Chapter 4 - The Doctor Who Never Asked Questions
Tessa moved in front of her mother.
“Put that away.”
Dr. Fallon paused.
He was a broad man in his early sixties with silver hair and the tired confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
“This is a mild sedative.”
“You haven’t examined her.”
“I know her medical history.”
“You walked in thirty seconds ago.”
Bryce stood beside him.
“Tessa has agitated her.”
Tessa held up the recorder.
“Tessa found proof.”
Dr. Fallon’s eyes flickered toward Bryce.
The glance lasted less than a second.
It told Tessa everything.
“You know,” she said.
Dr. Fallon remained composed.
“I know your mother experiences paranoid episodes.”
Judith’s body stiffened.
“No.”
The doctor turned toward her.
“Judith, you’re frightened.”
“You’ve become confused.”
Judith pointed at him.
“You wrote the letter.”
“What letter?” Tessa asked.
Judith’s voice shook.
“The one saying I couldn’t manage my money.”
Dr. Fallon adjusted his grip on the syringe.
“It was a capacity assessment.”
“You never tested me.”
“You had several appointments.”
“You asked me what day it was after giving me sleeping pills.”
Bryce interrupted.
“Enough.”
Tessa moved toward the doorway.
“We’re leaving.”
Kendra blocked her.
“Mom is not going anywhere.”
Tessa stared at her.
“Move.”
“No.”
Tessa looked at Bryce.
“You cannot hold her here.”
“I’m her legal guardian.”
Judith’s face crumpled.
“You told me it was temporary.”
Bryce did not look at her.
“It became permanent after your condition declined.”
Tessa felt a new wave of fury.
“You had yourself appointed guardian?”
“A judge approved it.”
“Based on Dr. Fallon’s evaluation?”
“Yes.”
“And who represented Mom?”
“She had court-appointed counsel.”
“What was the lawyer’s name?”
Bryce remained silent.
Tessa laughed bitterly.
“You don’t remember?”
“Or was it another friend?”
Dr. Fallon stepped forward.
“Judith needs medication before this becomes dangerous.”
“For whom?” Tessa asked.
He ignored her.
“Judith, sit down.”
“No.”
The word came out stronger than anything Judith had said all afternoon.
Dr. Fallon’s expression cooled.
“Sit down.”
Judith held tightly to Tessa.
“I’m leaving with my daughter.”
Bryce turned toward Kendra.
“Lock the front door.”
Kendra moved.
Tessa grabbed the birthday cake from the table and hurled it toward the doorway.
The box struck Kendra’s shoulder.
Cake exploded across her cream sweater.
Kendra screamed.
Tessa pulled Judith toward the hallway.
“Run.”
Judith could barely walk.
Tessa wrapped one arm around her waist.
Behind them, Bryce shouted.
“Stop them.”
Dr. Fallon grabbed Tessa’s coat.
She twisted free and slammed her elbow into his chest.
The syringe fell from his hand.
It struck the floor.
Kendra slipped on frosting and crashed against the wall.
Tessa and Judith reached the front door.
It was locked.
Tessa fought with the deadbolt.
Bryce caught up.
He grabbed Judith’s coat from behind.
Judith screamed.
The coat tore down one seam.
Tessa spun and shoved Bryce with both hands.
He staggered into a side table.
A lamp crashed to the floor.
The deadbolt turned.
Tessa pulled the door open.
Cold air rushed inside.
Her car sat twenty feet away.
They were almost there when Judith stopped.
“My folder.”
Tessa stared at her.
“What folder?”
“In the sewing room.”
“We can’t go back.”
“It has the real bank papers.”
Bryce was already rising.
Dr. Fallon retrieved the syringe.
Tessa had seconds to choose.
Then a pickup truck turned into the driveway.
The driver saw Judith struggling beside Tessa.
He hit the brakes.
It was Owen Pierce, their mother’s longtime neighbor.
Owen lowered his window.
“Judith?”
“What’s happening?”
Tessa pulled open the passenger door.
“Call the police.”
Bryce emerged from the house.
“She is kidnapping an incapacitated adult.”
Owen looked from Bryce to Judith.
Judith’s torn coat hung open.
The bruises were clearly visible.
Owen’s face changed.
“What did you do to her?”
Bryce held up both hands.
“She fell.”
Owen reached for his phone.
Kendra rushed outside.
“She’s mentally ill.”
Judith looked at Owen.
“They won’t let me leave.”
That was enough.
Owen dialed 911.
Bryce stepped backward.
His calm returned too quickly.
“Fine.”
“Call them.”
“We have legal guardianship papers.”
“We have medical records.”
“And we have witnesses who will say Tessa attacked us.”
Tessa looked at the broken lamp through the open doorway.
At the cake on Kendra’s clothes.
At the syringe in Dr. Fallon’s hand.
Bryce smiled faintly.
“You think you rescued her.”
“You just gave me everything I need to have you arrested.”
Sirens sounded in the distance.
Judith gripped Tessa’s hand.
May you like
Then she whispered,
“The judge is part of it.”
