Chapter 6 - The AccusationI dried my hands on a paper towel, my muscles aching with every single movement as I walked out into the brightly lit waiting area.
Victoria Vance was sitting in a wheelchair, a white bandage wrapped tightly around her forehead, her designer coat ruined with dirt and dried blood. Flanking her were two county police officers and a man I had never seen beforeâa sharp-looking defense attorney clutching a heavy leather briefcase.
The moment Victoria saw me step through the doors, her eyes lit up with a vicious, triumphant fire.
"That's her," Victoria pointed a trembling, manicured finger directly at me, her voice echoing off the tile walls. "That's the doctor. Arrest her."
The two police officers stepped forward immediately, blocking my path.
"Dr. Adelaide Brooks?" the lead officer asked, placing his hand near his holster. "We have received a formal complaint and sworn statement alleging professional misconduct, targeted sabotage, and intentional endangerment of a patient."
The waiting room went dead silent. Several nurses stopped in their tracks, mouths agape.
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my swollen stomach, refusing to show a single ounce of intimidation. "Sabotage? Are you out of your mind, Officer? I just spent three hours elbow-deep in your star witness's chest cavity saving his life."
"Not Elias, you fool!" Victoria spat, wheeling herself forward with venomous hatred. "Me! You knew we were in that car! You knew Elias broke off our engagement because of your little pregnancy stunt tonight! You rigged the traffic lights! You arranged for that semi-truck to hit our car on the Westside Highway!"
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
Even the police officers looked momentarily stunned by the sheer absurdity of the accusation.
"Are you insane?" I retorted, stepping closer despite my exhaustion. "I was on a mandatory 16-hour shift inside this hospital while you were out on the highway! Check the security cameras! Check my badge swipes! I haven't left this building in twelve hours!"
"You didn't have to leave the building to hire someone, Dr. Brooks," the defense attorney stepped in smoothly, opening his briefcase and pulling out a printed stack of bank statements. "We happen to have records of a recent wire transfer from a shell account directly to a known towing and logistics company in the city. A transfer authorized from an IP address originating right here inside County General Hospital."
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My blood ran cold.
Not because I had done itâbecause I knew who had.
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