Chapter 6: The Nurse's Secret
Officer Brooks immediately ordered everyone to remain in the living room.
Vanessa was taken into a separate room with another officer while Detective Bennett examined Lily's notebook.
Claire stood beside Marcus, staring at the faint writing.
“Rebecca?”” she whispered.
Marcus looked confused.
“The nurse?””
Claire nodded.
“Rebecca Mills.””
Detective Bennett photographed the page.
“Mr. Hale, did Lily know this nurse well?””
“Yes,” Claire answered.
“Rebecca was kind to her. She used to bring her little stickers and coloring books.””
“Did Lily ever mention anything unusual about her?””
Claire hesitated.
“She said Rebecca sometimes talked to her when Mommy wasn't in the room.””
“What did she talk about?””
“I don't know. Lily never seemed frightened of her.””
Detective Bennett examined the notebook again.
“There's more.””
She turned the page carefully.
The indentation continued.
This time, several words were visible.
Rebecca said not to drink it.
Claire gasped.
Marcus grabbed the edge of the table.
“What does that mean?””
Detective Bennett looked at Officer Brooks.
“We need Rebecca brought in for another interview. Immediately.””
Officer Brooks nodded and stepped outside to make the call.
Vanessa, meanwhile, had stopped crying.
She sat with her arms folded, watching the investigation unfold.
Marcus turned toward her.
“Did Rebecca tell you not to give Lily anything?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“Then why is her name in my daughter's diary?””
“I told you. Children write strange things.””
“Stop calling my daughter strange!””
Vanessa flinched.
Detective Bennett stepped between them.
“Mr. Hale, please.””
Marcus backed away.
His breathing was uneven.
He looked toward Lily's photograph.
Then he noticed something.
The little red bracelet around her wrist.
He remembered buying it for her at a street fair.
It had a tiny silver star attached.
Lily had refused to take it off, even when she was admitted to the hospital.
“Claire?””
“Yes?””
“Where's Lily's bracelet?””
Claire frowned.
“Which one?””
“The red one. With the silver star.””
“I put it in her memory box.””
“Can I see it?””
Claire nodded and went upstairs.
While she was gone, Detective Bennett continued examining the notebook.
“There are several pages where the writing appears to have been disturbed,” she said.
Marcus leaned forward.
“Disturbed how?””
“Some words were erased. Others were written over.””
“Can you recover them?””
“Possibly. We'll send the notebook for forensic examination.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“You're wasting your time.””
Everyone turned.
She stood.
“Lily was sick. She was receiving medication every day. You're making this into something it wasn't.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then why did you give her something without telling the doctors?””
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
“Because I wanted her to sleep.””
“Why?””
“Because she wouldn't stop crying!””
The words came out louder than she intended.
Claire returned to the room just in time to hear them.
She stopped on the stairs.
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“She was crying all the time. She kept asking for you. She kept asking when you were coming. I couldn't listen to it anymore.””
Marcus's face changed.
“You couldn't listen to it?””
“I was trying to help.””
“You were tired of hearing my daughter ask for her father?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“You don't understand what it was like.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Then explain it.””
She shook her head.
“I was trying to make everything easier.””
“For whom?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“For Lily?””
No answer.
“For Claire?””
Still nothing.
Marcus's voice broke.
“For yourself?””
Vanessa looked down.
Detective Bennett ordered her to sit again.
A few minutes later, Officer Brooks returned.
“Rebecca Mills is on her way.””
Claire came down the remaining stairs holding a small wooden box.
Inside were Lily's drawings, hair ribbons, a hospital wristband, and the red bracelet.
Marcus picked it up.
The silver star caught the light.
He turned it over.
There was something written on the inside of the little metal charm.
A tiny engraving.
*LOVE YOU, DADDY.*
He pressed it against his palm.
Then he noticed a small folded piece of paper tucked beneath the bracelet.
“Claire, what's this?””
She looked surprised.
“I didn't put that there.””
Marcus unfolded it.
The handwriting was Lily's.
If I go to sleep, please tell Daddy I waited.
He sat down.
Claire began sobbing.
Detective Bennett quietly placed the paper into an evidence sleeve.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then the doorbell rang.
Officer Brooks returned to the entrance.
Rebecca Mills stood outside.
She was wearing a navy cardigan and carrying a large handbag.
Her expression was anxious.
“Officer, you said this was important.””
“Please come inside, Ms. Mills.””
Rebecca entered.
She noticed Marcus immediately.
“Mr. Hale. I'm so sorry.””
He stood.
“Why is your name in my daughter's diary?””
Rebecca looked at the notebook.
Her face went pale.
“What?””
Detective Bennett showed her the page.
Rebecca read the indentation.
Then she closed her eyes.
“Oh, God.””
Officer Brooks stepped closer.
“Ms. Mills, we need you to explain what Lily meant.””
Rebecca placed her handbag on the floor.
“Can I sit down?””
“Yes.””
She sat.
Her hands were shaking.
“Vanessa came to the hospital several times,” she began.
“At first, I assumed she was a family friend.””
Marcus interrupted.
“She wasn't.””
“I understand that now.””
“What did she do?””
Rebecca took a breath.
“She asked a lot of questions about Lily's medication. She wanted to know what could make her sleepy and whether certain medicines could interact with her treatment.””
Detective Bennett leaned forward.
“Did you answer her?””
“No. I told her that all medication questions had to go through the attending physician.””
“Did she ask again?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca looked toward Vanessa.
“On Monday, she brought a bottle into the room.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Rebecca continued.
“I saw her holding it. I asked what it was.””
“What did she say?”” Officer Brooks asked.
“She said it was a harmless children's supplement.””
“Did you inspect the bottle?””
“No. I told her she couldn't give Lily anything without medical authorization.””
Marcus gripped the back of a chair.
“And then?””
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“Vanessa told me that Lily's father had approved it.””
Marcus stared.
“I never approved anything.””
“I know that now.””
“What happened after you left the room?””
Rebecca's voice trembled.
“I went to assist another patient. When I came back, Vanessa had left.””
“Was Lily awake?””
“Yes, but she was very drowsy.””
“Did you ask her what happened?””
“I did.””
“What did she say?””
Rebecca looked at the notebook.
“She said Vanessa had told her that the medicine would help her sleep until Daddy came home.””
Marcus turned away.
The sentence from Lily's diary seemed to echo through his head.
She said she could make me sleep until he comes back.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“I checked Lily's chart. There was no medication administered by staff at that time. I immediately informed the charge nurse.””
Detective Bennett looked at her sharply.
“Did you document the visitor's actions?””
“I made an internal note.””
“Where is it?””
Rebecca opened her handbag.
“I brought a copy.””
She removed several folded pages.
“I didn't know whether this would become important, but I couldn't stop thinking about what happened.””
Officer Brooks took the documents.
Detective Bennett read the first page.
Then she stopped.
“Ms. Mills, this note says you reported an unauthorized medication container at 7:38 p.m.””
“Yes.””
“And that you informed the charge nurse?””
“Yes.””
“Where is the original?””
“In the hospital's electronic records.””
Detective Bennett looked toward Officer Brooks.
“We need the hospital administrator to preserve the full record immediately.””
Rebecca nodded.
“There was something else.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“After Lily died, Vanessa came back to the hospital.””
Marcus frowned.
“When?””
“The following morning.””
“Why?””
“She asked whether Lily's medical records could be changed.””
The room went silent.
Officer Brooks stood.
“Changed how?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“She wanted the visitor record amended. She said she had entered under Claire's name by mistake and wanted it corrected before the family saw the paperwork.””
Claire stared at Vanessa.
“You knew I would find out?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Rebecca continued.
“I refused. I told her only the records department could make corrections, and any changes would leave an audit trail.””
Detective Bennett asked, “Did she become aggressive?””
Rebecca nodded.
“She told me I was making a terrible mistake.””
Marcus looked toward Vanessa.
“Why?””
Vanessa's eyes were wet.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She didn't answer.
Officer Brooks took a step toward her.
“Ms. Reed, I need you to understand that this is no longer a routine inquiry.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“I want my lawyer.””
“You may have one.””
“I want to leave.””
Officer Brooks nodded to the other officer.
“Please accompany Ms. Reed.””
As Vanessa was escorted toward the hallway, she turned around.
“Marcus!””
He didn't move.
“Marcus, please listen to me!””
He looked at her.
She began crying.
“I didn't mean for this to happen.””
Marcus's voice was barely audible.
“Then why did you do it?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, her phone vibrated on the table.
Detective Bennett glanced at the screen.
A notification appeared.
It was a message from an unsaved contact.
Did you get rid of the original bottle?
Vanessa lunged toward the phone.
The officer caught her arm.
“Don't touch it.””
Her face went white.
Officer Brooks picked up the phone and read the message again.
“Who sent this?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Detective Bennett looked at the screen.
Another message arrived.
You promised nobody would find out what happened in Room 214.
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
Room 214.
That was Lily's hospital room.
Officer Brooks immediately secured the phone.
“Ms. Reed, who else was involved?””
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“No.””
“Who sent that message?””
“I don't know!””
“Who was in Room 214 with you?””
Vanessa looked toward Rebecca.
Then toward Claire.
Finally, her eyes settled on Marcus.
And she whispered:
“You think I was the only one who wanted Lily out of the way?””
Nobody moved.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa's tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Your daughter found out something she wasn't supposed to know.””
“What?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“She found out who had been paying me.””
Officer Brooks stared at her.
“Paying you for what?””
Vanessa looked directly at Marcus.
Then she delivered the words that shattered everything Marcus thought he understood.
“Someone in your family paid me to keep Lily away from you.””
Marcus went cold.
“My family?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Your mother knew.””
At that exact moment, Marcus's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed one name.
*MOTHER.*
He stared at it.
Then answered.
“Mom?””
A trembling voice came through.
“Marcus, sweetheart. Please don't believe anything Vanessa says.””
He looked at the officers.
“Why?””
His mother began crying.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Protect me from what?””
There was a long silence.
Then she whispered:
“From the truth about Lily's father.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
He slowly looked toward Claire.
His ex-wife was already shaking her head.
May you like
And somewhere in the room, Officer Brooks quietly said:
“Mr. Hale, I think we need to reopen the original paternity records.””
