Trapped by Them novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: The Sound of Her Own Voice

"Dr. Ferris has been assisting the board with the file," the chief said. "She will sit with us today."

Nobody objected.

Under the table, Tobias's knee pressed against mine and stayed, and on my other side Lachlan's hand closed around my fingers.

Janelle opened her folder and began to speak.

She was good.

She said she had been the intern in the room on Tuesday.

She said she had watched a friend's daughter lie on that table and gone cold when she understood what had been arranged.

Her voice trembled in the right places.

"I held her hand," she said. "I thought, no one should be used like this. I couldn't stay silent."

She looked straight at me with wet, gentle eyes.

The man with the tight mouth nodded slowly.

"Dr. Moffat," the chief said. "Do you wish to respond?"

Lachlan stood.

"Everything she says about Tuesday is true," he said. "I put Ms. Hartigan on the list. I put Dr. McCallister on my service."

He did not look away from the board.

"I did it without telling either of them, and I lied to her face in that room."

A murmur went through the benches.

"I was wrong, and I accept whatever discipline you decide. She was never my patient."

He drew a breath.

"What happened afterward, she chose. I will answer for where some of it happened."

He sat.

His hand found mine under the table again, and it was cold.

"Ms. Hartigan," the chief said. "You asked to speak."

I stood.

My legs were not entirely mine, but my voice came out level.

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