Chapter 5 - A Doctor Who Never Called
For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Sloane looked at the notebook, then at the key in Daniel’s hand.
“Julia’s old clutter,” she said at last. “I thought we agreed to clear this out.”
“We never agreed to throw away her things.”
“You agreed to let me manage the house.”
“I agreed to let you organize it. Not erase it.”
Her gaze flicked toward the notebook. “You’re upset. Put that away and get some sleep.”
Daniel closed the drawer. “Who is Dr. Harlan?”
Sloane’s expression went blank. It was the smallest change, but Daniel saw it now.
“Oliver’s grief counselor,” she said.
“He has never met Oliver.”
“He consulted with the program.”
“Then why does his signature appear on a recommendation for residential treatment?”
Sloane took one step down. “You’re misunderstanding a draft.”
“I’m calling him.”
“Not at this hour.”
Daniel called. Dr. Harlan answered groggily, and Daniel explained the recommendation bearing his signature.
There was a long silence.
“I have never evaluated Oliver or recommended residential treatment,” Harlan said. “I spoke with Ms. Whitaker about counseling and told her no decision should be made without you.”
Daniel looked at Sloane.
She had stopped halfway down the stairs. Her face had gone pale, but her eyes were furious.
“Could you email me that statement?” Daniel asked.
“Yes. And Mr. Mercer? Please do not send your son anywhere based on a document you cannot verify. If someone used my name, I need to know.”
When the call ended, Sloane crossed the remaining steps. “You’ve embarrassed me by dragging a doctor into a private family matter.”
“You used his name.”
“I was trying to get Oliver help.”
“Then why did you lie?”
For a moment, Sloane’s polished mask slipped. She looked furious at being challenged.
“You think you can manage a grieving child, a hotel company, and a foundation alone?” she asked. “You can barely remember to pick him up from school.”
“That may be true. It still doesn’t make your signature real.”
She snatched her purse from a chair. “You’ll regret humiliating me.”
She left the house without taking her coat.
May you like
Daniel watched her car disappear down the drive. Then his phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number.
It contained one sentence: “If you want to know what Julia found, ask who owns Brightwater Youth Services.”
