Chapter 8 - The Woman in the Hospital Bed
My communications director begged me to release a statement calling the girl confused. I fired him when he admitted Blake had written the draft.
"You've lost your mind," Blake said when I called him.
"Where is Nora Bennett?"
"Who?"
"Wrong answer. I have your accountant."
A pause. Then his voice turned smooth. "Daniel, you've been under pressure. Your father's death, the engagement, this embarrassment with a child. Let me send someone to take care of things."
"Keep your people away from me."
"Your board won't like hearing you say that."
He hung up.
Detective Brooks arranged a secure interview with Dr. Miriam Larkin, the obstetrician whose letter certified Vanessa's pregnancy. The doctor arrived without her usual makeup and asked twice whether the room was recording.
"It is," Brooks said. "You're free to have an attorney present."
Dr. Larkin stared at her hands. "I never examined Vanessa Price for pregnancy. She came in with Mr. Voss and a prepared chart. They threatened to release private information about my patients if I refused to sign."
"You falsified a medical record," Brooks said.
"Yes." Her voice broke. "And I hate myself for it."
I wanted to shout. Instead I remembered Ellie's plain face at the ballroom: I saw her take the baby off.
"Was Vanessa ever pregnant?" I asked.
"Not during the period covered by my letter. I have no medical evidence she was pregnant at all."
Brooks leaned forward. "Tell us what clinic they used."
Larkin hesitated. "The name on the files was Briar Glen Recovery. Private psychiatric and convalescent care. Outside the city."
"Is Nora there?"
"I saw a woman brought in under sedation, with bruises on her wrists. Her intake name was Jane Mercer."
The detective reached for the phone to request a warrant. Dr. Larkin caught her arm.
"If they know I've talked, they'll move her. There is a locked basement wing. It doesn't appear on the public building plan."
My phone vibrated with a text from Blake.
May you like
YOUR FRIEND LEO WON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE. NEITHER WILL NORA.
Attached was a live photograph of Nora sitting in a wheelchair, her face turned toward a barred window.
