Nobody spoke for several seconds.<\/p>\n
I kept staring at the officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid Miller is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband died twenty years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen someone is pretending to be him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah sat beside me.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstance, do you remember anyone who knew your husband's financial history?\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were lawyers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNames?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne was Daniel Price.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer wrote it down.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe handled the insurance settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy accountant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone in the family?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked toward Ellen.<\/p>\n
She shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew more than you told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't know about the old accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother told you about the insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYears ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Ellen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you tell Robert?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly that Dad had left money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked away.<\/p>\n
Sarah asked, \u201cDid you ever tell him about the policy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter Mom got sick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe mentioned it once.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you already knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
The contradiction hung there.<\/p>\n
The officer's phone rang.<\/p>\n
He answered.<\/p>\n
We watched him listen.<\/p>\n
Then his expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
He listened again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll send someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
He ended the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Sarah asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe accountant found something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA storage box.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt his office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was inside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hasn't opened it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the box is sealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes he know what's inside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe says it belonged to your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart began beating faster.<\/p>\n
I had thought every part of my husband's estate had been settled.<\/p>\n
Apparently it hadn't.<\/p>\n
Or someone had made sure I believed it had.<\/p>\n
The officer asked whether I wanted to go to the office.<\/p>\n
Sarah immediately said no.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're not leaving the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to know what's there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can bring the documents here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if they're important?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey'll still be important in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was right.<\/p>\n
I hated that she was right.<\/p>\n
Ellen sat quietly.<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you remember anything your father kept hidden?\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a metal box.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the bed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it was empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
She shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad never kept things empty.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's irrelevant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen turned toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we're talking about old papers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why are you nervous?\u201d<\/p>\n
He said nothing.<\/p>\n
The officer watched him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Miller, did you know about the storage box?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer received another message.<\/p>\n
He read it.<\/p>\n
Then he looked at Robert.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe accountant says the box contains your name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's face went pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe says your name is written on the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer blocked the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can have one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert looked toward Ellen.<\/p>\n
She wouldn't look at him.<\/p>\n
He seemed to realize he had lost her.<\/p>\n
Not financially.<\/p>\n
Personally.<\/p>\n
The nurse came in to check my IV.<\/p>\n
I watched her carefully.<\/p>\n
She smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
She adjusted the line.<\/p>\n
Then left.<\/p>\n
I waited until the door closed.<\/p>\n
Sarah noticed my expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wasn't the nurse who was here earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah became still.<\/p>\n
The officer turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you notice?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe badge looked different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCould be another nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n
I swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe medication label.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at the tray.<\/p>\n
The vial was gone.<\/p>\n
I hadn't seen what she had administered.<\/p>\n
The officer immediately called the nursing station.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later, the real nurse entered.<\/p>\n
I pointed toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho was that?\u201d<\/p>\n
The nurse looked confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I was with another patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer left the room.<\/p>\n
Sarah remained beside me.<\/p>\n
My hands began shaking.<\/p>\n
The plan had been simple.<\/p>\n
Make me look incapable.<\/p>\n
Control my medications.<\/p>\n
Create records.<\/p>\n
Take control of the money.<\/p>\n
But now someone had entered my hospital room pretending to be staff.<\/p>\n
That meant the scheme was still active.<\/p>\n
And whoever was behind it was becoming desperate.<\/p>\n
The officer returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can't find her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe used a temporary badge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're checking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked at Robert.<\/p>\n
His face was unreadable.<\/p>\n
The officer asked, \u201cDo you know anything about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen suddenly spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cEllen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me someone would make sure Mom stayed quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't mean this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said everything would be handled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't arrange this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said there were people who could make things disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI've been afraid of you for months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert's expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't know what you're doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know exactly what I'm doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert stepped toward her.<\/p>\n
The officer stopped him.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me there was a man who could make paperwork disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah asked, \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know his name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he look like?\u201d<\/p>\n
She closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cGray hair. Thin. Always wore a dark coat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert whispered, \u201cEllen.\u201d<\/p>\n
She ignored him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came to our house once.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout three months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe asked about Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe asked whether she still remembered the insurance account.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said someone had been looking for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he mention your husband's name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said David Miller had left something unfinished.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a chill.<\/p>\n
My husband had been dead for twenty years.<\/p>\n
Yet someone had been talking about him recently.<\/p>\n
Someone had been using his name.<\/p>\n
Someone had been searching for his financial records.<\/p>\n
And someone had entered my hospital room today.<\/p>\n
The officer's phone rang again.<\/p>\n
He answered.<\/p>\n
Then looked at Sarah.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe storage box has been opened.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
He listened.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone forced the lock.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas anything taken?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe accountant says one envelope is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat envelope?\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was labeled with your husband's name.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
There was a secret my husband had never told me.<\/p>\n
Or perhaps there was something he had tried to protect me from.<\/p>\n
Sarah asked, \u201cWhat else was in the box?\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer checked his notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cA photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith?\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith another man.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I opened my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cDescribe him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGray hair.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart sank.<\/p>\n
\u201cThin?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDark coat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ellen covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert lowered his head.<\/p>\n
The officer looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou recognize him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert remained silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Miller.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still nothing.<\/p>\n
Finally, Robert whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cHis name is Victor Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah stiffened.<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know him?\u201d<\/p>\n
She didn't answer immediately.<\/p>\n
Then she said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour husband's old estate file.\u201d<\/p>\n
My breath caught.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did it say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah looked toward the police officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe file contained a note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat note?\u201d<\/p>\n
She took out her phone and searched through her records.<\/p>\n
Then she read it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not allow Victor Hale access to Constance or the original policy documents.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was that written?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room went silent.<\/p>\n
My husband's warning had been written before he died.<\/p>\n
Victor Hale had apparently been waiting for twenty years.<\/p>\n
And now he was back.<\/p>\n
The officer looked toward the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to move you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomewhere secure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah nodded.<\/p>\n
Ellen stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm coming with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at my daughter.<\/p>\n
For the first time since this nightmare began, I didn't know whether she was someone I needed to protect from Robert or someone I needed to protect myself from.<\/p>\n
Then my phone buzzed.<\/p>\n
A message appeared from an unknown number.<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
There was only one sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour husband didn't die without leaving instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Then another message appeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are about to learn why.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke for several seconds. I kept staring at the officer. \u201cDavid Miller is dead.\u201d \u201cI know.\u201d \u201cMy husband died twenty years ago.\u201d \u201cI understand.\u201d \u201cThen someone is pretending to … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3850,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-readmore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3858"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3873,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3858\/revisions\/3873"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}