Chapter 7: The Secret Hidden in the Hospital Records
“Daddy, what does that photograph mean?””
Camille's voice trembled as she stared at the image on her phone.
Her newborn was asleep against her chest, his tiny fingers curled around the edge of his white blanket. The photograph showed Olivia Grant standing beside a hospital bassinet, wearing the same dark coat she had worn in the hotel's security footage.
But something about the picture frightened Camille more than Olivia's presence.
The date.
It was the night her son had been born.
Marcus looked at Derrick.
“Get me the hospital's security contact. I want to know how that photograph was obtained, but nobody touches a medical record without proper authorization.””
Derrick nodded.
“Yes, sir.””
Camille shook her head.
“Why would Olivia be at the hospital?””
Marcus pulled out a chair.
“Sit down, sweetheart.””
“I am sitting down.””
“Then breathe.””
She looked at him.
“Dad, Daniel told me he was getting coffee. I was in the delivery room. I remember waiting for him. He didn't come back for almost two hours.””
Marcus's expression tightened.
“Did you call him?””
“Several times. He finally answered and said he was downstairs.””
“And you believed him?””
Camille nodded.
“I had just given birth. I wasn't thinking about anything except our baby.””
She looked down at the infant.
“I thought Daniel was just nervous.””
Marcus gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Listen to me. Whatever happened, we're going to find out. But nobody is taking your baby away from you.””
Camille swallowed.
“I'm scared.””
“I know.””
Across the lobby, Evelyn was speaking quietly with the hotel's security supervisor.
Vanessa and Grant remained in the conference room with Derrick's team. Richard Collins had been asked to remain available for questioning.
The atmosphere had changed completely.
Guests were no longer whispering about an argument between two women.
They were watching a family unravel in real time.
A few minutes later, Derrick returned.
“Mr. Bennett, I have an update.””
Marcus stood.
“Go ahead.””
“We identified the hospital in the photograph. It's St. Catherine's Medical Center.””
Camille nodded.
“That's where I delivered.””
Derrick continued.
“The photograph was taken from a visitor's phone. We haven't identified the original sender yet, but the timestamp matches the night of your son's birth.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Did Olivia have permission to visit?””
“We're checking that.””
Camille interrupted.
“She was never on my visitor list.””
Derrick looked at her.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes. My mother was there. My husband.
My best friend, Tasha. Nobody else.””
Marcus turned toward Evelyn.
“Find out who authorized her access.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I'll contact the hospital's privacy office.””
Camille's phone rang.
This time, the caller ID displayed Tasha.
She answered immediately.
“Tasha?””
“Girl, where are you?””
“At the lodge. Why?””
Tasha sounded breathless.
“Have you seen the picture?””
Camille closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Then you need to know something.””
Camille stood.
“What?””
Tasha lowered her voice.
“I saw Olivia at the hospital that night.””
Camille felt her stomach tighten.
“You did?””
“Yes. I didn't think anything of it at the time because Daniel introduced her as his assistant. But she was asking questions about your son.””
“What kind of questions?””
“His name. His birth certificate. Whether you had chosen a pediatrician. She even asked which room you were being moved to after delivery.””
Camille stared at the floor.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I didn't know it was strange. Daniel said she was helping with paperwork.””
Camille looked toward her father.
“Dad…”
Marcus had heard enough to understand that the situation had become more serious.
He took the phone.
“Tasha, this is Marcus Bennett. Did you personally hear Olivia ask those questions?””
“Yes, Mr. Bennett.””
“Did you see her enter Camille's room?””
“No. But I saw her talking to a nurse near the maternity station.””
“Thank you. Please don't discuss this with anyone else until we understand what happened.””
Tasha agreed.
Marcus returned the phone.
Camille's eyes were wet.
“Someone was asking questions about my baby while I was recovering from childbirth.””
Marcus nodded.
“We'll investigate.””
Then Derrick's radio crackled.
He listened for several seconds before turning toward Marcus.
“Sir, we have another issue.””
“What now?””
“The hotel management archive contains an access request for a guest registration record under Camille's name.””
Marcus frowned.
“When?””
“Three days ago.””
Camille shook her head.
“I hadn't even arrived here yet.””
Derrick continued.
“The request was submitted using Daniel's credentials. It included your room assignment, estimated arrival time, and vehicle registration.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“Someone knew exactly when you would arrive.””
Camille felt sick.
The slap had not been a random confrontation.
Vanessa had been waiting.
The manager had been prepared to remove her.
And Daniel had apparently known where she would be.
“Why?”” Camille whispered.
Nobody answered.
Then Evelyn approached with her laptop.
“Mr. Bennett, I've received a preliminary response from the hospital.””
Marcus turned.
“What did they find?””
“Olivia Grant was not listed as an authorized visitor. However, a temporary visitor pass was generated using an employee's credentials.””
Camille gripped the chair.
“Whose credentials?””
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she turned the laptop around.
The name appeared on the screen.
Nurse Patricia Ellis.
Camille stared.
“I remember her.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“You know this nurse?””
“She helped during my recovery. She was very kind.””
Evelyn continued.
“The hospital says Nurse Ellis has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review. She claims she was told Olivia was a family representative.””
Camille looked confused.
“By whom?””
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
“By Daniel.””
For a moment, Camille couldn't speak.
Then she whispered, “He told the hospital she was family?””
Marcus looked at the documents.
“Yes.””
Camille's phone vibrated.
Another message from the unknown number.
Ask your husband what he promised Olivia in exchange for helping him.
She showed Marcus.
He immediately called Derrick over.
“I want the sender identified through the proper investigative channels. Preserve the message and its metadata.””
“Yes, sir.””
Camille stared at the screen.
“Daddy, I want to know what Daniel promised her.””
Marcus nodded.
“So do I.””
Evelyn opened another file.
“There's something else. The original financial documents show that Olivia's name appears on the consulting company's registration as an authorized representative.””
Camille looked up.
“She's involved in the money too?””
“Yes.””
Evelyn pointed to a line on the screen.
“She was listed to receive a separate payment after the transfer was completed.””
“How much?””
“Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.””
Camille sat back.
Daniel had apparently been willing to steal from her family.
But he hadn't been working alone.
Marcus closed the laptop.
“That's enough for tonight. Camille needs somewhere safe to rest.””
Camille looked at him.
“I want to go home.””
Marcus paused.
“Are you sure?””
“I need to see Daniel. I need to know whether there's anything else in our house.””
Marcus considered it.
“We'll arrange security and make sure you aren't alone.””
Camille nodded.
Then she looked toward the conference room.
“Where is Vanessa?””
Derrick replied.
“Still inside.””
“Can I speak to her?””
Marcus frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she knew Olivia. I want to hear what she knows.””
Marcus studied his daughter.
Then he nodded.
“I'll be right outside.””
Vanessa entered the small private sitting room several minutes later.
Her fuchsia dress was wrinkled now. Her curls had lost their perfect shape, and her mascara had begun to run.
She looked at Camille.
“What do you want?””
Camille held up the photograph.
“Why was Olivia at my hospital?””
Vanessa's face changed.
“Who?””
“Olivia Grant. Daniel's assistant.””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
Vanessa sighed.
“Look, I didn't arrange anything at the hospital.””
“But you knew about the envelope.””
“I knew Daniel had documents.””
“And the hotel?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Daniel told Grant that you might arrive with something that belonged to Bennett Hospitality.””
Camille leaned forward.
“Did he tell you to slap me?””
Vanessa looked offended.
“No.””
“Did he tell you to stop me from checking in?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said, “He said we needed to make sure you didn't get comfortable here.””
Camille felt her throat tighten.
“What does that mean?””
“He said if you checked in and your father found out about the documents, everything would be ruined.””
“Everything for whom?””
Vanessa looked down.
“For Daniel. For Grant. For all of us.””
Camille stared at her.
“And you agreed to humiliate me?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I thought it would be enough to scare you away.””
Camille slowly shook her head.
“You saw a mother holding a newborn and decided she was someone you could frighten.””
Vanessa didn't respond.
Then she whispered something unexpected.
“There's one thing you should know.””
Camille looked up.
“What?””
Vanessa glanced toward the door.
“Olivia isn't Daniel's assistant anymore.””
Camille frowned.
“What?””
“She told Grant she was leaving the company. She said she had something bigger planned.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“She was supposed to meet Daniel tonight.””
“Where?””
May you like
Vanessa looked directly at Camille.
“Your house.””
