Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME AFTER MIDNIGHT
Daniel Caldwell had spent years pretending he wanted nothing to do with his brother's fortune.
Now investigators had found payments linking him to Noah's care-management company.
Ethan stared at the records.
"My brother?"
Detective Mitchell nodded.
"His name appears in several transactions."
I watched Ethan struggle to remain calm.
He and Daniel had barely spoken since Olivia died.
According to Ethan, Daniel had resented the family's wealth and accused his older brother of choosing business over family.
He'd moved to Vermont.
Started a construction company.
And refused invitations to return.
At least, that was what Ethan believed.
Now security footage showed Daniel entering the estate after midnight.
"What was he doing here?" Ethan demanded.
"We're investigating."
Ethan looked toward Noah's room.
"Did he see my son?"
"According to the access logs, yes."
My stomach tightened.
Then something occurred to me.
"Noah mentioned someone."
Both turned.
I swallowed.
"During my second week, he told me a man visited at night and asked questions about his medicine."
Ethan frowned.
"What man?"
"Noah called him Uncle Danny."
Ethan closed his eyes.
I continued.
"He said Danny told him to keep trying to be brave."
Detective Mitchell made a note.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"Did Noah seem afraid of him?"
I thought carefully.
"No. He seemed comforted."
Ethan looked up.
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
Maybe Daniel wasn't involved in the scheme.
Maybe he was trying to stop it.
That evening, investigators located him.
He agreed to speak with them.
Ethan asked to attend.
Daniel refused.
But he agreed to meet privately with Rebecca and Detective Mitchell.
Several hours later, Rebecca returned.
Her expression was serious.
"Ethan, your brother says he's been investigating Margaret."
Ethan stared.
"What?"
"He claims the payments were reimbursements for equipment and expenses related to information gathering."
My stomach tightened.
"Was he working with law enforcement?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"He says he contacted an attorney and filed complaints with the state medical board. Investigators are verifying his account."
Ethan slowly sat down.
"Why didn't he tell me?"
Rebecca looked toward him.
"Daniel says he tried."
A terrible silence followed.
Then she produced copies of letters.
Three of them.
All addressed to Ethan.
All warning that Noah's care was being controlled by people with financial conflicts of interest.
I recognized one immediately.
The same style of warning I'd submitted through the caregiver portal.
Ethan stared at the letters.
"I never received these."
Rebecca nodded.
"They were intercepted at the estate."
His face crumpled.
"Margaret."
Then Daniel finally agreed to see him.
The brothers met in a hospital conference room.
I waited outside.
Through the glass, I watched Daniel stand.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Ethan crossed the room.
He wrapped his arms around his younger brother.
Daniel began crying.
I turned away.
The reunion belonged to them.
Later, Ethan told me what Daniel had revealed.
Olivia Caldwell had contacted Daniel shortly before her death.
She'd been worried about Margaret's growing control over household finances.
She'd also questioned several payments made through Ethan's company.
"Olivia was investigating her?" I whispered.
Ethan nodded.
Then his voice broke.
"Daniel says Olivia left him a letter."
My heart tightened.
"What letter?"
Ethan looked toward Noah's room.
"A letter about our son."
May you like
Then he whispered the sentence that changed everything.
"Olivia believed someone was making Noah sick before she died."
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