Chapter 9: Six Minutes Before Goodbye
Russell sat motionless at the kitchen table.
The phone was still pressed against his ear.
"You're telling me Dana came back six minutes before my wife died?""
"That's what the footage indicates," Thomas replied.
"Was she alone?""
"Yes.""
"Did she enter the room?""
"Yes.""
Russell closed his eyes.
He remembered that night.
He remembered Dana arriving home at nearly ten.
He remembered asking whether his wife had been comfortable.
He remembered Dana saying she had fallen asleep peacefully.
He remembered thanking her for staying.
And now he knew Dana had returned to the hospital just six minutes before his wife died.
"Can I see the footage?""
"I'm arranging access through the hospital's legal department.""
"Do it.""
"Russell, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The medical records show that your wife requested a private conversation with a nurse shortly before her death.""
Russell's heart tightened.
"What did she say?""
"We don't know yet. The nurse's statement is part of the archived records.""
Russell looked toward the stairs.
Ellie was upstairs, drawing quietly.
"Find out everything.""
"I will.""
He ended the call.
Then he sat there for several minutes, staring at the silver necklace.
His wife's final six minutes.
What had happened in that room?
And why had Dana hidden it?
The next morning, Russell went to the hospital with Thomas.
The attorney had arranged a meeting with the hospital's records supervisor.
They were led into a small conference room.
A woman named Rebecca entered carrying a folder.
"Mr. Russell, I'm sorry for your loss.""
"Thank you.""
Rebecca opened the folder.
"We reviewed the archived security footage and the relevant nursing notes.""
Russell leaned forward.
"Can I see them?""
She nodded.
A monitor was switched on.
The footage showed a hospital corridor.
At 8:40 p.m., Marcus entered.
Dana followed him.
They disappeared into the room.
Thirty-two minutes later, Marcus left.
Dana remained inside.
At 9:12 p.m., she exited the room.
Russell watched the clock.
Then, at 9:47 p.m., Dana returned.
She was carrying a small paper bag.
She entered the room alone.
Six minutes later, a nurse rushed through the corridor.
A second nurse followed.
Then a doctor.
Russell looked away.
"Stop it.""
Rebecca paused the footage.
"I'm sorry.""
Russell rubbed his face.
"What happened?""
Rebecca opened the medical notes.
"Your wife experienced a sudden deterioration.""
"Was she conscious?""
"Initially, yes.""
"Did she speak?""
Rebecca turned a page.
"According to the nurse's notes, she asked for her daughter.""
Russell swallowed.
"Ellie?""
"Yes.""
His eyes filled.
"What else?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"She also asked whether her husband had been contacted.""
Russell looked down.
"I was at home.""
"I understand.""
"Why didn't anyone call me sooner?""
Rebecca checked the notes.
"Your wife requested that the nurse not disturb you until she had spoken to someone privately.""
"Who?""
Rebecca read the entry.
"She asked whether the visitor had left.""
Russell looked up.
"Which visitor?""
"The notes don't specify.""
He felt a chill.
"Did she say anything about Dana?""
Rebecca shook her head.
"Not in the notes we have.""
Then she removed another page.
"This is a statement from the nurse who was on duty.""
Russell took it.
The nurse had written:
*At approximately 9:50 p.m., patient appeared distressed and repeatedly stated that someone had taken an important document. Patient asked that her daughter be protected.*
Russell read the sentence twice.
"An important document?""
Rebecca nodded.
"That's all she recorded.""
Russell looked at Thomas.
"Can we find out what document?""
Thomas nodded.
"We'll investigate.""
After leaving the hospital, Russell drove to Margaret's house.
He showed her the nurse's statement.
Margaret read it slowly.
Then she covered her mouth.
"What is it?"" Russell asked.
Margaret walked to the cabinet and removed a small wooden box.
She opened it.
Inside were several old photographs and a folded envelope.
"I think I know what document your wife meant.""
Russell leaned forward.
Margaret took out a photograph.
It showed his late wife sitting at a desk.
On the desk was a blue folder.
Russell recognized it.
It was the same folder he had seen in the USB photographs.
"What's inside?""
Margaret removed a folded legal document.
"Your wife gave me this shortly before she died.""
Russell looked at the heading.
It was a declaration of parental responsibility.
His name appeared at the top.
But there was another name beneath it.
Marcus Reed.
The document had been prepared for a legal proceeding.
Russell read the first paragraph.
His late wife had formally confirmed that Marcus was Ellie's biological father.
But the second paragraph was more important.
She had also documented that Marcus had voluntarily abandoned his parental responsibilities before Ellie was born.
And she had requested that Russell be recognized as Ellie's legal father through the appropriate legal process.
Russell stared.
"She was trying to make it official.""
Margaret nodded.
"She wanted you protected. She wanted Ellie protected.""
"Was it completed?""
Margaret looked down.
"That's what I don't know.""
Russell examined the final page.
There was a signature.
His wife's.
And beneath it, a handwritten note.
*The final copy must be delivered to Thomas before Marcus discovers the filing.*
Russell looked at his mother.
"Why didn't you give this to Thomas?""
"Your wife asked me to wait until you knew the full story.""
Russell closed his eyes.
Then he understood.
The document Dana and Marcus wanted wasn't simply the property deed.
It was this declaration.
If Marcus could challenge the parental arrangement, he might use the biological connection to create a dispute over Ellie's inheritance and living arrangements.
And Dana had been helping him.
Meanwhile, at the house, Dana was sitting in the living room with Patricia.
A laptop was open on the coffee table.
Patricia looked at a message on her phone.
"Marcus says Russell has seen the hospital footage.""
Dana pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"How?""
"Someone at the hospital must have spoken.""
"That footage wasn't supposed to exist.""
Patricia looked at her.
"What did you expect? That he would never investigate?""
Dana stood and walked to the window.
"He was supposed to accept the arrangement.""
"Well, he didn't.""
Dana turned sharply.
"You said Marcus could handle this.""
Patricia lowered her voice.
"He can. But we need the original declaration.""
"I don't have it.""
"Then find it.""
Dana laughed bitterly.
"Do you think I haven't tried?""
Patricia opened her handbag and removed a small notebook.
"Marcus wants the document before Thomas files anything.""
Dana shook her head.
"I can't keep doing this.""
Patricia leaned forward.
"You're already involved.""
"I didn't know he would go this far.""
"Then you should have thought about that before accepting his money.""
Dana stared at her mother.
Patricia continued.
"Do you want to lose your marriage? Your home? Your future?""
Dana's eyes filled.
"I wanted a normal family.""
Patricia's expression softened slightly.
"Then you should have made sure you got what you were promised.""
Dana looked toward the staircase.
Cole was standing there.
He had heard everything.
"Mom?""
Dana turned.
"How long have you been standing there?""
Cole looked at the notebook.
"Who paid you?""
Patricia immediately closed it.
"Go to your room, Cole.""
He didn't move.
"Is that why you keep trying to get Ellie out?""
Dana stepped toward him.
"Cole, this is adult business.""
"You're getting money to make her leave?""
Dana reached for his shoulder.
He stepped back.
"Don't touch me.""
The words stunned her.
Cole's eyes were wet.
"You told me Ellie was ruining our family.""
Dana looked at him.
"I was trying to protect us.""
"From what?""
She had no answer.
Cole shook his head.
"She didn't even do anything.""
He turned and walked upstairs.
Dana stood in the living room.
For the first time, even her own son seemed ashamed of her.
That evening, Russell returned home.
He found Cole sitting alone on the front porch.
The boy looked up.
"Can I talk to you?""
Russell nodded.
They sat on the steps.
Cole stared at the driveway.
"Is Mom going to jail?""
Russell took a breath.
"I don't know what's going to happen.""
"She said she was doing everything for me.""
Russell looked at him.
"Did you know she was taking money?""
Cole shook his head.
"Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"Last week. I heard her talking to Grandma Patricia.""
Russell remained quiet.
Cole rubbed his eyes.
"She said Ellie had to leave before the lawyers found out.""
Russell looked toward the front door.
"Why are you telling me this?""
Cole swallowed.
"Because I don't want Ellie to think I hate her.""
Russell softened.
"Then tell her.""
Cole looked down.
"She's probably never going to forgive me.""
"That depends on what you do next.""
Cole nodded.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small silver object.
Russell recognized it immediately.
Ellie's mother's necklace.
"I took it.""
Russell stared.
"What?""
"Mom gave it to me. She said to keep it somewhere safe.""
"Why?""
Cole looked ashamed.
"She said it was worth a lot.""
Russell held out his hand.
Cole placed the necklace in it.
"I'm sorry.""
Russell studied the boy.
"Did you know it belonged to Ellie's mother?""
Cole nodded.
"Mom told me.""
"Then why did you take it?""
"Because I wanted the gaming desk. Mom said if I helped her, she'd get me the things I wanted.""
Russell looked at him for a long moment.
Then he said quietly:
"You need to understand that things you want aren't worth hurting someone else.""
Cole nodded.
"I know.""
Inside the house, Ellie was waiting beside the wooden sign.
All four handprints were visible.
She had carefully placed the sign on the dining table.
Cole walked in first.
He stopped when he saw her.
"Ellie?""
She looked up.
"What?""
Cole approached slowly.
"I need to tell you something.""
Ellie held the edge of the table.
"What?""
Cole lowered his head.
"I'm sorry I laughed when your handprint got erased.""
Ellie didn't answer.
"And I'm sorry I said the sign looked better without you.""
He looked at her.
"I didn't mean it.""
Ellie studied his face.
"Yes, you did.""
Cole swallowed.
"Maybe I did then.""
She looked down.
"Why?""
"Because Mom kept telling me you were taking everything away from me.""
Ellie frowned.
"I never took anything from you.""
"I know.""
He took a breath.
"And I gave Mom your necklace.""
Ellie's face changed.
"You what?""
Cole held out his hand.
The silver necklace rested in his palm.
"I'm sorry.""
Ellie picked it up.
She held it tightly.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she asked:
"Do you still want me to leave?""
Cole shook his head.
"No.""
Ellie nodded.
"Okay.""
It wasn't forgiveness.
Not yet.
But it was the beginning of something different.
At 10:16 p.m., Russell's phone rang.
Thomas.
"We've located the original declaration.""
Russell sat up.
"Where?""
"Your late wife's attorney had a copy in a separate archive.""
"Then we're safe?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
"There's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"The declaration was never finalized.""
Russell frowned.
"Why?""
"Because the required acknowledgment was missing.""
"What acknowledgment?""
Thomas paused.
"Yours.""
Russell went cold.
"I never received it.""
"According to the file, a notice was delivered to your home four years ago. It was signed for.""
Russell stared at the wall.
"Who signed it?""
Thomas read the name.
"Dana.""
Russell's stomach dropped.
"She signed for a legal notice addressed to me?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't she give it to me?""
Thomas lowered his voice.
"That's what we need to establish.""
Russell looked toward the hallway.
Then he remembered something.
The small locked drawer in Dana's desk.
She had always told him it contained personal paperwork.
He had never questioned it.
Now he wondered what else she had hidden.
Thomas spoke again.
"Russell, there's one more detail.""
"What?""
"The document was returned to the attorney's office six weeks later.""
"Why?""
"Someone wrote that you had declined to proceed.""
Russell gripped the phone.
"I never declined anything.""
Thomas was silent.
Then he said:
"Russell, we believe someone deliberately prevented your wife's final legal wishes from being completed.""
The call ended.
Russell looked toward the staircase.
And in that moment, he realized something terrible.
May you like
Dana hadn't simply helped Marcus.
She might have spent four years making sure Russell never became Ellie's legal father.
