Chapter 8: The Man Who Came to the Hospital
Marcus opened his eyes to the sound of a monitor beeping beside his bed.
His mouth was dry.
His head throbbed.
For several seconds, he couldn't remember how he had arrived at the hospital.
Then he saw Jordan.
His son was sitting in a chair beside the window, wearing the same gray hoodie from the birthday party.
A paper cup of water rested on the bedside table.
“Hey,” Marcus whispered.
Jordan immediately stood.
“Dad!””
He leaned over the bed.
“How do you feel?””
Marcus managed a weak smile.
“Like I lost a fight with a truck.””
Jordan laughed, but tears immediately filled his eyes.
Marcus reached for his hand.
“I'm okay.””
“Are you sure?””
“That's what the doctors keep telling me.””
Jordan looked at the monitor.
“They said your blood tests showed something unusual.””
Marcus nodded.
“They're running more tests.””
Jordan swallowed.
“I thought I was going to lose you.””
Marcus squeezed his hand.
“You didn't.””
Jordan lowered his head.
“I'm sorry about the party.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
“I ruined your birthday.””
For a moment, Marcus couldn't speak.
Then he shook his head.
“Son, you saved my life.””
Jordan began crying.
Marcus pulled him closer.
“You hear me?””
Jordan nodded.
“You did the right thing.””
The door opened.
A nurse entered with a tablet.
“Mr. Reed, how are we feeling?””
“Better.””
“Good. The doctor will be back shortly. Please don't drink anything brought from outside until we've completed our testing.””
Jordan immediately looked at the water cup.
The nurse noticed.
“That includes bottled drinks, sweetheart. We'll provide everything you need.””
After she left, Jordan looked at his father.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“There's something I haven't told you.””
Marcus studied him.
“What is it?””
Jordan pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I found another recording.””
Marcus sighed.
“Of course you did.””
Jordan managed a small smile.
“This one is from the study.””
He opened the file.
The recording began with the sound of a chair moving.
Then Raymond's voice.
“David wants the papers signed by Friday.””
Another voice answered.
Gregory Mills.
“Marcus isn't going to sign unless he believes the medical report.””
Raymond laughed.
“Then make sure he believes it.””
Gregory spoke again.
“And what about the boy?””
A pause.
Then Raymond answered.
“Danielle will handle him.””
Marcus's expression tightened.
Jordan stopped the recording.
“Dad, I think Uncle Raymond was planning to send me away.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“I'm sorry.””
Jordan shook his head.
“I don't want to talk about him.””
“Then we won't.””
The door opened again.
A man entered wearing a navy suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
Marcus assumed it was one of the hospital administrators.
The man smiled politely.
“Mr. Reed?””
“Yes?””
“My name is Gregory Mills. I'm your family's attorney.””
Marcus immediately sat up.
The pain in his head intensified.
“What are you doing here?””
Gregory placed the briefcase on the table.
“I heard about your medical emergency. I wanted to make sure your legal affairs were protected.””
Marcus looked at Jordan.
His son had gone completely still.
Gregory noticed.
“Hello, Jordan.””
Jordan didn't answer.
Marcus stared at the briefcase.
“You need to leave.””
Gregory smiled.
“Marcus, I understand you're under stress.””
“Leave.””
“I'm not here to upset you.””
“Then stop talking.””
Gregory opened the briefcase.
He removed several sheets of paper.
“I brought the temporary authorization documents. We simply need your confirmation that you understand the arrangement.””
Marcus looked at the papers.
The top page contained his name.
Beneath it was a declaration stating that he voluntarily authorized a temporary transfer of business management responsibilities.
Marcus recognized the language.
It was almost identical to the document Jordan had found.
“I'm not signing anything.””
Gregory nodded.
“Of course. We can discuss it.””
“There's nothing to discuss.””
Gregory lowered his voice.
“Your wife has been under considerable financial pressure. She made some mistakes, but she's trying to protect the family.””
Marcus stared.
“You know about the money?””
“I'm aware of the situation.””
“Are you aware of the forged medical report?””
Gregory's smile disappeared.
“That's a serious allegation.””
“Are you aware of the recordings?””
Gregory glanced at Jordan.
Then he looked back at Marcus.
“Teenagers misunderstand things.””
Jordan stood.
“I understand everything you said about sending me away.””
Gregory closed the briefcase.
“Jordan, this is an adult matter.””
“You told Mom I was the problem.””
Gregory looked uncomfortable.
“That's not what I meant.””
Marcus pressed the call button beside his bed.
“Security.””
Gregory sighed.
“Marcus, don't make this difficult.””
The door opened.
A nurse entered.
“Is everything okay?””
Marcus pointed toward Gregory.
“This man is not authorized to be here. Please ask security to escort him out.””
Gregory stood.
“There's no need for that.””
The nurse looked at his identification.
Then she checked the visitor list.
“Mr. Mills, I'm afraid you're not on the approved list.””
Gregory gathered his papers.
“Fine.””
He looked at Marcus.
“Just remember that your wife isn't the only person with something to lose.””
Then he left.
Jordan watched the door close.
“Dad?””
Marcus looked at him.
“Yeah?””
“Was that a threat?””
Marcus nodded.
“I think so.””
The nurse contacted hospital security.
Within minutes, Detective Harris arrived.
He listened as Marcus explained what had happened.
Then he asked to see the documents Gregory had brought.
Marcus pointed toward the table.
The papers were still there.
Detective Harris examined them.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“The authorization document contains a notarization stamp.””
Marcus frowned.
“So?””
“The notary listed here died two years ago.””
Jordan stared.
“They forged it?””
“That's what it appears to be.””
Detective Harris photographed the pages.
Then he turned toward Marcus.
“We need to discuss the man who came here.””
“Gregory Mills.””
“Yes. He's been identified as a person of interest in the financial investigation.””
Marcus nodded.
“I want him nowhere near my family.””
The detective looked toward Jordan.
“Your son may be able to help us.””
Jordan sat straighter.
“How?””
“We found additional messages on the phone number connected to David Harlan. Several mention a location.””
He showed them a photograph.
It was an old commercial warehouse outside Baltimore.
Marcus recognized the address.
His company had owned the property years earlier before selling it.
“Why would they be there?””
Detective Harris explained.
“We believe the original documents may be stored there.””
Marcus frowned.
“Which documents?””
“The medical reports, financial authorizations, and possibly the original loan agreements.””
Jordan looked at the detective.
“Does that mean you can arrest them?””
“We need evidence connecting the individuals to the forged documents and financial activity.””
Marcus nodded.
“Then take the laptop.””
“We already have it.””
“And the recordings?””
“Preserved.””
The detective paused.
“There's one more thing we need to discuss.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
“The substance found in the container from your kitchen.””
He waited.
“Preliminary testing indicates it wasn't a dietary supplement.””
Jordan's face went pale.
Marcus tightened his grip on the bed rail.
“What was it?””
“The laboratory hasn't identified every component yet, but it contains a sedating agent that could cause confusion, impaired coordination, and memory difficulties.””
Marcus stared.
The detective continued.
“Repeated exposure may explain some of the symptoms you reported.””
Jordan covered his mouth.
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
For months, he had wondered why he felt exhausted.
Why simple tasks occasionally became difficult.
Why he sometimes lost his train of thought during meetings.
He had blamed work.
Age.
Stress.
Now he knew someone had been interfering with his body.
“Was it enough to kill me?”” he asked.
Detective Harris chose his words carefully.
“We can't determine that yet. The concentration and exact substance need further testing.””
Jordan began crying again.
Marcus reached for him.
“Hey.””
Jordan shook his head.
“I should have told you sooner.””
“You told me when you could.””
“I was scared.””
“I know.””
Marcus held his son's hand.
Then the detective received a message.
He read it.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”” Marcus asked.
Detective Harris turned the screen toward him.
A photograph showed a dark vehicle outside the hospital.
The timestamp was 9:18 p.m.
The message beneath it read:
The boy is still with him. What are we supposed to do?
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Who sent that?””
“We're tracing it.””
Jordan looked toward the window.
“Dad, are they watching us?””
The detective immediately stood.
“I'm going to request additional security.””
Marcus looked at his son.
“Stay away from the windows.””
Jordan moved beside the bed.
Then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph of a document.
Marcus recognized the handwriting.
It was his father's.
The document was an old trust agreement.
At the bottom, a paragraph had been highlighted.
Detective Harris read it aloud.
“'In the event that a biological descendant of the Reed family is identified, the trustee shall verify the descendant's identity before distributing the designated inheritance.''”
Marcus frowned.
“What does that have to do with this?””
The detective looked at him.
“Your father created a separate inheritance provision for biological grandchildren.””
Marcus nodded.
“I know about the trust.””
“Then you may want to see the attached message.””
The message contained a single sentence.
The boy's real father has already claimed the inheritance.
Marcus looked at Jordan.
Then at the screen.
“That's impossible.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“That's what we thought.””
He enlarged the photograph.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Raymond Reed.
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Raymond has already filed a claim?””
The detective nodded.
“And the filing was submitted six weeks ago.””
Jordan stared at his father.
“Dad, what does that mean?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
Because the message contained another attachment.
A birth certificate.
An official copy.
It listed Marcus Reed as Jordan's father.
But beneath the certificate was a laboratory report.
A DNA result.
And the date on that report was from fourteen years earlier.
Marcus looked at the detective.
“Who ordered this test?””
Detective Harris shook his head.
“We're still investigating.””
Then Marcus noticed something written in the margin of the document.
A handwritten sentence.
If Marcus discovers the truth, remind him that Jordan's birth was never an accident.
He looked at his son.
Jordan was staring at him.
“Dad?””
May you like
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
And for the first time that night, he wondered whether the secret about Jordan's biological father was only the beginning of the truth.
