Page 23 of Safe With Me

Pax swallowed hard. “A trial? There’ll be a trial?” He wasn’t sure he could survive resurrecting what he’d done in court.

“Not if we can question witness statements and the depositions.” Nick added, “If the case still continues, itwillgo to pretrial. In my experience, these cases rarely go further than this stage.”

“In discovery, could they find out I have nowhere near this kind of money?”

“Theywillfind that out. You’ll need to submit your tax forms since the incident.”

“I’ve earned only a pittance at the Syracuse clinic. And I have a small house that isn’t worth that much. But I have assets.”

“Dr. Barry, Pax, I won’t let them run roughshod over you. I’ll block this at every turn. Now, today, I’d like to take a formal statement of what happened during the surgery.” He fished something out of his pocket. “And record it on this.”

Pax moaned at the thought of telling the story again.

“I know that will be difficult,” Nick continued. “But I need an idea of what kind of proof they have.”

Jackson said, “It’ll be worth the pain it causes in the telling, buddy.”

“Pax nodded.

“I’d like Jackson and Ms. Giordano to leave us alone for this.”

Jackson stood. “Come on Steph. Let’s head out.”

“Pax, do you want me to stay?”

“No. Go with Jackson.”

“All right. I’ll take the dog with me.”

* * *

“I was out drinking the night before the surgery. I didn’t feel well the next day. I shouldn’t have operated.”

“Why did you?”

“I was a cocky bastard. I thought I was so skilled nothing could get in the way.” He wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “I was wrong.”

“You’ll have to stop making self-deprecating statements like that. We can’t defend against this suit if you constantly berate yourself.”

“Understood. I’ll do better.”

“Do you remember who was in the bar where you drank?”

“It was in Syracuse and anyone could have been there. I didn’t recognize any specific person.”

“But people who might recognize you?”

“I suppose. I got a lot of publicity back then. I’m sunk, right?”

“No. There are ways to discredit those kinds of witnesses. Like how many drinks did they see you imbibe. What kind of drinks? Did they see you drive home? And maybe more importantly, how much didtheydrink?”

“People who were there were probably drinking, too.”

“Exactly.”

“What else do we do?”

“We’ll have to see the statements of those who were in the operating room. It’s in discovery.”

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