Chapter 11 - THE VOICE OF THE SLEEPING KING
Everett's recovery was slow.
He had lost muscle strength.
His speech was weak.
His body tired quickly.
Some days he could sit upright for only a short time.
Other days he struggled to remain awake through a conversation.
But his mind was returning.
And with it came memories.
One afternoon, Daniel sat beside him with a recorder.
Rebecca Monroe was present.
Willa waited near the window.
Everett looked at them.
“Sterling,” he whispered.
Daniel nodded.
“We know.”
Everett swallowed.
“Money.”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“What money?”
Everett closed his eyes.
Then spoke slowly.
“Hospital contracts.”
Willa felt cold.
“St. Ambrose?”
Everett nodded.
Over several sessions, Everett explained what he remembered.
He had discovered that Sterling was using Kane-owned logistics companies to move money through fraudulent medical supply contracts.
Whitfield and Grant Allison were involved in approving false invoices and concealing irregularities.
Harold Fisk had been an outside auditor who noticed discrepancies.
He had tried to report them.
Then he died.
Everett had begun investigating.
He found evidence suggesting Willa's electronic credentials had been used without authorization.
He planned to contact her.
But before he could, his car was struck on a rural road outside Chicago.
The crash left him critically injured.
Whitfield became his private physician.
Sterling obtained temporary control over his affairs.
And Everett never woke up.
At least, not in any way anyone acknowledged.
Willa listened in silence.
When Everett finished, she stepped closer.
“You knew about my case.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you help me?”
His eyes filled.
“Trying.”
Willa swallowed.
“I lost everything.”
Everett looked down.
“I know.”
She began crying.
He reached toward her.
His hand trembled.
“Sorry.”
Willa shook her head.
“You didn't frame me.”
“No.”
He swallowed.
“But I waited too long.”
Willa sat beside him.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Everett whispered:
“I heard you.”
She looked at him.
“At the wedding?”
He nodded.
“You said you wouldn't laugh.”
Willa smiled through tears.
“I meant it.”
Everett looked at her.
“You were the first person who spoke to me like I was alive.”
May you like
Willa took his hand.
“And you were.”
