Chapter 10 - The Hearing
Elena wanted the employee-health record immediately.
Richard’s attorney moved to block it immediately.
That told Clare they were finally touching something he feared.
For two days, every hour became evidence.
Tracker logs.
Phone records.
The false order.
The attempted hospital interference.
The employee-health chart.
A sworn statement from Tasha.
A request for a child forensic interview so Maya would not be dragged into adult questioning.
Gabriel stayed out of the legal strategy unless Clare asked him a direct question.
He did something else instead.
He made breakfast.
Badly.
Maya stared at the burned pancake on her plate.
“Is this pizza?”
Clare laughed so hard she had to sit down.
Gabriel looked offended. “It was supposed to be a bear.”
“It looks injured,” Clare said.
“Then you, as a nurse, should show some compassion.”
For three minutes, the fear loosened.
Then Elena called.
The New York judge had moved the evidentiary hearing up.
Forty-eight hours.
Clare had to return the next morning.
Her face went numb.
Maya noticed. “Mama?”
“I’m okay.”
Gabriel set down the spatula. “No, you’re not.”
Clare looked at him.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Tell me how I feel.”
He went still.
Then he nodded. “You’re right.”
The quick apology disarmed her.
She had spent years with a man who could turn a correction into a three-hour punishment.
Gabriel simply corrected himself.
That night Clare packed.
Leo slept in the crib beside the guest-room door while Isabella sat nearby reading.
Maya crawled under the blanket beside Clare.
“Do we have to see Daddy?”
“Maybe from far away.”
“I don’t want him mad.”
Clare’s throat tightened. “His anger is not your job.”
Maya played with Bunny’s repaired paw.
Then she whispered, “Daddy said if I told you about the buttons, he would send you away.”
Clare stopped breathing.
“When did he say that?”
Maya shrugged, already retreating into the small, scared place children go when adults need too much from them.
Clare did not ask another question.
She called Elena.
An hour later Elena called back.
“The forensic interviewer can see Maya tomorrow in New York.”
“Good.”
“There’s one more problem.”
Clare closed her eyes.
May you like
“What?”
“Richard’s team filed a new exhibit. They say they recovered your original cloud messages, and this time they have a forensic report claiming the screenshots are authentic.”
