Chapter 4: The Doctor Who Buried My Wife
Marcus stared at Dr. Richard Coleman.
The elderly physician stood beneath the garden lights, holding his leather briefcase with both hands. His gray hair was neatly combed, and his expensive black shoes remained perfectly dry despite the damp grass.
He looked less like a man who had just discovered a crime scene and more like someone arriving for an appointment.
Vanessa hurried toward him.
“Richard, you shouldn't be here.””
Dr. Coleman glanced at the police officers.
“You called me.””
“I told you not to come!””
Marcus stepped between them.
“You two know each other?””
Neither answered.
Officer Brooks approached the doctor.
“Sir, I'm Detective Brooks. We're investigating a possible person trapped inside this swimming pool's maintenance chamber. What brings you here?””
Coleman adjusted his glasses.
“I was informed there had been an accident.””
“By whom?””
The doctor looked at Vanessa.
Marcus noticed the exchange.
It lasted barely a second.
But it was enough.
“Doctor,” Marcus said, his voice shaking, “you signed my wife's death certificate.””
Coleman looked directly at him.
“Yes.””
“You examined her body.””
A long silence followed.
“I reviewed the medical findings,” Coleman replied.
“That's not what I asked.””
“Marcus, you're upset. I understand.””
“You told me she was dead!””
Coleman lowered his briefcase.
“Your wife was legally declared deceased.””
“Was she dead?””
The question hung over the garden.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Coleman looked toward the open maintenance chamber.
Then he said something Marcus would never forget.
“I was paid to make sure nobody asked that question.””
Officer Brooks immediately moved closer.
“Doctor, put the briefcase down.””
Coleman didn't move.
“I'm not carrying anything dangerous.””
“Put it down.””
The physician slowly placed it on a nearby table.
Marcus could barely control his breathing.
“Who paid you?””
Coleman looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
“Don't,” she whispered.
Marcus turned.
“Don't what?””
“Don't listen to him,” Vanessa said.
“He's trying to protect himself.””
Coleman gave a bitter laugh.
“You're the one who brought me here.””
“Shut up, Richard!””
The sudden outburst made Lily cry.
Marcus immediately lifted his daughter.
“It's okay, sweetheart.””
But Lily was staring at the doctor.
“Daddy, that's the man.””
Marcus looked down.
“What man?””
“The man Mommy was talking to.””
Everyone went silent.
Officer Brooks crouched to Lily's level.
“Can you tell me what you remember?””
Lily nodded.
“He came to our house when Mommy was still here. I was hiding behind the stairs. Mommy said she wanted to go home, but he told her she couldn't.””
Coleman closed his eyes.
Vanessa took another step backward.
“She's six years old,” Vanessa snapped.
“You cannot use a child's imagination as evidence.””
Brooks stood.
“We'll determine what happened.””
Meanwhile, the emergency technician continued examining the chamber.
“Detective, we've located a second access point!””
Marcus turned.
“Second access point?””
The technician pointed toward a narrow passage behind the maintenance equipment.
“It appears to connect to a small storage room beneath the pool deck.””
“Can someone fit through it?””
“Possibly. We're checking.””
Marcus looked at Coleman.
“Was my wife kept there?””
The doctor said nothing.
Marcus grabbed the edge of the table.
“ANSWER ME!””
Brooks stepped between them.
“Mr. Hale, let us do this properly.””
The technician suddenly called out.
“Detective! We've found a medical oxygen cylinder!””
Brooks hurried over.
Another officer photographed the equipment.
There were fresh scratches on the metal surface, a folded blanket, and several empty medication packages.
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
Someone had been using that chamber.
And not years ago.
Recently.
He looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“I didn't know she was still down there!””
The words escaped her before she could stop them.
Nobody moved.
Marcus stared at her.
“Still?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
Officer Brooks slowly turned toward her.
“What exactly did you mean by that?””
She backed away.
“I meant—”
“You said you didn't know she was still down there.””
“I didn't know what I was saying!””
Brooks signaled another officer.
“Ma'am, please come with us.””
Vanessa began crying.
“Marcus, please. You have to believe me.””
He looked at her with disbelief.
“You stood beside me at my wife's funeral.””
“I was trying to help you.””
“You told my daughter her mother was dead.””
“Because I thought she was!””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Then why did you know she was under my pool?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
At that moment, a technician emerged from the chamber carrying a small black notebook sealed inside a waterproof bag.
“Detective, I think you need to see this.””
Brooks opened the bag carefully.
The first page contained a list of dates.
The second contained medication records.
But the third page had one sentence written in large, shaky handwriting.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
It was Elina's.
*If Marcus ever comes looking for me, tell him the first funeral was not the real one.*
Marcus felt the world tilt.
“What does that mean?”” he whispered.
Before Brooks could answer, the doctor suddenly lunged toward the notebook.
Two officers grabbed him.
May you like
And from inside the open chamber came a faint, unmistakable sound.
A woman coughing.
