was supposed to be dead as if you knew it was true?""
Marcus looked away.
Because he knew more than he was admitting.
Before I could press him, my mother appeared beside us, clutching her handbag.
"Nia, we need to leave.""
I turned toward her.
"Did you take the original medication chart from the hospital?""
Her lips trembled.
"I thought I did.""
"What happened to it?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom, please.""
She closed her eyes.
"I remember bringing a folder home. I remember placing it in your father's desk. But when I opened the to leave.""
I turned toward her.
"Did you take the original medication chart from the hospital?""
Her lips trembled.
"I thought I did.""
"What happened to it?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom, please.""
She closed her eyes.
"I remember bringing a folder home. I remember placing it in your father's desk. But when I opened the desk a few days later, the folder was gone.""
"Did you tell the police?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because the police had already told me your father died from natural causes. I thought I'd desk a few days later, the folder was gone.""
"Did you tell the police?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because the police had already told me your father died from natural causes. I thought I'd made a mistake. I thought perhaps I'd returned the folder to the hospital without remembering.""
She looked at Marcus.
"And then I received a phone call.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"What phone call?""
Mom's fingers tightened around her handbag.
"A man told me that if I continued asking questions about the hospital, Nia would be in danger.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"You made a mistake. I thought perhaps I'd returned the folder to the hospital without remembering.""
She looked at Marcus.
"And then I received a phone call.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"What phone call?""
Mom's fingers tightened around her handbag.
"A man told me that if I continued asking questions about the hospital, Nia would be in danger.""
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
"You never told me that.""
"You were eighteen. You had just lost your father. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, too.""
"Who called?""
"I don't know. He wouldn't give me his name.""
Marcus rubbed a hand over his face.
"Was the voice familiar?""
Mom hesitated.
"At the time, no.""
"And never told me that.""
"You were eighteen. You had just lost your father. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, too.""
"Who called?""
"I don't know. He wouldn't give me his name.""
Marcus rubbed a hand over his face.
"Was the voice familiar?""
Mom hesitated.
"At the time, no.""
"And now?""
She looked at him.
"Now I think it was yours.""
For a moment, Marcus appeared unable to speak.
Then he laughed once, sharply.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Is it?"" Mom asked.
"You knew about the medication chart. You knew about the notebook. And you knew about the threat I received eleven years ago, even though I never told anyone about it now?""
She looked at him.
"Now I think it was yours.""
For a moment, Marcus appeared unable to speak.
Then he laughed once, sharply.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Is it?"" Mom asked.
"You knew about the medication chart. You knew about the notebook. And you knew about the threat I received eleven years ago, even though I never told anyone about it.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Because I've been investigating this case for years.""
"Why?"" I demanded.
He looked at me.
"Because your father wasn't the only person who died after refusing to cooperate with that company.""
A chill ran through me.
"Who else died?""
"People who had evidence. People who asked questions.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"Because I've been investigating this case for years.""
"Why?"" I demanded.
He looked at me.
"Because your father wasn't the only person who died after refusing to cooperate with that company.""
A chill ran through me.
"Who else died?""
"People who had evidence. People who asked questions. People who thought the truth would protect them.""
"Names, Marcus.""
He shook his head.
"I don't have proof.""
"Then stop using other people's deaths to frighten me.""
He took a step closer.
"I am trying to keep you alive.""
"And I'm trying to figure out why my fiancé lied about his name, my father's. People who thought the truth would protect them.""
"Names, Marcus.""
He shook his head.
"I don't have proof.""
"Then stop using other people's deaths to frighten me.""
He took a step closer.
"I am trying to keep you alive.""
"And I'm trying to figure out why my fiancé lied about his name, my father's inheritance, and the woman who cut my mother's hair.""
His face tightened at the mention of Vanessa.
"Where is she?""
I looked toward the elevator.
"She went upstairs.""
Marcus immediately pulled out his phone and called her.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then he sent a message, his thumbs moving rapidly across the screen.
A moment later, his inheritance, and the woman who cut my mother's hair.""
His face tightened at the mention of Vanessa.
"Where is she?""
I looked toward the elevator.
"She went upstairs.""
Marcus immediately pulled out his phone and called her.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then he sent a message, his thumbs moving rapidly across the screen.
A moment later, his phone vibrated.
He read the response.
Whatever it said made him swear under his breath.
"What?"" I demanded.
He shoved the phone into his pocket.
"She's gone.""
"How?""
"There's a service elevator at the end of the corridor. She must have used it.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she run away phone vibrated.
He read the response.
Whatever it said made him swear under his breath.
"What?"" I demanded.
He shoved the phone into his pocket.
"She's gone.""
"How?""
"There's a service elevator at the end of the corridor. She must have used it.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she run away after receiving a message about a dead doctor?""
"Because she knows what it means.""
"Then explain it to me.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Finally, he said, "Whitmore was the last person who could prove that your father's medication had been after receiving a message about a dead doctor?""
"Because she knows what it means.""
"Then explain it to me.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Finally, he said, "Whitmore was the last person who could prove that your father's medication had been altered.""
My throat tightened.
"Altered how?""
"I don't know.""
"You've spent years investigating this, and you don't know?""
"I know what people told me. I know that your father was stable that evening. I know altered.""
My throat tightened.
"Altered how?""
"I don't know.""
"You've spent years investigating this, and you don't know?""
"I know what people told me. I know that your father was stable that evening. I know the hospital's records were amended afterward. And I know Whitmore disappeared before anyone could question him about the changes.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before today?""
His eyes flickered.
"Because I needed to know whether you were safe.""
"No. You needed me to marry you.""
He flinched.
I continued the hospital's records were amended afterward. And I know Whitmore disappeared before anyone could question him about the changes.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before today?""
His eyes flickered.
"Because I needed to know whether you were safe.""
"No. You needed me to marry you.""
He flinched.
I continued.
"You wanted access to the trust. You wanted the property. And you wanted me to sign documents I didn't understand. You could have told me the truth about the investigation without asking me to marry you.""
Marcus looked as though he wanted to argue.
Instead, he said, "I made a mistake.""
"Which one?""
He lowered his head.
"All of them.""
.
"You wanted access to the trust. You wanted the property. And you wanted me to sign documents I didn't understand. You could have told me the truth about the investigation without asking me to marry you.""
Marcus looked as though he wanted to argue.
Instead, he said, "I made a mistake.""
"Which one?""
He lowered his head.
"All of them.""
For one brief second, I saw the man I had loved. The man who used to bring soup to my apartment when I was sick, who remembered my father's birthday, who held me through nightmares about the hospital.
Then I remembered the bridal suite.
My mother crying.
Vanessa smiling.
Marcus asking whether she was okay.
For one brief second, I saw the man I had loved. The man who used to bring soup to my apartment when I was sick, who remembered my father's birthday, who held me through nightmares about the hospital.
Then I remembered the bridal suite.
My mother crying.
Vanessa smiling.
Marcus asking whether she was okay.
Whatever feelings remained inside me, they could no longer outweigh what he had done.
"Did you know Vanessa would hurt my mother?""
"No.""
"Did you arrange for her to come to the wedding?""
"She was already your stylist.""
"Did you know she was looking for the medication chart?""
He hesWhatever feelings remained inside me, they could no longer outweigh what he had done.
"Did you know Vanessa would hurt my mother?""
"No.""
"Did you arrange for her to come to the wedding?""
"She was already your stylist.""
"Did you know she was looking for the medication chart?""
He hesitated.
That was answer enough.
"You knew," I whispered.
"I suspected.""
"And you let her into the bridal suite anyway.""
"I thought she might know where the original records wereitated.
That was answer enough.
"You knew," I whispered.
"I suspected.""
"And you let her into the bridal suite anyway.""
"I thought she might know where the original records were.""
I stared at him.
"You used my wedding as bait?""
"I didn't know she'd cut your mother's hair!""
"But you knew she might be looking for something. You knew she was connected to my father's death, and you let her near my family.""
Marcus's face crumpled.
"I thought I could control the situation.""
I stared at him.
"You used my wedding as bait?""
"I didn't know she'd cut your mother's hair!""
"But you knew she might be looking for something. You knew she was connected to my father's death, and you let her near my family.""
Marcus's face crumpled.
"I thought I could control the situation.""
"You can't even control yourself.""
I turned away.
My phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar, but the area code was local.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke in a low, measured tone.
"Is.""
"You can't even control yourself.""
I turned away.
My phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar, but the area code was local.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice spoke in a low, measured tone.
"Is this Nia Harper?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Samuel Whitmore.""
I stopped breathing.
Behind me, Marcus went completely still.
The voice continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about your father's death.""
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you that over the phone.""
"Are you alive?""
A pause.
"Very much so.""
I gr this Nia Harper?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Samuel Whitmore.""
I stopped breathing.
Behind me, Marcus went completely still.
The voice continued.
"I understand you've been asking questions about your father's death.""
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you that over the phone.""
"Are you alive?""
A pause.
"Very much so.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why did you disappear?""
"Because someone tried to kill me.""
Mom covered her mouth.
I forced myself to speak.
"Who?""
"Before I answer that, youipped the phone.
"Why did you disappear?""
"Because someone tried to kill me.""
Mom covered her mouth.
I forced myself to speak.
"Who?""
"Before I answer that, you need to understand something. Your father didn't die because his heart failed.""
My knees weakened.
"What are you saying?""
"I believe someone interfered with his treatment. I also believe the original medication need to understand something. Your father didn't die because his heart failed.""
My knees weakened.
"What are you saying?""
"I believe someone interfered with his treatment. I also believe the original medication chart was deliberately removed from the hospital records.""
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes.""
My voice broke.
"Then why haven't you gone to the police?""
"Because the last time I tried, the evidence disappeared, and the officer who received it warned the people chart was deliberately removed from the hospital records.""
"Do you have proof?""
"Yes.""
My voice broke.
"Then why haven't you gone to the police?""
"Because the last time I tried, the evidence disappeared, and the officer who received it warned the people I was investigating.""
Marcus stepped toward me.
I held up my free hand to stop him.
Whitmore continued.
"I have spent eleven years collecting enough evidence to identify the people involved. But there is one document I still need.""
"The original medication chart?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
"I I was investigating.""
Marcus stepped toward me.
I held up my free hand to stop him.
Whitmore continued.
"I have spent eleven years collecting enough evidence to identify the people involved. But there is one document I still need.""
"The original medication chart?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know. But I believe your mother may have seen it.""
I turned toward Mom.
She was crying silently.
Whitmore's voice became urgent.
"Nia, listen carefully. Do not trust Marcus Reed. Do not trust Vanessa Cole.
And do not trust anyone who claims to be helping you unless they can explain how they knew about the don't know. But I believe your mother may have seen it.""
I turned toward Mom.
She was crying silently.
Whitmore's voice became urgent.
"Nia, listen carefully. Do not trust Marcus Reed. Do not trust Vanessa Cole. And do not trust anyone who claims to be helping you unless they can explain how they knew about the medication chart.""
I glanced at Daniel, who had just emerged from the hotel lobby.
He was watching me with a strange expression.
Whitmore spoke again.
"I need you to meet me tonight. There is something your father left behind that will explain everything.""
"Where?""
"At the old railway station on Mercer Street. Ten medication chart.""
I glanced at Daniel, who had just emerged from the hotel lobby.
He was watching me with a strange expression.
Whitmore spoke again.
"I need you to meet me tonight. There is something your father left behind that will explain everything.""
"Where?""
"At the old railway station on Mercer Street. Ten o'clock. Come alone.""
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone.
Marcus stared at me.
"What did he say?""
I looked at him.
"He wants to meet me.""
"Where?""
"I'm not telling you.""
"Nia, you cannot go alone. o'clock. Come alone.""
The line went dead.
I lowered the phone.
Marcus stared at me.
"What did he say?""
I looked at him.
"He wants to meet me.""
"Where?""
"I'm not telling you.""
"Nia, you cannot go alone. If Whitmore is alive, someone else will be looking for him.""
"How do you know?""
His face went pale.
Because he had just repeated the exact warning Whitmore had given me.
And Daniel, standing a few feet away, had heard enough to understand what was happening.
"Nobody is If Whitmore is alive, someone else will be looking for him.""
"How do you know?""
His face went pale.
Because he had just repeated the exact warning Whitmore had given me.
And Daniel, standing a few feet away, had heard enough to understand what was happening.
"Nobody is going anywhere alone," Daniel said firmly.
"We need to verify this man's identity and coordinate with law enforcement before arranging any meeting.""
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated one final time.
A text going anywhere alone," Daniel said firmly.
"We need to verify this man's identity and coordinate with law enforcement before arranging any meeting.""
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated one final time.
A text from Whitmore.
*Ask Daniel Brooks why he was the last person to visit your father before he died.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Daniel's expression changed.
Marcus took a step backward.
And my mother whispered the words I had been dreading all day.
"Oh from Whitmore.
*Ask Daniel Brooks why he was the last person to visit your father before he died.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Daniel's expression changed.
Marcus took a step backward.
And my mother whispered the words I had been dreading all day.
"Oh, Nia. Your father trusted Daniel with everything.""
She looked at the attorney.
"But Daniel wasn't at the hospital to protect him.""
Her voice broke.
"He was there to take something.""
, Nia. Your father trusted Daniel with everything.""
She looked at the attorney.
"But Daniel wasn't at the hospital to protect him.""
May you like
Her voice broke.
"He was there to take something.""
