Page 181 of Bad Blood

“The depositions start in a couple of weeks. The evidence we’ve gathered clears your name. We were figuring out some last-minute details. Discussing your testimony and if we need it.”

Did he say what I think he did? I’m getting so close! Am I doing all this for nothing?

I stare at him, afraid to speak. I’m not sure if the words that surface in my mind are appropriate to say out loud. My stomach sinks as an avalanche of ice cools my insides. The thought of being on the stand and getting to testify against Kline is what I’ve been waiting for. And they better not take that from me.

Luca joins him at the door. “Brighton. Just the person I wanted to see.”

The two of them shake hands, and Luca claps Robert on the back. “Let me know if you need to go over anything else.”

He says goodbye to the secretary as Luca guides me into his office.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?” The deep worry in his voice is authentic, and I try to compose myself because I’m not here to discuss the deposition.

“I know Kline made me take time—”

“He said you requested a break. That the pressure of the deposition and a couple of special care patients was wearing on you.”

White-hot anger courses through me. This has to stop. I can appreciate the twist on Kline’s intentions, but I won’t take his crap anymore. My hands tremble, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m on to something. I just need the chance to explain what else I’ve found.

The vision of how this plays out materializes in my mind so quickly that I can barely catch my breath before words start spouting out of my mouth. “I found more patients. And have information about Carrie and Jessie and—”

Luca’s eyes widen as he guides me to a chair at the front of his desk, waiting until the door is closed before he speaks. “Be careful what you say around others.” He gestures for me to take a seat and slides into his own, his eyes boring into me. “You have privileged information.”

I slide my computer across his desk, facing the screen in his direction.

He leans across his paperwork, settling his elbows on the desktop, his attention on the screen.

I click to pull up the first file.

Grady Fields.

The evidence sits at the bottom of the surgical note. Kline’s signature and the date.

“What is this?” Luca leans closer, tracing his finger across the bottom of the screen.

“That’s where this all started.”

“Your brother.” A flicker of confusion spreads across his eyes before it slips into concern.

I swallow the knot in my throat, click the X at the top of the screen, and open Julie West’s file. I click on her CT scan and rotate the screen toward him.

“Another one?” Luca’s distracted, but I need him to focus. I snap my fingers to get him to pay attention, and his nostrils flare when our eyes meet. I can only imagine what he’s thinking and how this throws the case wide open.

“Of many.”

He scans the report, pinches his eyes closed.

“There was a list in his desk drawer. All of them except Fields and Blakely are on it. And Carrie, Jessie, and Tara helped on one or more of their cases.” I click through the patient’s charts, Luca’s face going paler as he appreciates the weight of the evidence I’ve uncovered.

“He only does it when I’m in surgery with him. Except with Grady. And he’s changed information in Blakely’s chart too.”

I try to swallow the lump in my throat and race back to the waiting area, grabbing the two files I left in the seat.

“Misdiagnosis. Incorrect testing protocols. Failing to refer to the proper specialists,” I spout off the information as I re-enter, too eager to wait until the door closes.

“Kline’s killing his patients.” His words are barely audible. He slumps in his chair, his face shifting to a pallid color of ash. He wipes the palm of his hand across his clammy forehead, clearing his throat. “How long have you known?”

I grab Liam’s charts, flip to the CT scan, and skim the radiology findings until I find what I’m looking for.

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