Chapter 10 - The Recording
I stared at the hospital wall while Daniel brought the contents of Robert's clock to the police.
My husband had hidden evidence inside the most precious object in our home.
For twelve years, I had walked past that clock every morning.
I had dusted it every Saturday.
I had stood beside it on Christmas mornings while my grandchildren opened presents.
And behind its beautiful wooden face lay proof of something horrifying.
Detective Brooks arranged for the recovered recording to be examined.
That evening, she returned to my room.
“Margaret, there's audio we believe you should hear.”
Daniel sat beside me.
The detective pressed play.
At first, there was only static.
Then Robert's voice filled the room.
“Dr. Voss, I want the device removed from my wife.”
I stopped breathing.
Voss answered.
“That's not possible without compromising the study.”
Robert's voice sharpened.
“You told me she was receiving a diagnostic examination.”
“She signed the authorization.”
“Because you lied about what it contained!”
I gripped Daniel's hand.
The recording continued.
Robert spoke again.
“You implanted a device in a woman who didn't consent. That's a crime.”
Voss gave a low, humorless laugh.
“You helped design the delivery mechanism, Robert.”
“I never authorized its use on Margaret.”
“Then perhaps you should have read the research agreements more carefully.”
There was a loud sound.
A chair scraping.
Then Robert spoke with a fury I had never heard from him.
“I'm going to the authorities.”
A long silence followed.
Voss answered.
“You should think about what that would do to your family.”
The recording ended.
I sat frozen.
Robert had tried to protect me.
He had confronted the man responsible.
And three days later, he was dead.
“Did Voss kill him?” I whispered.
Detective Brooks answered carefully.
“We're reopening the investigation into your husband's death.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, I saw something beyond his anger.
He was grieving his father all over again.
I held him.
Neither of us spoke.
We didn't need to.
Then Detective Brooks played a second recording.
This one had been captured several hours after the confrontation.
Robert's voice sounded frightened.
“If anything happens to me, investigate the medication Dr. Voss gave me.”
My blood turned cold.
“What medication?”
The detective looked at me.
“We've requested the original toxicology records.”
She paused.
“And there's one more thing.”
She handed me a photograph from the hidden compartment.
It showed Robert standing beside Sarah.
Behind them was a medical supply cabinet.
On the back, Robert had written:
Sarah knows where the real patient records are. Trust her when the time comes.
I looked at Daniel.
His expression mirrored my confusion.
Sarah had known.
But perhaps she had been trying to save me all along.
Then Detective Brooks received a message.
She read it and immediately stood.
“What's happened?” Daniel demanded.
The detective looked toward the door.
“We found Sarah.”
“Is she alive?”
“Yes.”
Relief flooded Daniel's face.
May you like
But the detective wasn't smiling.
“She says she has proof that Dr. Voss is planning to reach Margaret before her surgery.”
