Chapter 6: The Coffin That Contained Another Woman
The ambulance doors were about to close when Marcus heard the question that would change everything.
“Who was in my wife's coffin?””
Nobody answered.
Elina had been taken to the hospital for emergency treatment. Lily was riding with her, holding her mother's hand beneath the thin hospital blanket.
Marcus wanted to follow.
But Detective Brooks stopped him.
“Mr. Hale, I need you to answer some questions.””
“My wife almost died under my house.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't.””
Brooks lowered his voice.
“If we don't establish what happened, the people responsible may have time to destroy evidence.””
Marcus looked through the ambulance window.
Elina was watching him.
He nodded to reassure her.
Then he turned back toward the detective.
“Ask.””
Brooks led him to the garden office.
Inside, the curtains were drawn. A police officer stood near the door, while another examined the waterproof notebook recovered from the chamber.
Dr. Coleman and Vanessa were being questioned separately.
Brooks placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed the funeral procession from fourteen months earlier.
Marcus recognized himself immediately.
He was standing beside the hearse, wearing a black suit and holding Lily's hand.
Behind him stood Coleman.
“Do you remember the day?”” Brooks asked.
“Every second.””
“Who gave you the death certificate?””
“Dr. Coleman.””
“Who arranged the funeral?””
“Vanessa helped.””
“And who delivered the coffin?””
Marcus frowned.
“The funeral director.””
“Do you remember seeing the body?””
Marcus looked down.
The memory came back in fragments.
The hospital had told him the body was too badly damaged for an open-casket funeral.
He had been shown a sealed coffin.
He had asked to see his wife.
Coleman had placed a hand on his shoulder.
He remembered the doctor's exact words.
Some things are better left unseen.
At the time, Marcus had believed the physician was trying to spare him further grief.
Now those words sounded like a warning.
Brooks opened a folder.
“We've contacted the funeral home.””
“And?””
“The funeral director remembers receiving a sealed transfer from Dr. Coleman's private clinic. The paperwork was incomplete.””
Marcus looked up.
“Who was in the coffin?””
“We don't know yet.””
The detective placed another photograph on the desk.
It showed a woman entering a private medical facility through a rear entrance.
Her face was partially hidden by a scarf.
Marcus leaned closer.
“That's Vanessa.””
“Yes.””
“When was this taken?””
“Two days before your wife's funeral.””
Marcus stared at the photograph.
“Why was she there?””
Brooks opened another file.
“According to the clinic's records, she was present during an emergency admission involving an unidentified female patient.””
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Was it Elina?””
“Possibly.””
“Why possibly?””
“Because the medical record was altered. The original patient name was removed.””
Marcus pushed the photograph away.
“I want to speak to Coleman.””
Brooks hesitated.
“You'll get your opportunity.””
“Now.””
The detective studied him.
Then he opened the office door.
A few minutes later, Coleman entered with an officer.
The doctor looked exhausted.
His shirt collar was damp, and his glasses were slightly crooked.
Marcus stood.
“Who was in the coffin?””
Coleman sat down without answering.
“Marcus, you need to understand that there were circumstances—”
“WHO WAS IN THE COFFIN?””
Coleman flinched.
“The body was unidentified.””
Marcus stared.
“You buried a stranger in my wife's name?””
“I did what I was instructed to do.””
“By whom?””
The doctor looked toward the officer.
Brooks folded his arms.
“You should answer.””
Coleman rubbed his forehead.
“Vanessa came to me shortly after Elina was admitted to the clinic. She said Elina had suffered a serious neurological episode and was unlikely to recover.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My wife was healthy.””
“She had been given medication.””
“What medication?””
“Sedatives. Strong ones.””
“Who gave them to her?””
Coleman looked down.
“Vanessa.””
Marcus gripped the back of his chair.
“Why?””
“She wanted Elina declared incapable of managing her affairs.””
“That's not an answer.””
Coleman swallowed.
“Your wife had recently discovered financial irregularities in the family company.””
Marcus went still.
“What irregularities?””
“Transfers. Unauthorized withdrawals. Property transactions made without your knowledge.””
Marcus remembered Elina's final weeks.
She had spent hours in her study, reviewing bank statements.
She had told him something was wrong.
He had been too busy managing the company to listen.
One night, she had placed a folder in front of him.
“Marcus, we need to talk about Vanessa.””
He had glanced at his phone.
“Tomorrow, sweetheart. I have a board meeting.””
Elina had looked disappointed.
“Please don't wait too long.””
He had kissed her forehead.
He had never seen that folder again.
Now he understood.
Vanessa hadn't simply wanted his wife out of the way.
She wanted access to everything Elina had discovered.
Marcus looked at Coleman.
“What happened after she was admitted?””
“The plan was to transfer her to a long-term facility under another identity.””
“But she escaped?””
Coleman nodded slowly.
“She regained consciousness earlier than expected. She tried to contact you.””
“And you stopped her?””
The doctor closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
Marcus's hands curled into fists.
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa threatened my family.””
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Brooks placed another photograph on the desk.
It showed a second woman entering the clinic.
This one was wearing a nurse's uniform.
Marcus studied her face.
He didn't recognize her.
But Coleman did.
His expression changed immediately.
“Where did you get that?””
Brooks leaned forward.
“Who is she?””
The doctor looked at Marcus.
Then he whispered:
“She was the woman Vanessa used to replace your wife.””
Marcus stared.
“What woman?””
Coleman hesitated.
“She was supposed to be buried under Elina's name.””
Brooks pointed to the photograph.
“Give us her identity.””
The doctor swallowed.
“Her name was Claire Bennett. She was one of the patients at my clinic.””
Marcus felt a chill.
“Was?””
Coleman nodded.
“She died during the treatment.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“Then why was Vanessa photographed with her?””
Coleman opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Marcus's phone rang.
It was the hospital.
He answered immediately.
“Hello?””
A nurse spoke quickly.
“Mr. Hale, your wife is awake. She's asking for you.””
Marcus exhaled.
“I'm coming.””
But the nurse didn't hang up.
“There's something else.””
His stomach tightened.
“What?””
“Your wife asked us to check her personal belongings. We found a small envelope hidden inside the lining of her dress.””
Marcus looked toward Brooks.
“What was inside?””
The nurse paused.
“A photograph and a handwritten letter.””
“Can you tell me what the letter says?””
“Yes.””
Her voice dropped.
“Your wife wrote that if she ever escaped, you should never allow your daughter to stay alone with her biological father.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
He looked at Detective Brooks.
“What?””
The nurse continued.
“Mr. Hale, there's a name written at the bottom of the letter.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Whose name?””
A pause.
Then she answered.
“Daniel Hale.””
Marcus's older brother.
The same man who had delivered the eulogy at Elina's funeral.
The same man who had stood beside Marcus and promised to help raise Lily.
May you like
And the man who had been named as Lily's emergency guardian fourteen months earlier.
*But Daniel had died in a car accident three weeks before Elina disappeared.*
