Chapter 5: The Woman Who Had Been Watching
Robert Carter read the threatening message three times.
He didn't show Naomi immediately.
He didn't want to frighten her while she was holding Elijah.
Instead, he turned toward Marcus.
“Get security to Naomi's apartment.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“When was this taken?””
“Send it to the security team. Have them verify the location and check whether anyone has been monitoring her.””
“Should I contact the police?””
“Yes. I want this documented.””
Naomi noticed the exchange.
“Dad, what's happening?””
Robert hesitated.
Then he handed her the phone.
She stared at the photograph.
It showed her standing outside her apartment building, holding a grocery bag in one hand.
Elijah wasn't visible.
The picture had been taken from across the street.
Her face went pale.
“Someone was watching me?””
Robert sat beside her.
“We don't know who took it yet.””
“That's my apartment.””
“I know.””
“Dad, how long?””
He didn't answer.
Naomi looked toward Marcus.
“Could somebody have been following me while I was pregnant?””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“We're investigating that possibility.””
Naomi swallowed.
She looked down at Elijah.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, “I don't want anyone near my baby.””
Robert took her hand.
“They won't get near him.””
He looked at Marcus.
“Arrange private security for my daughter and grandson. Two officers, around the clock. And nobody enters her apartment without her permission.””
Marcus nodded.
“I'll handle it.””
When he left, Naomi turned toward her father.
“Why would anyone do this?””
Robert looked at the rain outside.
“Because somebody believes they have something to lose.””
“What?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached for the folder Marcus had brought.
Inside were the hospital's ownership records.
Eleven months earlier, St. Catherine's had completed a restructuring involving its charitable foundation and several private investment partners.
Robert had supported the restructuring.
Richard Whitmore had managed much of the financial documentation.
At the time, the changes had seemed routine.
Now he noticed something strange.
A subsidiary company called Carter Medical Holdings had been listed as the recipient of several property transfers.
Robert frowned.
“Marcus.””
The assistant executive returned to the room.
“Yes, sir?””
“Who approved the transfer of the Westbridge property?””
Marcus checked the document.
“According to this, the transfer was approved by the foundation's executive committee.””
“Was there a meeting?””
“I'll check.””
“Who signed?””
Marcus pointed to the final page.
Robert leaned closer.
His own signature appeared at the bottom.
But something was wrong.
He studied the loops, the spacing, and the pressure of the ink.
He knew his signature.
He had signed thousands of documents over the years.
This wasn't his.
“Marcus, get me a handwriting specialist.””
Marcus looked surprised.
“Do you believe it's forged?””
“I know it's forged.””
Naomi watched him.
“Dad, what does this mean?””
Robert turned the document toward her.
“Someone used my signature to authorize a transfer.””
“To what?””
“A property owned by the hospital foundation.””
“Was it sold?””
Robert checked the amount.
The listed transfer value was eight million dollars.
But the property was worth nearly twenty million.
His stomach tightened.
“Someone may have moved hospital assets without proper authorization.””
Naomi stared at the page.
“Could that be why they didn't want me visiting you?””
Robert looked at her.
“Possibly.””
He continued examining the records.
Then he found another document.
This one was dated the same week as the property transfer.
It was a beneficiary amendment.
The document changed the designated recipient of a private charitable trust established by Robert's late wife.
Naomi immediately recognized the name.
“Mom's trust?””
Robert nodded.
Her mother, Evelyn Carter, had died three years earlier.
Before her death, she had established a trust to support children whose families couldn't afford specialized medical treatment.
Robert had promised to protect it.
The trust was worth more than twelve million dollars.
He turned the page.
The new beneficiary was not a hospital program.
It was a private investment company.
*Whitmore Capital Partners.*
Naomi covered her mouth.
“Dad…”
Robert stared at the page.
Richard Whitmore's company had received the trust's designated assets.
And the document carried Robert's forged signature.
A knock came at the door.
A nurse entered with a woman in her forties.
“Mr. Carter, this is Denise Miller from medical records. She said she needed to speak with you privately.””
Robert stood.
“Thank you. Please come in.””
Denise looked nervous.
She held a brown envelope against her chest.
“Mr. Carter, I shouldn't be doing this.””
“Then why are you here?””
“Because I have a daughter.””
Robert's expression softened slightly.
Denise looked toward Naomi.
“I saw what happened in the lobby. I saw the video before management tried to remove it.””
Naomi looked at her.
“You were there?””
“I was behind the records counter. I heard the slap.””
Denise's eyes became wet.
“I wanted to help you, but I was afraid.””
Robert pulled out a chair.
“Sit down, Denise.””
She placed the envelope on the table.
“I found the false family authorization in your father's file. The document claims he signed it eleven months ago.””
Robert opened the envelope.
Inside was a scanned copy.
The signature looked convincing at first glance.
But the date was suspicious.
Robert had been hospitalized in another state that week.
He turned to Denise.
“Who uploaded this?””
“The system says it was entered by an executive assistant account.””
“Which one?””
Denise shook her head.
“The account was shared.””
“Shared by whom?””
“Richard Whitmore's office and Vanessa Whitmore's administrative team.””
Robert looked at Naomi.
The pieces were coming together.
Denise continued.
“There's another reason I came here. Last week, I found an access request for your daughter's medical records.””
Naomi went still.
“My records?””
“Yes. Someone wanted to know whether you had delivered the baby and whether you had listed your father as an emergency contact.””
Robert's expression darkened.
“Who made the request?””
Denise hesitated.
“Vanessa.””
Naomi looked stunned.
“Why would she need my medical information?””
“I don't know.””
Denise opened the envelope again.
She removed another sheet.
“This was attached to the request.””
Robert read the heading.
*FAMILY RELATIONSHIP VERIFICATION — CONFIDENTIAL.*
Below it was Naomi's full name.
There was a photograph of her identification card.
And beneath the photograph was a handwritten note.
Confirm biological relationship before access to restricted family account.
Robert looked up.
“What restricted family account?””
Denise shook her head.
“I don't know. I wasn't authorized to see the attachment.””
Robert picked up his phone.
“Marcus, come back.””
A minute later, Marcus entered.
Robert handed him the document.
“Find out what this family account is.””
Marcus read the page.
Then he looked uncomfortable.
“Sir…”
“What?””
“I believe I know.””
Robert waited.
Marcus took a breath.
“Your late wife's estate established a secondary medical-benefit account for immediate family members. It was designed to cover emergency treatment and long-term care.””
Robert nodded.
“I remember.””
“The account was recently amended.””
“By whom?””
Marcus looked at the document again.
“Richard Whitmore.””
Robert stood.
“Did he have authority?””
“No, sir.””
“Then how was the amendment approved?””
Marcus hesitated.
“According to the records, it was approved using your daughter's identity verification.””
Naomi looked at him.
“My identity?””
“Yes.””
“But I never signed anything.””
Robert closed his eyes.
He understood.
Someone had used his forged signature to move the hospital's assets.
Someone had used Naomi's personal information to access a family medical account.
And someone had deliberately blocked her from entering the building where those records were stored.
But why?
Marcus answered before Robert could ask.
“Sir, there's one more issue.””
“What?””
“The account wasn't just amended.””
Marcus placed a printed statement on the table.
“It was emptied yesterday.””
Robert stared at the amount.
Twelve million dollars.
Transferred in three separate transactions.
The destination account belonged to Whitmore Capital Partners.
Naomi whispered, “That's Mom's money.””
Robert's hands trembled.
For three years, he had protected that trust as his wife's final gift to children who needed medical care.
Now it was gone.
He looked at Denise.
“Who authorized the transactions?””
She pointed to the final page.
A digital approval stamp appeared at the bottom.
*AUTHORIZING SIGNATORY: ROBERT E. CARTER.*
Robert shook his head.
“I didn't authorize this.””
“I know,” Denise whispered.
“Then why does it have my approval?””
Denise lowered her voice.
“Because somebody used the hospital's emergency authorization system.””
Robert looked at Marcus.
“Who had access?””
Marcus opened his tablet.
“Three people.””
He read the names.
“Richard Whitmore. Vanessa Whitmore. And…”
He stopped.
Robert looked at him.
“And who?””
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
“Your personal executive assistant.””
The room fell silent.
Robert's phone began ringing.
The caller ID showed the name of the man who had worked beside him for sixteen years.
*THOMAS REED — EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.*
Robert answered.
“Thomas.””
The voice on the other end was shaking.
“Mr. Carter, please don't trust Marcus Hill.””
Robert looked at Marcus.
“What are you talking about?””
May you like
Thomas whispered:
“Your daughter is in danger. And the person who ordered the transfer is already inside that room.””