Chapter 9 - THE PAPER HE SIGNED
Preston did not deny the signature.
“I thought it was a standard estate form.”
Audrey stared at him across the hospital conference room.
“You signed a document about taking control of my baby.”
“It was buried in a packet Carlo gave me.”
“You didn’t read it?”
“I trusted him.”
Audrey almost laughed.
“That seems to be everyone’s favorite excuse.”
Gary placed three more documents on the table.
All had Preston’s signature.
One authorized Carlo to seek temporary management of marital assets if Audrey was unable to act.
Another gave Brenda emergency access to a medical information portal.
The third was worse.
It allowed a private physician chosen by the Hale family to evaluate Audrey in any “high-risk prenatal emergency.”
Rocco’s eyes went flat.
“Who is the doctor?”
Gary answered.
“Dr. Miles Kessler.”
Rocco knew the name.
Kessler had signed the death certificate for Thomas Hale.
Preston went white.
“My father’s doctor?”
“Apparently,” Gary said.
Audrey stood.
“Find him.”
Kessler was found at a private clinic forty minutes away.
He tried to leave through a rear exit when he saw Rocco’s men.
Rocco did not touch him.
He simply placed Sofia’s old recording on the desk and pressed play.
Kessler broke before the recording ended.
“Carlo paid me.”
“For what?” Rocco asked.
“To certify Thomas’s death as accidental.”
Preston’s face collapsed.
“And Audrey?”
Kessler looked at the floor.
“I was told to be available if Brenda created a medical emergency.”
Audrey’s voice turned to ice.
“What kind of emergency?”
Kessler whispered the answer.
“One where the baby did not survive.”
Then he added something none of them expected.
“Brenda wasn’t supposed to attack her at the party.”
Rocco leaned forward.
“Then where was it supposed to happen?”
May you like
Kessler looked directly at Audrey.
“During the delivery.”
