Chapter 6 - The Nurse Who Wouldn't Lie
I called Faye back six times.
Straight to voicemail.
Samuel contacted the local police department and asked for a welfare check.
"We have evidence of a possible forged deed," he explained. "A witness says someone is at her home. We can't assume she's safe."
I wanted to drive there myself.
Master Chief Ward caught me at the side exit.
"With respect, ma'am, you look like you could chew through steel."
"Is that an official assessment?"
"No. Officially, you should ice your face. Unofficially, let the police do their job."
Elias had served with me years earlier, when I'd been a young officer learning that a good command depends on people willing to tell the truth.
He handed me a clean handkerchief.
"The room didn't stand because of your stars," he said. "It stood because what happened was wrong."
That nearly undid me.
For years I'd imagined that a promotion might finally make my mother proud.
I'd stopped believing it would.
I hadn't stopped wanting it.
An hour later Faye called from a patrol car.
She was unharmed, but someone had smashed her front window and left a warning on the porch.
"Don't ask me to be brave," she said, crying. "I have grandchildren."
"I won't," I promised. "You don't owe us a dangerous moment. Tell the detectives what you can, with a lawyer present."
She hesitated.
"I kept a copy of Frank's care notes. He asked me to."
"Where are they?"
"Somewhere Derek can't get them."
Then she gave me a date: November 17.
May you like
The day Dad supposedly signed the deed.
"Check his hospital admission record," Faye said. "He was in intensive care all day."
