Severed Mother-Daughter Ties novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Hearing

The hearing was held on Tuesday morning in the boardroom on the ninth floor.

Eight people sat along a long table, and the director of medical affairs sat at the head of it.

Chester Pemberton sat at the foot, in his navy overcoat, with his hands on his cane.

Colleen sat beside him in cream, with a folded handkerchief on her knee.

I took the chair at the middle of the table, alone.

Dustin had wanted to come, and I'd told him to stay with Lacey.

Wylie stood against the back wall with his arms folded, because the board had not asked him to sit.

"This review concerns Dr. Shirley's conduct toward the Pemberton family," the director said. "Mrs. Pemberton, you asked to speak first."

"Thank you." Colleen rose and rested two fingers on the table.

Her voice was soft, and it carried to every corner.

"I want to say first that Dr. Shirley saved my daughter's life," she said. "I will never stop being grateful."

I waited.

"But I have run a foundation for twenty-seven years," she went on, "and I know the shape of a certain kind of visitor."

She let the pause sit.

"There have been forty-one women who came to us claiming to be my lost girl. I met every one of them myself. Some of them were sick, and some were only sad."

A man at the table nodded.

"And some," she said gently, "were careful."

"Mrs. Pemberton," the director said.

"Dr. Shirley changed her name at fifteen. Our investigator has the filing. She arrives at this hospital, she asks to be taken off my daughter's case, and she is then in the room, close, at every turning point."

"I recused myself on the first day," I said.

"Yes. Which let you be close without being accountable."

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