Chapter 12 - THE NURSE WHO DISAPPEARED
The hospital had no record of the nurse.
That should have been impossible.
Every nurse assigned to a patient leaves a trail.
Schedules.
Medication logs.
Shift reports.
But this woman had vanished.
Her name was Amelia Cross.
Evan Cross's sister.
I stared at the record.
"She worked there?"
"For six months."
"And nobody noticed?"
"Apparently not."
We contacted the hospital administrator.
He refused to speak without his attorney.
That was when I knew we were close.
Two days later, the hospital security chief contacted me privately.
He gave me a flash drive.
"This was never supposed to leave the building."
I asked:
"What's on it?"
"Security footage."
The footage showed the hallway outside my father's room.
At 9:56 p.m., Amelia entered.
At 10:04, Griffin entered.
At 10:11, Amelia left.
At 10:17, someone else entered.
A man wearing a surgical mask.
At 10:18, the heart monitor flatlined.
I froze.
"Who was the man?"
"We don't know."
Then the footage showed something else.
At 10:20, Ilsa entered the hallway.
She looked directly at the camera.
Then she covered it with her hand.
The footage ended.
I whispered:
"She knew."
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes."
We went to the police.
Ilsa was questioned again.
This time, she broke.
She admitted being at the hospital.
But she denied killing my father.
Then she gave us a name.
"Marcus Vale."
I had never heard it.
"Who is he?"
Ilsa stared at the table.
"Your father's former partner."
"Why would he want Dad dead?"
"Because your father was going to expose him."
"For what?"
"Money laundering."
Everything connected.
The shell companies.
The stolen funds.
The forged documents.
The house.
The forty million dollars.
My father had discovered a financial network.
Ilsa had participated.
Griffin had helped unknowingly.
Evan had become involved.
And Marcus Vale had been the architect.
But there was still one mystery.
Why had Evan tried to frame me?
Because Marcus needed someone to inherit the assets.
Someone who could be manipulated.
Me.
If I were arrested, the trust could be challenged.
If I were discredited, Marcus could attempt to seize control through a court-appointed trustee.
The plan had been years in preparation.
I returned home that evening.
Griffin was waiting outside.
"I know you told me to leave."
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
He held out a folder.
"I found this in Mom's storage unit."
I took it.
Inside was a letter from my father.
This time, it was addressed to Griffin.
I opened it.
Your wife will eventually discover everything.
When she does, do not ask her to forgive you.
Help her.
That is the only way you can protect your children.
I looked at Griffin.
He whispered:
"I should have listened."
I didn't answer.
Then he said:
"I know where Marcus Vale is."
I froze.
"How?"
"Because he contacted me."
"When?"
"Tonight."
I stared at him.
"What did he want?"
May you like
Griffin's face was pale.
"He wants to meet you."
