Chapter 9 - The Living Woman in the Hospital Bed
Tessa woke in a private hospital room twelve hours later.
Bryce was sitting beside the window.
He had not changed his clothes. His shirt was wrinkled, and there was dried blood on one knuckle from cutting his hand on the broken glass.
When she opened her eyes, he stood immediately.
“Don’t,” she said.
He stopped.
“I was going to call the nurse.”
“There’s a button.”
She pressed it herself.
The nurse arrived, checked the monitor and explained that Tessa had been given medication inconsistent with her prescription history. The amounts had not been immediately fatal, but the combination had caused weakness, confusion and an abnormal heart rhythm.
The medical team expected her to recover.
After the nurse left, silence settled between them.
Bryce remained standing.
Tessa studied him.
“How long did you believe I wanted a divorce?”
“Nine days.”
“How long did you believe I was unstable?”
“I knew something was wrong, but I thought you were overwhelmed.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Bryce looked down.
“Too long.”
“She changed my medicine. She locked me inside the house. She removed me from the company. She created evidence that I was dead.”
“I know.”
“You know now.”
“I should have known before.”
“Yes.”
He did not ask for forgiveness.
That was the first thing he did correctly.
“I gave Mara access to every account,” he said. “The company has frozen all transfers connected to Bellwether.”
“Temporary freezes can be removed.”
“The board voted to suspend my authority too.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because the fraudulent documents used my signature. Until the investigation is complete, I should not control anything.”
“You agreed?”
“I demanded it.”
For the first time, some of the anger in Tessa’s face softened.
“What about Noah?”
“He’s with Mara’s family. He didn’t want to leave the hospital, but Judith’s lawyer tried to claim he should be returned to her custody.”
“Judith has a lawyer already?”
“Not Crane. He’s missing.”
Tessa looked toward the door.
“He left the house before the police entered.”
“I heard him arguing with her.”
“About what?”
“Morrow changing your medication.”
“Did the police find Morrow?”
“No. His clinic is empty.”
Bryce stepped closer but did not sit.
“Judith was released pending investigation.”
Tessa’s eyes sharpened.
“She forged a death certificate.”
“The certificate was filed through an authorized medical portal using Morrow’s credentials. Judith claims she had no knowledge of it.”
“She was carrying it in my coat.”
“She says Crane placed the envelope there.”
“And the property transfers?”
“She says she believed you signed them voluntarily.”
Tessa turned toward the window.
“Of course.”
“We can prove she lied.”
“Can we?”
“I heard her with Crane.”
“Did you record it?”
“No.”
“Then it becomes your word against hers.”
Bryce absorbed the criticism.
“Mara has Noah’s video.”
“It proves Judith knew about the certificate.”
“It also proves Morrow and Crane were involved.”
“Unless they claim the video was edited.”
“They will.”
Tessa closed her eyes.
She was exhausted, but her mind would not slow.
“What was in Caroline’s envelope?”
Bryce showed her the letter and the key.
Tessa read it without speaking.
When she reached the line about Richard Vale creating Bellwether, she looked up.
“Your father?”
“He died fifteen years ago.”
“No body was found.”
“The plane disappeared.”
“Who identified the passengers?”
“The company manifest.”
“Who controlled the company records?”
Bryce understood immediately.
“Judith.”
Tessa handed back the letter.
“Do not go to Union Central Station.”
“Caroline told me to find box 417.”
“She also told you not to go alone.”
“Mara will come.”
“I’m coming too.”
“You’re in a hospital bed.”
“And according to the county, I’m dead. We both have problems.”
The nurse returned with Detective Ruiz.
His expression was serious.
“We searched the Vale estate,” he said. “The computers had been wiped.”
“By Judith?” Bryce asked.
“We can’t prove who did it.”
“What about the medicine?”
“The bottles carry legitimate pharmacy labels, but the serial numbers belong to expired stock destroyed last year.”
Tessa looked at Bryce.
Ruiz continued.
“We also searched Leonard Crane’s office. He cleared it out yesterday.”
“Did he leave anything?” Tessa asked.
“One file.”
Ruiz placed a photocopied sheet on the bedside table.
It was an invoice issued by Bellwether Custodial Partners.
Client: J. Vale.
Service: identity closure and asset transition.
The invoice listed two completed subjects.
Caroline Vale.
Tessa Vale.
Beneath them was a third name.
May you like
Bryce Vale.
Status: pending.
