“Dr. Vale had access to Ethan’s chart.”
Garrett shook his head violently. “No. Andrew wouldn’t.”
But I remembered something.
The night before Ethan died, Andrew had stood beside the IV pump. He had said the alarm was annoying and adjusted the tubing before calling a nurse.
My father saw my face.
“Claire?”
I whispered the truth before I could stop it.
“Vanessa may not have touched the IV at all.”
Detective Klein was already moving.
By evening, Andrew Vale had vanished.
And on Ethan’s hospital chart, investigators found one deleted access log restored from the backup system.
Andrew’s login.
11:02 p.m.
Forty-five minutes before my son’s heart stopped.
Part 8 — The Last Secret Beneath Ethan’s Bed
Andrew was found at a private airfield outside Chicago, trying to board a charter flight under Garrett’s name.
That detail broke something in Garrett.
Not because his brother had betrayed him.
Because Andrew had planned to let Garrett carry the guilt forever.
Detective Klein played Andrew’s confession for us two days later in a windowless room that smelled like burnt coffee and rain-soaked wool.
Andrew did not cry.
