Chapter 8: The Night My Father Died
I## Chapter 8: The Night My Father Died
I couldn't stop looking at Ethan Whit couldn't stop looking at Ethan Whitmore's name.
He had been at my father's hospital bedside eightmore's name.
He had been at my father's hospital bedside eight years before he became my sister's fiancé. Before the years before he became my sister's fiancé. Before the engagement party. Before the suspicious acquisition.
Before the proxy designed to give someone else control over the company Dad had engagement party. Before the suspicious acquisition. Before the proxy designed to give someone else control over the company Dad had spent his life building.
“Why did Dad ask Ethan to come?”” I demanded.
Mom crossed her spent his life building.
“Why did Dad ask Ethan to come?”” I demanded.
Mom crossed her arms.
“Because Ethan's father was involved in the company's financing at the time.””
“Ethan was barely arms.
“Because Ethan's father was involved in the company's financing at the time.””
“Ethan was barely out of college.””
“He was working for his father's firm.””
“That doesn't explain why he was in Dad's hospital room the night he died.””
Patricia out of college.””
“He was working for his father's firm.””
“That doesn't explain why he was in Dad's hospital room the night he died.””
Patricia walked to the window and adjusted a curtain that didn't need adjusting.
“Your father wanted to settle a disagreement.””
“What disagreement walked to the window and adjusted a curtain that didn't need adjusting.
“Your father wanted to settle a disagreement.””
“What disagreement?””
“He believed certain funds had been diverted from the company. Ethan said his father could explain the transactions.””
“And?””
“He believed certain funds had been diverted from the company. Ethan said his father could explain the transactions.””
“And did he?””
“No.””
“Then why was Ethan still there?””
Mom turned sharply did he?””
“No.””
“Then why was Ethan still there?””
Mom turned sharply.
“Because your father was dying, Claire! He wanted answers before he died. Is that so difficult to understand?””
Her voice broke on the.
“Because your father was dying, Claire! He wanted answers before he died. Is that so difficult to understand?””
Her voice broke on the final word.
For one moment, I saw something beyond her anger.
Grief.
Real grief.
final word.
For one moment, I saw something beyond her anger.
Grief.
Real grief.
It made the next question harder to ask, but I asked it anyway.
“Did DadIt made the next question harder to ask, but I asked it anyway.
“Did Dad die before or after Ethan left the room?””
Mom stared at me.
“After.””
“How long after?””
die before or after Ethan left the room?””
Mom stared at me.
“After.””
“How long after?””
“I don't remember.””
“You signed the visitor log. You must remember.””
“Stop interrogating me!””
I pulled“I don't remember.””
“You signed the visitor log. You must remember.””
“Stop interrogating me!””
I pulled out my phone and photographed the documents.
Mom reached for it.
“Those are private papers.””
out my phone and photographed the documents.
Mom reached for it.
“Those are private papers.””
I stepped away.
“They concern a possible financial crime involving my company.I stepped away.
“They concern a possible financial crime involving my company. They're not private anymore.””
“You think your title makes you untouchable?””
“No. I think the truth matters.””
She They're not private anymore.””
“You think your title makes you untouchable?””
“No. I think the truth matters.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Your father used to say the same thing. Look where it got him.””
The words laughed bitterly.
“Your father used to say the same thing. Look where it got him.””
The words hung in the air.
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Her expression changed.
“Nothing.””
“No. You just said hung in the air.
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Her expression changed.
“Nothing.””
“No. You just said Dad's commitment to the truth led to his death.””
“I said nothing of the kind.””
“You Dad's commitment to the truth led to his death.””
“I said nothing of the kind.””
“You implied it.””
“Claire, you need to leave.””
I didn't move.
“Did Ethan give Dad anything that night?””
Mom's eyes implied it.””
“Claire, you need to leave.””
I didn't move.
“Did Ethan give Dad anything that night?””
Mom's eyes flickered toward the folder.
That was enough.
I opened it again and examined the hospital visitor log. A handwritten notation appeared beside Ethan flickered toward the folder.
That was enough.
I opened it again and examined the hospital visitor log. A handwritten notation appeared beside Ethan's name: Documents delivered to patient.
“What documents?”” I asked.
“I don't know.””
“You just told's name: Documents delivered to patient.
“What documents?”” I asked.
“I don't know.””
“You just told me you were there.””
“I wasn't in the room every minute.””
“Then who was?””
She pressed her fingers against her temples.
me you were there.””
“I wasn't in the room every minute.””
“Then who was?””
She pressed her fingers against her temples.
“Your father had a nurse. Doctors. Visitors. How am I supposed to remember every detail from eight years ago?””
I“Your father had a nurse. Doctors. Visitors. How am I supposed to remember every detail from eight years ago?””
I thought of Nathan's voicemail.
Ask Mom what happened in the hospital the night Dad died.
He had known.
He had known something happened in this room, or thought of Nathan's voicemail.
Ask Mom what happened in the hospital the night Dad died.
He had known.
He had known something happened in this room, or somewhere in that hospital, that could explain why Dad changed his will and why Nathan had stayed away.
I lowered my somewhere in that hospital, that could explain why Dad changed his will and why Nathan had stayed away.
I lowered my voice.
“Mom, did Dad change his will because of what happened that night?””
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she said, voice.
“Mom, did Dad change his will because of what happened that night?””
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she said, “He changed his will because he no longer trusted me.””
The confession was so quiet I almost missed it.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled “He changed his will because he no longer trusted me.””
The confession was so quiet I almost missed it.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled, but her voice hardened.
“Because your brother convinced him I was stealing from the company.””
“Were you?””
She slapped, but her voice hardened.
“Because your brother convinced him I was stealing from the company.””
“Were you?””
She slapped me.
The sound cracked through the study.
I didn't move.
Mom's hand trembled at her side.
“You have me.
The sound cracked through the study.
I didn't move.
Mom's hand trembled at her side.
“You have your father's talent for making people hate you,” she whispered.
I touched my cheek.
“No, Mom your father's talent for making people hate you,” she whispered.
I touched my cheek.
“No, Mom. I have his talent for asking questions you don't want to answer.””
She pointed toward the door.
“Get out.””
I walked past her, then. I have his talent for asking questions you don't want to answer.””
She pointed toward the door.
“Get out.””
I walked past her, then stopped in the hallway.
“I'm going to find Nathan.””
She laughed without humor.
“If you find him, ask stopped in the hallway.
“I'm going to find Nathan.””
She laughed without humor.
“If you find him, ask him what he did to your father.””
I turned.
“What did Nathan do?””
But she had him what he did to your father.””
I turned.
“What did Nathan do?””
But she had already shut the study door.
Margaret met me at the company records facility two hours later.
I showed already shut the study door.
Margaret met me at the company records facility two hours later.
I showed her the photographs from Mom's folder and explained what she'd admitted.
Margaret her the photographs from Mom's folder and explained what she'd admitted.
Margaret studied the hospital log.
“Ethan's presence is significant, but it doesn't establish wrongdoing. We need the medical records, the original documents, and statements from studied the hospital log.
“Ethan's presence is significant, but it doesn't establish wrongdoing. We need the medical records, the original documents, and statements from the people who were there.””
“Can we get the hospital records?””
“Some of them. Access may the people who were there.””
“Can we get the hospital records?””
“Some of them. Access may be restricted because of patient confidentiality, and the hospital may require legal authorization. But the visitor log could help be restricted because of patient confidentiality, and the hospital may require legal authorization. But the visitor log could help us identify the attending staff.””
She enlarged the photograph.
“Look at this.””
Beside the entry for Ethan, someone had us identify the attending staff.””
She enlarged the photograph.
“Look at this.””
Beside the entry for Ethan, someone had written a reference number.
It matched the number on a document in my father's estate file.
Margaret written a reference number.
It matched the number on a document in my father's estate file.
Margaret searched the archive database.
A few minutes later, a scanned receipt appeared.
It recorded the delivery of a sealed envelope to my father at searched the archive database.
A few minutes later, a scanned receipt appeared.
It recorded the delivery of a sealed envelope to my father at 9:18 p.m. on the night he died.
The sender was listed as Whitmore Capital.
The recipient was Thomas Bennett 9:18 p.m. on the night he died.
The sender was listed as Whitmore Capital.
The recipient was Thomas Bennett.
The signature acknowledging receipt belonged to Patricia.
My mother had accepted the envelope.
“What was inside?”” I asked.
“We don't.
The signature acknowledging receipt belonged to Patricia.
My mother had accepted the envelope.
“What was inside?”” I asked.
“We don't know,” Margaret said.
“But the receipt references an exhibit number associated with the original fraud investigation.””
“Can we find the know,” Margaret said.
“But the receipt references an exhibit number associated with the original fraud investigation.””
“Can we find the exhibit?””
She typed another query.
The screen returned a blank result.
“Someone removed exhibit?””
She typed another query.
The screen returned a blank result.
“Someone removed the electronic index.””
“Can it be restored?””
“Possibly. The physical archive may still contain the the electronic index.””
“Can it be restored?””
“Possibly. The physical archive may still contain the original record.””
Margaret called the records supervisor, who agreed to search the older storage boxes.
While we waited, I opened the original record.””
Margaret called the records supervisor, who agreed to search the older storage boxes.
While we waited, I opened the photograph of Nathan beside Daniel.
There was something in the background I hadn't noticed before: a faded sign with a company name photograph of Nathan beside Daniel.
There was something in the background I hadn't noticed before: a faded sign with a company name.
*RIVERGATE STORAGE AND FREIGHT.*
I showed Margaret.
“Could this.
*RIVERGATE STORAGE AND FREIGHT.*
I showed Margaret.
“Could this be connected to the Savannah unit?””
“Let's find out.””
She searched the company's archived vendor list.
Rivergate had once provided be connected to the Savannah unit?””
“Let's find out.””
She searched the company's archived vendor list.
Rivergate had once provided secure storage for Bennett Industrial Logistics. The contract had been terminated eight years earlier, secure storage for Bennett Industrial Logistics. The contract had been terminated eight years earlier, shortly after Nathan disappeared.
The termination authorization carried my father's signature.
But the date had been altered.
shortly after Nathan disappeared.
The termination authorization carried my father's signature.
But the date had been altered.
Margaret leaned closer.
“The original date appears to have been changed from the day before your father's death to three weeks afterward.””
Margaret leaned closer.
“The original date appears to have been changed from the day before your father's death to three weeks afterward.””
“Someone wanted it to look as though Dad had authorized the termination after Nathan disappeared.””
“Possibly. We need the original paper“Someone wanted it to look as though Dad had authorized the termination after Nathan disappeared.””
“Possibly. We need the original paper to confirm the alteration.””
The records supervisor returned carrying a thin cardboard box.
Inside were paper files, several old photographs, and a small to confirm the alteration.””
The records supervisor returned carrying a thin cardboard box.
Inside were paper files, several old photographs, and a small envelope bearing my father's initials.
Margaret opened it with gloves.
There was a handwritten inventory of items envelope bearing my father's initials.
Margaret opened it with gloves.
There was a handwritten inventory of items removed from his hospital room after his death.
A watch.
A wallet.
Two rings.
removed from his hospital room after his death.
A watch.
A wallet.
Two rings.
A silver digital recorder.
My heart began to race.
The recorder had been transferred to the estate attorney's office, but it had never appeared onA silver digital recorder.
My heart began to race.
The recorder had been transferred to the estate attorney's office, but it had never appeared on the final inventory of personal property.
Someone had removed it from the record.
I called Mr. Reed.
He searched the final inventory of personal property.
Someone had removed it from the record.
I called Mr. Reed.
He searched his own archives while Margaret checked the company records.
After twenty minutes, he called back his own archives while Margaret checked the company records.
After twenty minutes, he called back.
“I found a reference to the recorder,” he said.
“Your father asked me to keep it in a sealed evidence box. I was told it contained confidential.
“I found a reference to the recorder,” he said.
“Your father asked me to keep it in a sealed evidence box. I was told it contained confidential business notes.””
“Do you still have it?””
“No. Two days after your father's funeral, I received written instructions to transfer business notes.””
“Do you still have it?””
“No. Two days after your father's funeral, I received written instructions to transfer the box to another attorney.””
“Who signed the instructions?””
“Patricia Bennett.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where was it sent?””
Mr. the box to another attorney.””
“Who signed the instructions?””
“Patricia Bennett.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where was it sent?””
Mr. Reed hesitated.
“The transfer receipt lists a law office in downtown Nashville. That office closed several years ago.””
“Who owned Reed hesitated.
“The transfer receipt lists a law office in downtown Nashville. That office closed several years ago.””
“Who owned it?””
“An attorney named Malcolm Pierce.””
Margaret looked up sharply.
She had been searching the Whitmore contracts.
it?””
“An attorney named Malcolm Pierce.””
Margaret looked up sharply.
She had been searching the Whitmore contracts.
“Claire,” she said, pointing at her screen, “Malcolm Pierce represented Whitmore Capital during the original acquisition.””
My father's“Claire,” she said, pointing at her screen, “Malcolm Pierce represented Whitmore Capital during the original acquisition.””
My father's recorder had been transferred to the lawyer who later represented the family now trying to take over our company.
And my recorder had been transferred to the lawyer who later represented the family now trying to take over our company.
And my mother had signed the transfer.
Before I could speak, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*You're looking mother had signed the transfer.
Before I could speak, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
You're looking in the wrong place.
A second message followed.
The recorder was never delivered to Pierce.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed the silver recorder resting on in the wrong place.*
A second message followed.
The recorder was never delivered to Pierce.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed the silver recorder resting on a wooden table beside a handwritten note.
The note read:
**NATHAN — IF YOU ARE READY TO COME HOME a wooden table beside a handwritten note.
The note read:
*NATHAN — IF YOU ARE READY TO COME HOME, CALL YOUR SISTER.*
At the bottom of the photograph was a location.
Rivergate Storage and Freight, CALL YOUR SISTER.**
At the bottom of the photograph was a location.
Rivergate Storage and Freight.
The same facility where Nathan had hidden his evidence.
I grabbed my coat.
Margaret stood.
“Where are you going?””
“To find the recorder.””
“And.
The same facility where Nathan had hidden his evidence.
I grabbed my coat.
Margaret stood.
“Where are you going?””
“To find the recorder.””
“And if it's a trap?””
I looked at the photograph.
“Then whoever set it is about to discover that I'm done being if it's a trap?””
I looked at the photograph.
“Then whoever set it is about to discover that I'm done being afraid of my own family.””
As we hurried toward the elevator, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a afraid of my own family.””
As we hurried toward the elevator, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name I hadn't seen in eight years.
*Nathan Bennett.*
I answered.
“Where are you?””
His voice was weak but unmistakable.
“Claire, listen carefully name I hadn't seen in eight years.
*Nathan Bennett.*
I answered.
“Where are you?””
His voice was weak but unmistakable.
“Claire, listen carefully. You have to get to Rivergate before midnight.””
“Why?””
“Because the man who tried to kill me eight. You have to get to Rivergate before midnight.””
“Why?””
“Because the man who tried to kill me eight years ago has just learned that you're looking for the recorder.””
A sharp crash sounded through the phone.
Nathan gas years ago has just learned that you're looking for the recorder.””
A sharp crash sounded through the phone.
Nathan gasped.
Then he whispered, “And Claire? It wasn't Mom who sent Ethan to Dad'sped.
Then he whispered, “And Claire? It wasn't Mom who sent Ethan to Dad's hospital room.””
The line went dead.
May you like
hospital room.””
The line went dead.
