Page 24 of Wistful Whispers

My lips press into a firm line.

“So this isn’t new for him,” Ethan mutters.

“No.” I glance at Natalie’s tablet. “It’s his pattern.”

She leans back. “So, where does it leave us with McGloughlin?”

“It’s not about him. Not really. We don’t represent Seamus. He has his own lawyer and his career is his problem, not ours.” I pick at a chip in the table when I realize I inadvertently called the man by his first name. “We only need one thing from him—the truth.”

Because if we can prove Caldwell saw the blood vessel, he knew the risk and proceeded anyway, then he’ll settle. Big. Money.

“Remember. Tomorrow’s deposition isn’t necessarily about pinning anything on McGloughlin,” I remind them. “It’s about figuring out what he knew. Did he see the rupture coming? Did he try to stop it? Did Caldwell ignore him?”

Ethan nods slowly. “What if he backs up Caldwell’s version?”

I sip my coffee. “Then we go after him too.”

“I doubt he’ll be manipulated blindly.” Natalie flips through the medical records. “The surgical notes don’t lie. From all accounts, he’s not some reckless intern—he’s a fourth-year resident with a golden reputation in the OR.”

I glance at the two of them. “Reach out to the residents from Caldwell’s previous cases. See if they’re willing to talk.”

Ethan nods. “Good idea. If McGloughlin isn’t forthcoming tomorrow, knowing he’s not the first might shake something loose.”

“Exactly.” I stack up the papers. “If Caldwell has done this before, McGloughlin deserves to know he’s not special—he’s the latest in a long line of scapegoats.”

Natalie frowns. “What if he didn’t know what was happening was wrong?”

“A demonstratable failure in Caldwell’s leadership. The hospital still pays.” I stand and move toward the door. “Anything else? We can reconvene later.”

Natalie and Ethan shake their heads.

“Tomorrow, we should know the easiest path to get the Blacks their settlement.”

I need to remember why I’m doing this.

Forget my sex dream.

Justice doesn’t care about attraction.

It demands precision, not distraction.

Tomorrow, I’ll look him in the eye and do what needs to be done.

Count on it.

eight

Seamus

The Same Day

SarahMahoneydoesn’tsmile.Doesn’t blink.

She asked for coffee, but I don’t think she tastes it.

She has no time for charm. No space for mistakes.

The woman’s a shark. Exactly what I need. Even if I hate needing it.

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