Chapter 11 - The Emergency Hearing
The emergency hearing began at nine the next morning.
Emily appeared by video from a conference room beside the ICU. Vanessa sat behind her with Detective Hale. Dr. Bennett waited outside until he was called to testify.
Daniel appeared from his attorney’s office wearing a dark suit and an expression of practiced concern.
He looked like a grieving father.
He sounded like one too.
“My only concern is Lily’s safety,” he told Judge Rebecca Sloan. “Emily has been under enormous pressure since her father’s death. She manages everything emotionally. I manage it practically.”
Emily kept her face still.
Daniel’s attorney presented the pharmacy account registered in Emily’s name, the forged administration confirmations and the messages found on her old laptop.
“Every disputed transaction carries Mrs. Carter’s credential,” the attorney said. “Mr. Carter attempted to correct the accounting problem only after discovering that his wife had used their daughter’s medical reserve for unauthorized transfers.”
Judge Sloan looked at Emily.
“Mrs. Carter, did you create Meridian Patient Relief?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize any medication transfer?”
“No.”
“Did you provide your electronic signature to your husband?”
“I gave him access to company records while my father was dying. I never authorized him to create medical accounts.”
Daniel lowered his eyes as if hearing the words hurt him.
His attorney continued.
“Mr. Carter has also provided a message in which Mrs. Carter threatens to accuse him of theft if he refuses to transfer control of Carter Development.”
Emily recognized the wording.
It came from a real message she had sent.
But the order had been changed.
Her original message said:
You transferred money without approval. Return control of the reserve, or I will report the theft.
Daniel’s version said:
Return control of the reserve, or I will report that you stole Lily’s medicine.
The judge asked to see the original device.
Emily handed her phone to the court representative.
Daniel’s attorney objected, claiming the phone could have been altered.
Judge Sloan ignored him.
“Mr. Carter,” she said, “where were you when the remaining medication left the hospital?”
“In the parking garage.”
“Why?”
“Vanessa called me.”
Vanessa leaned toward Hale.
“That’s a lie.”
The judge continued.
“You told Dr. Bennett that you gave Lily’s medication to Vanessa.”
“I was speaking emotionally. Emily was attacking me while my daughter was in danger.”
“You stated that Vanessa mattered more.”
“I meant that Vanessa’s emergency also mattered.”
“What emergency?”
Daniel glanced at his attorney.
“I believed she had a serious medical episode.”
Judge Sloan turned toward Vanessa.
“Ms. Carter, did you experience such an episode?”
“No.”
Daniel’s attorney stood.
“Ms. Carter is currently under investigation for receiving fraudulent payments. Her testimony is unreliable.”
Vanessa leaned toward the camera.
“My brother paid me to accept an empty package.”
The attorney objected again.
Judge Sloan allowed her to continue.
Vanessa explained the envelope, the payment and Daniel’s instructions.
When she finished, Daniel stared at her without blinking.
Then Dr. Bennett testified.
“Lily’s condition became dangerous because her prescribed doses were missing,” he said. “Emily remained beside her daughter throughout the relevant period. I saw no evidence that she mishandled the medication.”
Daniel’s attorney displayed the authorization bearing Dr. Bennett’s signature.
“Did you approve this transfer?”
“No.”
“So your own hospital credential was compromised?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you expect the court to trust your opinion about whose credential was compromised?”
“I expect the court to understand that forged records do not become true because there are several of them.”
The judge called a brief recess.
Emily returned to Lily’s room.
Her daughter was awake.
“Is Dad taking me?” Lily asked.
“No.”
“He said you signed me away.”
“When did he say that?”
“Last week.”
Emily sat beside her.
“He told you I signed something?”
Lily nodded.
“He said if I chose him, you wouldn’t go to jail.”
Emily’s eyes burned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He said talking would make you disappear like Grandma.”
Emily held her daughter carefully.
“You never have to protect me by staying silent.”
A soft knock came from the doorway.
Mira Patel stood there holding an access report.
“We found the source of the forged physician approval.”
“Was it Daniel?”
“The credential was entered from Charles Vale’s foundation office.”
Emily stood.
“Charles approved the transfer?”
“His office computer did.”
“Then send it to the judge.”
“There’s more.”
Mira handed her a printout.
“The computer was remotely accessed from Carter Development at the same time.”
Daniel’s office.
Emily felt hope for the first time.
Then she read the device identification.
The remote session came from her old laptop.
The same laptop police had found in Daniel’s office.
The judge returned and announced her temporary decision.
“Until the forensic review is complete, both parents will retain legal status. However, Mr. Carter is prohibited from accessing Lily’s medication, financial reserve or hospital account. Mrs. Carter will retain immediate medical authority.”
Emily closed her eyes in relief.
Daniel had not taken Lily.
But Judge Sloan was not finished.
“Due to the evidence suggesting possible involvement by Mrs. Carter’s credentials, the court will appoint an independent supervisor over the medical reserve.”
“Who?” Emily asked.
“The current trustee named in Richard Carter’s sealed amendment.”
Daniel looked confused.
So did Emily.
May you like
Judge Sloan opened the document.
“The trustee is Elaine Carter.”
