Chapter 9 - The Doctor Who Signed Before the Slap
Dr. Malcolm Reeves had known me since I was a child.
He attended every Christmas dinner.
He played golf with my father.
He had treated Arthur after nearly every fight during high school.
He was also the doctor who examined my broken wrist when I was thirteen.
His medical report said I had fallen down the stairs.
Now his name appeared on a report claiming I had injured Gigi.
The report was dated two days before the party.
Nora sent the video to the judge’s clerk and the district attorney.
Then she requested an emergency delay.
The judge denied it.
“The hearing proceeds at nine.”
“Even after the fire?”
“The judge wants everyone in one place.”
My parents arrived at the courthouse in separate police vehicles.
Dad remained in custody.
Mom had been released pending charges.
Arthur was still missing.
Dr. Reeves entered through the front doors wearing a dark gray suit.
He avoided looking at me.
I sat beside Nora with Gigi on my lap.
Melissa sat behind us with Sophie.
Sophie held a stuffed rabbit against her chest.
Every time the courtroom door opened, she flinched.
The judge entered.
Everyone stood.
My mother’s attorney immediately described me as unstable.
He claimed I had created a family disagreement and transformed it into a criminal investigation.
He described Arthur’s slap as a minor disciplinary act.
The judge interrupted him.
“Counselor, are you suggesting an uncle has the legal authority to strike a two-year-old?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Then choose your words carefully.”
He continued anyway.
He said I had removed Gigi from a loving family celebration.
He said I had fabricated accusations to gain control of the family trust.
He said my parents were requesting temporary guardianship only to protect Gigi.
Then he called Dr. Reeves.
Dr. Reeves swore to tell the truth.
My mother watched him closely.
Her face was pale.
Her attorney handed him the medical report.
“Did you examine Gigi Bennett?”
Dr. Reeves looked at the page.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two days before the birthday celebration.”
My entire body went cold.
“What did you observe?”
“A bruise on the child’s left cheek.”
“Did Clara explain the injury?”
“She claimed Gigi fell against a table.”
“Did you believe her?”
“No.”
My mother’s attorney turned toward the judge.
“Dr. Reeves reported concerns about possible abuse before the family gathering.”
Nora stood.
“Objection.”
The judge looked at her.
“Grounds?”
“The report is fraudulent.”
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
Nora placed Daniel’s video into evidence.
The judge watched my mother discuss the location of the bruise.
He watched her say the prepared report described the left cheek.
He watched Arthur complain that he had struck the wrong side.
Dr. Reeves’s face turned gray.
The judge looked at him.
“You testified that you examined the child before the party.”
Dr. Reeves gripped the witness stand.
“Yes.”
“Which cheek was bruised?”
“The left.”
The judge looked at Gigi.
Her bruise was clearly visible on the right.
“Dr. Reeves, stand down.”
My mother’s attorney tried to object.
The judge ignored him.
“Bailiff, do not allow this witness to leave.”
Dr. Reeves panicked.
“I can explain.”
“You will have an opportunity to explain to the district attorney.”
He stepped down from the witness stand.
As he passed my mother, he whispered:
“You promised the video was gone.”
The bailiff immediately stopped him.
“What did you say?”
Dr. Reeves stared at the floor.
My mother closed her eyes.
Nora then played the hospital recording.
Arthur’s admission.
My father’s phone call.
The guardianship statements signed before the party.
The bank records.
The audio of my father offering Arthur’s location in exchange for dropping the fraud complaint.
By the time she finished, my mother looked smaller in her chair.
The judge turned toward her attorney.
“Do you still wish to pursue emergency guardianship?”
He whispered to my mother.
She shook her head.
“We withdraw the petition.”
Nora stood.
“We object to a simple withdrawal.”
The judge nodded.
“So do I.”
He formally dismissed the petition with prejudice.
He issued temporary protective orders preventing my parents and Arthur from contacting Gigi.
He ordered a criminal investigation into the forged medical report.
Then he turned toward Melissa.
“Sophie will remain with her mother under child protective supervision.”
Melissa began crying.
Sophie quietly reached for her hand.
The courtroom door suddenly opened.
Arthur stood in the entrance.
Mud covered his clothes.
Blood had dried beside his eyebrow.
Two officers reached for him.
Arthur raised both hands.
“I’m not here to fight.”
He looked directly at Melissa.
“I came to tell the truth.”
Nobody believed him.
Then he pointed at my mother.
“She planned all of it.”
Mom stood.
“Arthur, don’t.”
He smiled at her.
“You told me Clara’s daughter was worth six hundred thousand dollars.”
The judge ordered the bailiff to close the doors.
Arthur continued.
“But Mom never told anyone why she needed the money.”
My mother’s face went white.
Arthur looked at me.
May you like
“She wasn’t trying to save my company.”
“She was paying someone to keep Grandma’s death from being investigated.”
