Chapter 4 - The Missing Medical Report
By noon, Ethan had summoned every member of the executive board.
His chief financial officer.
His general counsel.
His head of security.
And, most importantly, his uncle Richard Whitmore.
Richard had been running the company's financial operations when Claire died.
He was also the man who had told Ethan to stop asking questions.
“Four years ago,” Ethan said, “there was a second medical report.”
Richard's face remained calm.
“What second report?”
“Don't insult me.”
Richard leaned back.
“I have no idea what you're talking about.”
Ethan placed the hospital access log on the table.
Richard looked at it.
For the first time, his composure cracked.
Only for a second.
Ethan saw it.
“So you recognize it.”
“I recognize nothing.”
Daniel Cross entered.
He placed a flash drive on the table.
“Security archive.”
Richard stared at it.
Ethan connected it to the screen.
Old footage appeared.
Four years earlier.
St. Catherine's Hospital.
11:47 p.m.
A man entered the medication room.
His face was partially hidden.
But the badge was visible.
Richard Whitmore.
Ethan stopped breathing.
His uncle stood.
“This is manipulated.”
Daniel shook his head.
“The timestamp is from the hospital's original server.”
Richard's face hardened.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
Ethan stared at him.
“Why were you in the medication room?”
Richard said nothing.
“Why?”
“I was looking for someone.”
“Who?”
Richard looked at Ethan.
“Your father.”
The room went silent.
“My father was dead,” Ethan said.
“No.”
Richard's voice dropped.
“He wasn't.”
Ethan felt the blood leave his face.
“What?”
“Your father was alive that night.”
Richard swallowed.
“He came to the hospital because he knew Claire was in danger.”
Ethan's chair scraped backward.
“What danger?”
Richard didn't answer.
Instead, he said:
“You should stop digging.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You buried my daughter.”
“No.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected this company.”
“You protected yourself.”
Richard walked toward the door.
Ethan grabbed his arm.
“You're not leaving.”
Richard looked at him.
“Ask yourself why your father never wanted you to know about the second report.”
Then he pulled free.
As the door closed, Ethan looked at Daniel.
“Find my father's medical records.”
“Already did.”
Daniel handed him a folder.
Ethan opened it.
There was one entry.
Cardiac arrest — December 24, 2022.
His father had supposedly died December 26.
Ethan stared at the date.
Two days earlier.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That's what the hospital records say.”
Ethan looked toward the window.
Someone had lied about his father's death.
Someone had lied about Claire.
And now Hannah Mercer had walked into his life carrying the missing pieces.
That evening, Hannah opened her mother's old box.
She hadn't touched it in three years.
Dust covered the lid.
Inside were photographs.
Hospital badges.
Letters.
A small silver key.
And one sealed envelope.
Hannah's hands trembled as she opened it.
Her mother's handwriting appeared.
Hannah, if you're reading this, someone has finally started asking questions.
Her breath caught.
The next line was worse.
Do not trust anyone named Whitmore.
Hannah stopped breathing.
May you like
Because Ethan Whitmore had just given her a job.
And she had begun trusting him.
