Chapter 13 - THE MAN AT CATHERINE'S BEDSIDE|
Marcus had spent twelve years believing that Catherine died in a private hospital room with only a nurse beside her. The official report described complications following surgery, and the family had accepted the explanation.
Now he began questioning every detail.
He requested the original hospital records, including visitor logs, nursing notes, and the names of the staff who had been present. The hospital had changed ownership twice, but the archive still retained the relevant documents.
One name appeared repeatedly: Dr. Samuel Hargrove, the physician who had supervised Catherine's final treatment.
Dr. Hargrove was retired and living in Vermont. When Marcus contacted him, the doctor initially refused to discuss a former patient.
Then Marcus mentioned the missing will.
The doctor agreed to meet.
They traveled to Vermont with Elena's independent attorney and a prosecutor. Elena remained in New York under medical supervision, but she joined the meeting by secure video call.
Dr. Hargrove looked older than his photographs, with silver hair and a careful, measured voice.
"I have regretted my silence for years," he said.
Marcus leaned forward.
"Who was with my wife when she died?"
"Your mother, Eleanor."
Marcus stared at him.
"That is impossible. She told me she was at home."
"She arrived shortly before Catherine's condition deteriorated. She asked the nurses to leave the room and remained alone with her for nearly twenty minutes."
Elena's hand rose to her mouth.
"Did my mother say anything before she died?"
Dr. Hargrove looked at the screen.
"She asked me to protect her daughter. She said the family would try to take the trust, and that the only way to stop them was to give the original will to someone outside the family."
"Who did you give it to?" Marcus asked.
"I didn't. I was frightened. Eleanor told me the will was fraudulent and threatened to report me for malpractice if I interfered."
The doctor lowered his eyes.
"I told myself I was protecting my career. I was wrong."
"Did Catherine die naturally?" Elena asked.
Dr. Hargrove took a long breath.
"I cannot make a medical determination now without the complete records. But there were irregularities. A medication was administered outside the normal protocol, and the chart was amended after her death."
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Who amended it?"
"The final authorization bears Richard Cole's initials."
The prosecutor immediately requested the remaining records. Dr. Hargrove agreed to provide a sworn statement and testify.
After the meeting, Marcus called Eleanor.
"Did you stand beside Catherine when she died?"
Eleanor's voice remained composed.
"Yes."
"You told me you were at home."
"I was trying to spare you."
"Did you alter her medical records?"
"I did what was necessary to protect the family."
"Did you give her medication?"
A pause.
"I followed the doctor's instructions."
"Which doctor?"
Eleanor ended the call.
The prosecutor obtained a warrant for her estate and personal records. Investigators discovered handwritten notes about Catherine's treatment and payments to a private consultant who had reviewed the hospital's records after her death.
The evidence was serious, but it did not yet prove that Eleanor had caused Catherine's death. The prosecutor warned Marcus that the case would require careful medical analysis and a fair investigation.
He agreed.
Back in New York, Elena was finally allowed to hold Leo for the first time. He lay against her chest, tiny fingers curling around hers. She cried quietly, afraid that even happiness might be taken away if she held it too tightly.
Julian watched from the doorway.
He did not approach until Elena looked at him.
"Would you like to hold him?" she asked.
Julian nodded, unable to speak.
The nurse helped position Leo in his arms. Julian looked down at his son with a mixture of wonder and shame.
"I don't deserve this," he whispered.
Elena's voice was firm.
"Your son is not a prize you earn. He is a person you must protect."
Julian nodded.
"I'll remember that."
For a few peaceful minutes, the room felt almost ordinary.
Then Marcus received a message from the prosecutor.
Richard Cole had been located.
May you like
He was not in Connecticut.
He was on a private aircraft headed toward New York—and he had requested immunity in exchange for revealing who had ordered Catherine's death.
