Chapter 13 - The Doctor’s Signature
Ethan blocked the hospital bed.
“You signed it?”
Dr. Patel looked at Elena’s monitor.
“We do not have time for this.”
“Answer me.”
“I signed a blank neonatal-risk authorization four months ago.”
“Why?”
“Dr. Bell told me it was required to reserve emergency equipment for a high-risk patient.”
“Which patient?”
“He did not name her.”
Elena struggled to breathe evenly.
“Was it me?”
“I didn’t know.”
Nora held up the document.
“Your authorization transferred the child to a private trust.”
“That language was not present when I signed.”
“Can you prove that?”
Dr. Patel removed her phone.
“My office scans every page before signature.”
“Get the original.”
“The file is at my clinic.”
Nora sent an officer.
Dr. Patel looked at Ethan.
“Your wife may be entering premature labor. You can question me later, or you can let me help her now.”
Ethan stepped aside.
The nurses rushed Elena toward the operating wing.
He followed until the doors closed.
Vivian remained under guard.
For the first time, she seemed smaller than the woman who had ruled the Vale family estate.
Ethan turned toward her.
“You said the folder was different.”
“It was.”
“Who had access to your bag?”
“Malcolm’s assistant delivered the packet last night.”
“You didn’t read it?”
“I read the first pages.”
“You expected Elena to sign away her rights without reading, but you carried a folder without reading it yourself.”
Vivian closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Nora received a call.
“The original scan has been found.”
“Does it match Patel’s statement?”
“Yes. The page she signed contained only equipment authorization. The custody language was added later.”
“Who modified it?”
“The metadata lists Dr. Bell’s account.”
Ethan sat down.
Bell had forged medical records, redirected ambulances, and altered custody documents.
But the unknown woman on the recording still appeared to be directing him.
Nora placed Vivian’s notebook in an evidence bag.
“We have enough to detain Malcolm, Bell, and Judge Kent for questioning. We also have grounds to freeze Lark Holdings’ accounts.”
“Will that protect Elena?”
“It will disrupt the network.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No,” Nora admitted. “It may not protect her yet.”
The operating-wing doors opened.
A nurse approached.
“The contractions have slowed. The baby is stable.”
Ethan exhaled for what felt like the first time in hours.
“Can I see her?”
“In a few minutes.”
Vivian covered her face.
Ethan watched her silently.
“You don’t get to cry as though this happened to you.”
Vivian lowered her hands.
“I know.”
“You assaulted my pregnant wife.”
“I lost control.”
“You always call it losing control when someone else pays the price.”
She did not defend herself.
Nora’s officers took Vivian into custody for assault, forgery, conspiracy, and obstruction of a medical investigation.
As they placed restraints around her wrists, she looked at Ethan.
“There is something else.”
He did not respond.
“The words true beneficiary do not refer to your child.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“Then who?”
“I don’t know. But Arthur once told me the trust had two living beneficiaries.”
“The documents name only my daughter.”
“The public amendment does.”
“What does that mean?”
Vivian looked toward Nora.
“Ask Nathaniel about the sealed codicil.”
“Nathaniel is in jail because of you.”
“I know.”
The officers began leading her away.
Ethan called after her.
“Who is the second beneficiary?”
Vivian stopped.
“Arthur said the first beneficiary had to be found before the second could safely inherit.”
“Who had to be found?”
Vivian looked at him over her shoulder.
“Your mother.”
Then she was taken down the corridor.
Elena was moved to another secure room.
Ethan sat beside her bed and told her what Vivian had said.
“Mara may be alive,” Elena whispered.
“If she is, Margaret Lark may have spent twenty-nine years making sure I never found her.”
“Or making sure she never found you.”
Ethan held Elena’s hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For bringing you into this family.”
“You didn’t bring me into a family. We created one.”
He looked at her stomach.
“And we’re going to protect it.”
Nora entered carrying a laptop.
“Malcolm has disappeared.”
Ethan stood.
“What about Bell?”
“He left his home before officers arrived.”
“Judge Kent?”
“In custody.”
“And Lark Holdings?”
“The accounts were emptied eleven minutes before we froze them.”
“Where did the money go?”
“Multiple international transfers.”
Elena looked at the screen.
“How much?”
“Two hundred and twelve million dollars.”
Ethan remembered Arthur’s missing money.
“Almost the exact amount stolen from Vale Meridian, including interest.”
Nora nodded.
“The transfers were scheduled in advance.”
“Triggered by what?”
“Elena’s hospital admission.”
Someone had expected her to enter the hospital.
May you like
Someone had expected the custody plan to fail.
And someone had used the failure to move an entire fortune.
