Chapter 7
Patricia said she had taken Emily’s phone and medicine to keep them safe.
Grant asked why she had not told Daniel when he searched for both. She said she was overwhelmed. She had driven to Claire’s house with them in the car the whole time.
The bottle went to a laboratory. Investigators preserved the phone for examination. Emily gave permission to review her own messages.
She did not ask me to read them. I was grateful she could choose who learned the private parts of her life.
Dr. Kim told Emily the tests supported what she remembered about the sedating medicine. The amount in her system was much higher than the recorded dose.
“I didn’t take that much,” Emily said.
“We’re documenting everything,” Dr. Kim answered.
Emily looked at Daniel. “I want Grace to help me change who can speak for me if I can’t.”
“I’ll support whatever you choose.”
The hospital brought in an independent patient advocate. Grace explained the documents, and Emily signed them only after she had rested and read each page. She named Daniel and Claire in the order she wanted. Patricia was removed from every contact list.
I watched her ask questions until she was satisfied. Each answer seemed to give her back a little ground.
That evening, Emily asked me to sit with her while Daniel went home to bring Lily a change of clothes.
“I remember being inside,” she said.
I held my breath.
“Not all of it. I heard voices. I couldn’t make mine work.”
“You knocked.”
“I thought no one heard.”
“I almost didn’t. The music started.”
She looked at my hands. “You hurt yourself opening it.”
“My thumb’s fine.”
“I was scared when I felt the lid break. Then I heard you say my name.”
I swallowed.
“I thought I was too late.”
“You weren’t.”
We sat together while the monitor made its quiet sounds. Emily had always asked whether I wanted to join her for lunch when I worked at the house. We had talked about Lily’s school and my mother’s garden. I had never expected to sit beside her hospital bed and be grateful for a broken coffin.
“I don’t want to go back to that house yet,” she said.
“You don’t have to.”
“Daniel thinks we can change the locks.”
“He’ll listen if you tell him it’s more than the locks.”
Emily turned her face toward me. “Do you think he will?”
“I’ve seen him listen this week. You can decide whether it’s enough.”
She nodded.
The next day, Grant returned with news from the phone. Some messages Emily had written to Daniel never reached him. They had been deleted from her device before they could be sent. Others to Dr. Perez had gone through.
The phone had also been used after Emily was declared dead. Someone had opened her messages and deleted a draft to Grace Bell.
Grant would not say who had held it at each moment. Patricia had admitted taking it. The records would help establish more.
Meanwhile, Dr. Harlan was placed on leave by the hospital while its investigation continued. Grant interviewed him separately.
Daniel called his mother and asked her to explain why she had taken the bottle.
“I didn’t want anyone blaming the doctor,” she said.
“Why would they?”
“Emily mixed up her pills. Harlan was trying to help.”
“Emily says she refused them.”
“She doesn’t remember everything.”
“She remembers enough to ask questions.”
Patricia’s voice rose so loudly I could hear it from across the room.
“You’re choosing her story over mine?”
Daniel glanced at Emily, who was sitting up in bed.
“I’m listening to my wife,” he said.
He ended the call.
I saw Emily’s shoulders lower.
Lily visited that afternoon and brought a drawing of the four of us in the kitchen. She had drawn herself, Daniel, Emily, and me beside a bowl of strawberries. Patricia was not in the picture.
“I made Nia’s hair too tall,” Lily told me.
“It looks exactly right.”
Emily asked Lily about school. Lily said she had told her teacher that her mother was sick and getting better. She did not want to tell the other children about the coffin.
“That’s your choice,” Emily said.
Lily leaned against her. “Can we have strawberries when you come home?”
“Yes.”
After Lily left, Emily told Daniel she wanted to stay with Claire for a while when she was discharged. He looked disappointed. I braced myself.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll help bring whatever you need.”
“You can visit Lily there.”
“I want to see you too, if you want that.”
“I do. I need time.”
He accepted it.
A week later, Emily was well enough to leave the hospital. Dr. Kim gave her clear instructions and arranged follow-up care with Dr. Perez.
Claire had prepared a quiet room. Lily taped paper hearts to the door. I brought fresh sheets and strawberries.
When Emily arrived, she stood at the threshold for a moment. Then Lily took her hand and led her inside.
I thought the worst might finally be behind us.
May you like
That night, Officer Grant called.
The laboratory had tested the bottle from Patricia’s car. Its contents did not match the label.
