Page 29 of The Defense Rests
Dust motes dance through the air like little ballerinas. I feel claustrophobic being in Roberts' home. It's cluttered. Not like those hoarding shows, but just…cluttered. Like, do you really need six CooCoo Clocks?Maybe he's a collector.The place is mainly organized, and I don't feel icky sitting here on the loveseat. It's not dirty or unclean.
Looking around the space, I notice a tall stack of books on an end table, accompanied by a cozy leather chair. He likes to read. I'd be fearful they would topple over on top of me, and I would have papercuts on my head.
"Here you go," Roberts offers me a coffee cup. It's mismatched from the one he's using.
"Thank you." It smells wonderful as I take my first sip. He added just the right amount of milk and sugar. He said he takes it the same way.
"I was surprised when you called.” He takes a tentative sip of his coffee. “So…you wanted to talk about the Maddison case?" He cocks a brow. Well, I guess we’re jumping right in without the small talk.
"Yeah. The case was sort of thrust upon me, but the more I dug, the more things weren't adding up." I tell him, taking another sip to give myself something to do before setting the it down on the coaster that’s in the shape of a rooster.
"But you don't work there anymore. Correct?" His tone is clarifying, not accusing.
I nod. "I am actually friends with the defendant. Malloy didn't know we had history when he assigned me the case. But something tells me he did some research because he mentioned we were from the same town. Maybe he thought I could convince him to sign the settlement." I'm sick just thinking back on how that all went down and the words flying out of Malloy’s mouth.“Take him to dinner. Schmooze him. Fuck him. I don’t care what you have to do.”
"He knew. He threatened to give you the case when I couldn't move further. He knew you and Dr. Whitmore were both from Rockport Ridge. It's a smallish town, so he probably thought you knew him or at least your parents, since they are both doctors." Roberts confirms everything I already thought. I'm surprised at how much Roberts knows about my family.
"Why did you resign from the case? Malloy said you had family stuff going on. Is everything okay?" Trying to be empathetic. I hope he's not battling some serious illness.
Roberts lets out a laugh. "Is that the rumor going around?" He shakes his head and puts his own mug on the table. His coaster is shaped like a bright yellow lemon. "I was fired when I went to Malloy about my findings. Heather was a scam artist, and I uncovered some things about her. My conscience wouldn't let me destroy an innocent doctor. When I told Malloy about it, he said if I want to keep my job, I will keep my mouth shut and pretend I didn't find anything." He rolls his eyes, and his face is red.
I'd be angry too.
"What is it that you found?" I sit on the edge of my seat and put my forearms on my knees, leaning closer to Roberts.
"Unfortunately, as part of my severance package, I had to sign an NDA–nondisclosure agreement." He rings his handstogether as if debating on telling me anyway. "Look. What I can tell you…go back to the beginning of her original medical records."
I furrow my brows in confusion. "I got them from the clinic."
He shakes his head. "Those aren't the originals. I mean, there was a clinic before the one in Malloy’s file. The doctor made a slip and wrote the name on one of the notes. I got the records. They were whole and untouched, yet slightly different. Trust me, it's in there, and then you'll need to subpoena them like I did. I know the hearing starts soon, so you'll need to do this ASAP. Like, leave now and get the paperwork filed, ASAP. Dr. Whitmore doesn't deserve what he's going through."
I finish my coffee and thank Roberts for meeting me. We were always friendly with each other in the office, but we'll never be best of friends.
"Good luck, Kai."
He reaches his hand out to shake mine, but when I grab it, I pull him into a hug. "Thank you for your help."
I spend the last hour in my city apartment going through Heather's medical records. There on page four was the answer I’ve been looking for. How did I miss this? I knew I was missing something and here it is. I just knew it. I hit my open palm on the table, causing my laptop to jump.
With the business connections I've made, I call in a few favors. Within a couple of hours, I have my subpoena for Heather Maddison's medical record from Northview Psychiatric Hospital.
…
Two days later, I stop by the administration offices of Northview to pick up the file they have copied for me.
Walking through the doors, I'm greeted by four beige walls. On one wall, there is a small window with sliding panes. On the other hand, a single windowless door. The foyer is locked down tightly. The skin on my arms prickles, and a chill creeps up my spine.What is this place?
I ring the doorbell that is on the wall next to the window. A dark-haired woman with a gaunt face and shimmering eyes greets me with a raspy smoker's voice. "Good morning, sir. May I help you?"
"Good morning," I put on my professional demeanor. "I'm Kai Kapling. Jaqueline called to let me know some documents are ready for pick up."
"Oh, yes, the attorney picking up the Maddison records. Just a moment." She tells me before closing the window with a bit more force than needed. I flinch as the window pane wobbles, thinking it may break. The sound the window makes comes right out of a cartoon, and I inspect the frosted pane a little closer, realizing it's made of plexiglass.Interesting.
A few minutes later, the door opens to where I’m waiting. A man in a white lab coat steps out holding the oversized manila envelope.
"Mr. Kapling?" His baritone voice asks.
"That would be me," I tell him, straightening my shoulders.
