CHAPTER 6 The Death Certificate
For sixteen years, Khloe had believed her father died in a car accident.
That was the story on the death certificate.
That was the story printed in the newspapers.
That was the story whispered at the funeral while strangers praised a man she had barely been old enough to understand.
Now her uncle stood beside her hospital bed and told her it had all been a lie.
“My father was murdered?”
Samuel looked toward the nurses.
“Give us the room.”
The obstetrician hesitated.
“She needs rest.”
“I know.”
“Stress could worsen the contractions.”
Khloe tightened her grip on the blanket.
“I am not resting until someone tells me the truth.”
The doctor studied her for a moment, then nodded to the nurses.
“We’ll be outside.”
Marcus stayed.
Detective Brooks stayed.
Samuel closed the door.
The monitor continued tracing the baby’s heartbeat through the silence.
Khloe looked at her uncle.
“Start talking.”
Samuel took a chair but did not sit.
“Your father, David Vale, was investigating financial fraud involving the hospital.”
Marcus frowned.
“What kind of fraud?”
“Illegal medical billing. Shell charities. Payments routed through private foundations.”
Khloe thought of the gala downstairs.
The Rossi Foundation.
The Thorne Family Trust.
The carefully staged generosity of wealthy people who used charity to hide ambition.
“Was Isabella’s family involved?”
Samuel looked at Marcus.
“The Rossi family was one of several donors under investigation.”
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“My father did business with them.”
“Yes.”
“What does that have to do with David’s death?”
Samuel looked at Khloe.
“Your father discovered that hospital money was being moved through a private investment group controlled by three families.”
“Which families?”
“The Rossis.”
Samuel paused.
“The Thornes.”
Marcus went still.
“And the Vales.”
Khloe stared at him.
“Our family?”
Samuel nodded.
“My father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Samuel’s face tightened.
“Julian.”
The name hung in the air.
Khloe looked at the still frame on Detective Brooks’s phone.
The uncle who had been declared dead.
The man standing beside Isabella.
“He stole hospital funds?”
“He helped hide them.”
“Why?”
“He had gambling debts. Then those debts became leverage.”
Marcus folded his arms.
“Leverage used by whom?”
Samuel answered quietly.
“Marcus’s father.”
Marcus took one step back.
“My father?”
“Edmund Thorne controlled the investment network. Lorenzo Rossi supplied political protection. Julian manipulated hospital records.”
Khloe’s pulse accelerated.
“And my father found out.”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
“He planned to expose them.”
Samuel finally sat.
“David copied financial ledgers, patient records, and payment trails. He contacted federal investigators.”
Khloe felt sick.
“Then he died.”
“Two days before he was supposed to meet them.”
Marcus looked at Samuel.
“The car accident.”
“There was no accident.”
Khloe’s eyes burned.
“What happened?”
Samuel’s voice became strained.
“His car was forced off the road.”
The monitor beside Khloe began beeping faster.
Marcus moved to her side.
“Khloe, breathe.”
She pulled her hand away.
“Who did it?”
Samuel looked at the floor.
“We never proved who was driving the other vehicle.”
“You knew he was murdered.”
“I suspected.”
“You told me it was an accident.”
“You were sixteen.”
“I was his daughter.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Khloe laughed bitterly.
The same words Marcus had used.
Protection.
Silence.
Lies.
Every man around her had decided the truth was too dangerous for her to know.
“And Julian?” she asked.
“He was blamed for destroying evidence.”
“Did he?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was he accused of killing a patient?”
“Because the patient had seen him altering records.”
Khloe’s stomach tightened.
“Did Julian kill that person?”
Samuel’s eyes closed briefly.
“I don’t know.”
Detective Brooks stepped forward.
“What happened after David died?”
“Julian disappeared.”
“Was he charged?”
“No. The patient’s death was ruled a surgical complication.”
“And Julian was declared dead seven years ago?”
Samuel nodded.
“A body was found after a fire in a remote clinic overseas. Dental records were used for identification.”
Marcus looked toward the still image.
“Clearly those records were false.”
“Clearly.”
Khloe pressed a hand to her belly as another contraction began.
Marcus saw it.
“Doctor.”
Khloe shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“Khloe—”
“I need five more minutes.”
Samuel leaned closer.
“There is something else.”
Khloe stared at him.
“There always is.”
“Your father hid a copy of the evidence.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he tell you?”
“He told me it would remain safe as long as Khloe never learned where to look.”
Khloe’s eyes narrowed.
“He used my name?”
Samuel nodded.
“His exact words were, ‘The truth belongs to Khloe, but only when the family comes for her.’”
Marcus looked toward the door.
“They’re coming for her now.”
Detective Brooks’s phone rang.
She answered and listened.
Her face changed.
“Where?”
She looked at Samuel.
“Security found Daniel Reeve.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“In the underground parking garage.”
“Why hasn’t he answered?”
Brooks lowered the phone.
“He was found unconscious inside his car.”
Khloe’s heart sank.
“Was he attacked?”
“They don’t know yet.”
Samuel opened the door for the medical team.
Before the doctor could enter, Brooks’s phone rang again.
This time, her expression became far worse.
“What happened?” Marcus demanded.
Brooks looked at Khloe.
“Daniel had a hospital access badge in his pocket.”
Samuel stared at her.
“Whose badge?”
May you like
Brooks answered.
“Dr. Adrian Wells.”
