The Chip Hidden in My Dead Wife's Hand|
Chapter 3 - The Doctor at the Funeral
Daniel returned to the mansion before sunrise.
The house was quiet except for the staff moving flowers and folding chairs. Emily's coffin had been closed. Margaret had ordered it done while Daniel was gone.
That alone told him she was afraid.
He found Dr. Adrian Bell in the library, standing near the fireplace with a cup of coffee. He looked too polished for a man who had supposedly been up all night mourning a patient.
Daniel closed the door behind him.
The doctor turned.
"Captain Carter. I am sorry for your loss."
Daniel walked closer.
"Did you prescribe sedatives to my wife the week she died?"
The doctor's hand tightened around the cup.
"Emily was anxious. Her mother asked me to help."
"That is not what I asked."
Bell looked away.
Daniel stepped forward.
"I have the medication record."
The doctor paled.
"I did not know what they were planning."
Daniel's voice dropped.
"They?"
Bell set the cup down slowly.
"Lucas came to me first. He said Emily was having paranoid episodes. Margaret confirmed it. They wanted something to calm her."
"Enough to make a fall look accidental."
"I did not know that."
Daniel grabbed the doctor's collar and shoved him against the bookshelf.
For one second, he wanted to forget every rule he had ever lived by.
But Emily's face on the video stopped him.
She had not risked everything so he could destroy the evidence with rage.
He released Bell.
"You are going to give a statement."
Bell shook his head. "Lucas will ruin me."
Daniel leaned closer.
"Lucas is going to prison. The only question is whether you go with him as an accomplice or as a witness."
The doctor's fear finally overcame his loyalty.
He told Daniel everything.
Emily had discovered Lucas was moving charity money into foreign accounts. Margaret knew, but she believed exposing him would destroy the family name. When Emily refused to stay silent, Lucas and Margaret created a story about emotional instability. The sedatives were meant to weaken her. The balcony confrontation was supposed to scare her.
But Emily fought back.
She hid the chip.
And then she fell.
"Did Lucas push her?" Daniel asked.
Bell looked sick.
"I did not see it."
"But someone did."
The doctor hesitated.
"The housekeeper."
Daniel frowned.
"Mrs. Alvarez?"
Bell nodded. "She was bringing tea upstairs."
Daniel left him there and went straight to the servants' wing.
Mrs. Alvarez was packing a small suitcase.
When she saw Daniel, she began to cry.
"They told me to leave before noon."
"Who?"
"Mrs. Vale."
Daniel stepped into the room.
"What did you see the night Emily died?"
The woman covered her mouth.
"I saw Mr. Lucas push her."
Daniel closed his eyes.
There it was.
The truth.
But Mrs. Alvarez shook her head.
"That is not all."
Daniel opened his eyes.
"What else?"
She reached into her suitcase and pulled out a silver bracelet.
Emily's bracelet.
"She dropped this before she fell. Inside the clasp, there is a second chip."
Daniel stared at it.
Emily had known the first one might not be enough.
His wife had left a backup.
