Chapter 2 - The Perfect Alibi Crumbles
Two days after the fire, Lawson Sterling walked into the executive lounge of Mercy General Hospital looking exhausted, grief-stricken, and entirely rehearsed. He had spent forty-eight hours playing the role of the devoted husband who had narrowly escaped a tragedy, giving interviews to local news outlets about the heroism of the hospital staff and the harrowing chaos of the 17th floor.
He expected Faye to be broken. He expected her to be cowering in a temporary shelter or calling him in tears, begging for his guidance.
Instead, when he pushed open the door to his private office, he found two unfamiliar men in bespoke charcoal suits sitting across from his mahogany desk. On top of his pristine blotter sat a formal legal packet bearing the golden seal of Harrington Health Capital’s legal division.
"Who the hell are you?" Lawson demanded, dropping his medical bag. "This is a restricted administrative zone."
The older man on the left—a senior partner named Vance—did not even blink. He slid a single sheet of paper across the desk. "Dr. Sterling. Sit down."
"I asked what you are doing in my office," Lawson snapped, puffing out his chest. "My wife and daughter are recovering from a national disaster, and I have back-to-back surgical consultations—"
"Your wife filed for emergency dissolution of marriage an hour ago," Vance interrupted smoothly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Furthermore, your emergency leave request and your public statements regarding the evacuation of the Whitmore Grand Hotel are currently under internal review by the state medical board and Harrington Health Capital's ethics committee."
Lawson scoffed, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. "Faye? Faye wouldn't know how to file a motion without me telling her which lawyer to call. She hasn't practiced medicine in years; she's a housewife."
The office door swung open behind him.
Lawson froze as Tess stepped into the room, her face pale, clutching a manila envelope. "Lawson... the hospital administrator just called me down. They're reviewing my employment records from the surgical rotation. They... they're saying my medical clearance forms from eight months ago were flagged."
Lawson turned back to the lawyers, his face flushing crimson. "This is harassment. You can't touch us. I am slated to become the youngest Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery next month. The board loves me."
May you like
Vance slowly closed his leather portfolio and stood up. "Dr. Sterling, the board doesn't love you. They tolerate you. And as of five minutes ago, your nomination has been unanimously tabled pending an investigation into professional negligence, abandonment of a minor during a crisis, and falsification of triage statements to emergency responders."
As the lawyers walked past him, Vance paused at the door. "Oh, and Dr. Sterling? Your father-in-law sends his regards. He remembers every single promise you made when you married his daughter—and he’s keeping score."
