Chapter 13 - The Doctor Who Took the Envelope
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Dr. Thomas Brennan arrived at the courthouse at 8:40 the next morning.
He wore a blue tie.
Lily noticed immediately.
“That’s him.”
Damian looked down at her.
She tightened her hand around his.
Dr. Brennan avoided their eyes.
Richard had spent the early morning obtaining an emergency hearing.
Child Protective Services had already interviewed Lily with a specialist.
The preliminary recommendation was clear:
Lily should remain with Damian while the investigation continued.
But Celia’s attorney attacked immediately.
“Mr. Moretti admits striking my client.”
Richard didn’t hide from it.
“So does the video.”
The judge watched the complete footage.
Celia dragging Lily.
Damian entering.
Lily’s statement.
Celia approaching.
The slap.
The guards charging.
The fight.
Then Damian carrying Lily away.
The judge’s face gave nothing away.
Celia’s attorney turned to Dr. Brennan.
“Doctor, did you evaluate the child?”
“Yes.”
“Did she appear emotionally unstable?”
“She appeared distressed.”
“Did you observe destructive tendencies?”
Brennan hesitated.
“Yes.”
Richard stood for cross-examination.
“Did you personally observe Lily destroy property?”
“No.”
“So that statement came from Celia?”
“Yes.”
“Did you review video evidence?”
“No.”
“School records?”
“No.”
“Her pediatrician’s full chart?”
“No.”
“Interview her grandfather?”
“No.”
“Interview household employees?”
“No.”
Brennan shifted.
Richard placed a photograph on the screen.
Celia handing Brennan an envelope.
“Did Ms. Moretti pay you?”
Brennan looked toward Celia.
Her face hardened.
“Doctor?”
“Yes.”
The courtroom stirred.
“How much?”
“Five thousand dollars.”
Celia’s attorney closed his eyes.
Richard continued.
“For what?”
“A private evaluation.”
“Did you disclose that payment in your report?”
“No.”
“Did Ms. Moretti tell you what conclusion she wanted?”
Brennan swallowed.
“She said the child needed supervision.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Silence.
The judge leaned forward.
“Answer him.”
Brennan looked down.
“Yes.”
Damian felt Lily lean closer against him.
Richard asked one final question.
“Did Lily ever tell you she wanted to live with Celia?”
Brennan whispered, “No.”
“What did she say?”
Brennan looked at Damian.
“She said she wanted her grandfather.”
Celia stood.
“She manipulated him!”
The judge slammed the gavel.
“Sit down.”
Celia kept talking.
“She’s five! She doesn’t know what she wants!”
“Ms. Moretti.”
“She lies!”
“Sit. Down.”
Celia finally did.
The judge looked at the photographs.
The footage.
The financial records.
Then at Lily.
“My temporary order is that Lily remain in Damian Moretti’s care.”
Damian closed his eyes.
Lily buried her face against his arm.
But the judge wasn’t finished.
“And Ms. Celia Moretti will have no contact with the child pending criminal and protective investigations.”
Celia went still.
Then Richard received a message.
He read it.
His expression changed.
Raymond Bell had been found.
And he had agreed to cooperate.
May you like
👉 The man who returned Elena’s unsafe SUV had finally decided to tell investigators exactly what Celia said to him that night.
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