Chapter 6 - THOMAS WHITAKER’S DEATH
Thomas died six years earlier at sixty-three.
Marlene told us he complained of chest pain after dinner.
She called an ambulance.
He died before reaching the hospital.
That story appeared in the obituary.
At church.
At the funeral.
Everywhere.
It was false.
The death certificate listed location.
Whitaker Medical Supply Corporate Office.
9:47 p.m.
I stared at the copy Detective Chen showed us.
“Why lie?”
Emily shook her head.
Thomas had been working late.
Marlene came to the office.
Security footage from that time no longer existed.
But access logs did.
Marlene entered at 8:13.
Thomas collapsed at 9:31.
She called 911 at 9:38.
Seven minutes.
Seven minutes between collapse and emergency call.
Marlene told investigators at the time she thought he had fainted.
No autopsy was performed because Thomas had documented cardiovascular disease.
Except his cardiologist later wrote that his condition was stable.
Nothing proved foul play.
Not yet.
But Detective Chen reopened the circumstances because of the current medication case.
Then Thomas’s retired attorney, Walter Greene, contacted us.
He was the man who sent Emily the trust copy.
He had more.
“I didn’t tell Emily everything the first time.”
Walter sat across from us in his small retirement apartment.
“Why?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of Marlene?”
“Of what she had.”
“What did she have?”
He looked ashamed.
“Evidence I helped process the revised estate documents.”
Emily went still.
“You helped her?”
“I believed Thomas signed them.”
“Did he?”
Walter closed his eyes.
“No.”
He discovered the signature discrepancy after Thomas died.
By then, Marlene had already taken control of the company.
She threatened to expose Walter for professional negligence if he challenged it.
He stayed silent.
For six years.
Emily’s face hardened.
“You let her steal my father’s company.”
Walter nodded.
“Yes.”
I expected him to defend himself.
He didn’t.
That mattered.
Then he handed us a sealed envelope.
“This is why I finally contacted you.”
Inside was a copy of an email Thomas sent the afternoon before he died.
Walter,
Marlene has discovered I am transferring controlling interest to Emily.
She is furious.
Do not process any amendment unless I deliver it personally.
If anything happens to me, give Emily the original trust.
Do not trust Marlene with my medication list.
I stopped reading.
“Medication list?”
Walter nodded.
“Thomas was taking a blood thinner.”
Detective Chen leaned forward.
“What kind?”
“Warfarin.”
My skin prickled.
Thomas also took medication for blood pressure.
A dangerous interaction or overdose could cause internal bleeding or a fatal event.
His original hospital bloodwork still existed.
Detective Chen requested it.
Then Walter said something else.
“Thomas called me at 8:52 that night.”
“What did he say?”
Walter’s hands trembled.
“He said Marlene had brought him a drink.”
Emily stopped breathing.
“What kind?”
May you like
Walter looked at her.
“Tea.”
