The Perfect Husband's Darkest Secret novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: I Withdraw the Report
Emme's POV
Poppy sat in the front row beside the woman with the clipboard.
She waved at me with the drawing in her hand, and I waved back and did not cry.
Camille sat behind Dalton in a gray suit, with her hands folded.
The judge in the cardigan took the bench at nine.
By ten, she had heard the pharmacist describe a navy cap and a looping *J. Reeve*.
By ten-thirty, she had read the lab report, and the second lab report on the silver tin Camille had given me at my gate.
Same drug, same dose.
Dalton's lawyer rose.
"The petitioner calls the evaluating physician," he said.
The doctor walked to the stand in his new suit.
He put his hand on the book and swore, and he did not look at anyone.
"Doctor," the lawyer said, "you examined Mrs. Reeve on Thursday. Do you stand by your report?"
The doctor looked at Dalton.
Dalton gave him the kindest smile I had ever seen on a human face.
The doctor looked at me.
Then he looked at the judge.
"No," he said.
Dalton's smile did not move, but his hand tightened on the table.
"I'm sorry, Doctor?" the lawyer said.
"I withdraw the report. I withdraw all of it." His voice shook, and then it steadied. "The journal pages were forged by the petitioner's sister. I was paid eighty thousand dollars. I wrote the first prescription in Mrs. Reeve's name without ever meeting her."
A sound went through the gallery.
"Your Honor," the lawyer said, "I need a recess."
"You'll sit down, Counselor," the judge said.
Her gray eyes had gone flat.
"Doctor, where were you at four o'clock yesterday morning?"
"I was at Mr. Reeve's house." The doctor wiped his face with one hand. "His driver found me packing a bag. I was kept in the guest room with a man at the door. I was walked here this morning."
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