Chapter 5 - THE EMPTY HOSPITAL ROOM
I woke in the hospital shortly after midnight.
My shoulder was fractured. I had a concussion, extensive bruising and several deep cuts from the broken pottery, but no life-threatening injury.
Mr. Walsh had sent building security into the penthouse after hearing the intercom exchange. They found me losing consciousness near the coffee table while Margaret and Lauren tried to explain that I had fallen during an emotional episode.
Lauren’s phone was still recording.
Daniel arrived at the hospital after 2:00 a.m.
He did not enter my room.
The hospital had been instructed not to release my location or condition to him. My attorney, Natalie Brooks, arranged for me to be transferred before sunrise to a private rehabilitation suite under my maiden name.
At 7:15 the next morning, Daniel, Margaret and Lauren rushed into the original hospital unit.
They found an empty bed.
According to the nurse’s later statement, Daniel demanded to know where his wife had been taken. Margaret said the hospital had no right to hide a daughter-in-law from her family.
The nurse gave them no information.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
It was Mr. Walsh.
“Mr. Carter,” he said, “you need to return to the building.”
“Why?”
“Independent auditors have arrived. They require your access devices and management credentials.”
Daniel began shouting.
Mr. Walsh continued calmly.
“Your authority over trust operations has been suspended. Your mother’s unit is also subject to an occupancy review.”
Margaret snatched the phone.
“You cannot remove me from my son’s property.”
There was a pause.
Then Mr. Walsh said, “Ma’am, your son does not own this building.”
They left the hospital immediately.
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They believed they could still reach Carter House before the truth did.
They were wrong.
