Chapter 12 - The Doctor Who Never Met Her
Dr. Simon Harlan answered Laura's call at 8:05 a.m.
He sounded annoyed until she told him police had recovered an evaluation with his electronic signature.
Then he stopped speaking.
"Dr. Harlan," Laura said, "have you ever treated Ella Brooks?"
"No."
"Have you ever met her?"
"No."
"Did you prepare an evaluation of her?"
Another pause.
"I prepared a preliminary family-impact memo based on information provided by Mrs. Brooks. It was not meant to be represented as a clinical diagnosis."
"Yet it has your signature."
"She told me it was for private mediation."
I took the phone.
"Did she pay you?"
"Mr. Brooks, I think I should speak to counsel."
"How much?"
"Twenty thousand."
My hand tightened around the phone.
Laura took it back. "Send every email, note, invoice, and draft involving Vanessa Brooks or Lucas Vale. Preserve everything."
By noon, Harlan's lawyer sent the documents.
Vanessa had emailed him descriptions of Ella's supposed behavior.
She had also sent him photographs of bruises on Ella's shin and elbow.
Normal childhood bruises. One came from soccer. I remembered because Ella had cried more about losing the game than the bruise.
Vanessa's email said:
These marks are consistent with Ethan's outbursts. We need language strong enough for emergency intervention.
I had to leave the room.
In the hallway, Maria found me leaning against the wall.
"Mr. Brooks?"
"I left her with this woman."
Maria's eyes filled. "You trusted your wife."
"I ignored things because trusting her was easier than asking why Ella stopped smiling when I packed a suitcase."
Maria did not argue.
She only handed me a small stuffed rabbit.
"Ella asked me to hide this before I left."
I squeezed the toy.
May you like
Something hard clicked inside.
Maria whispered, "There's a recorder in it."
