In Sickness and in Lies novel · Chapter 21 of 32

Chapter 21: The Complaint

Bruce's POV

I turned in my badge on Monday morning, and the security guard wouldn't look at me.

The chief medical officer did the talking in his office, with the door shut.

"It's administrative leave," he said. "Not a finding."

"I know what it is."

"The complaint cites photographs, Bruce. I have a donor who sits on the foundation board and calls me twice a week."

"Keane Freight."

He didn't say yes, and he didn't say no.

"Two weeks until the hearing," he said. "Keep your head down."

I did not tell him I had spent the weekend with her, or that I would again.

I put the badge on his desk and walked out.

The text came before I reached the garage.

It was a number I didn't know.

Grill room, Lakeshore Club, noon. Come alone. A reprimand is a footnote. A license is a career. D.K.

I stood in the stairwell and read it twice.

I could have forwarded it to Gwyneth's litigator.

I could have deleted it.

I wanted to see his face.

The Lakeshore Club had a grill room with dark wood and white tablecloths.

Desmond sat at a corner table with a glass of water and no menu.

He half rose as I came across the room.

"Dr. MacGlynn. Thank you for coming."

"I didn't come for lunch."

"No. Sit anyway."

I stayed standing.

He smiled and let me.

"You're a smart man. You know how a board review works," he said.

"A letter goes in the file. Then another."

He turned his glass a quarter turn.

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