“You’re wrong if you think the hospital would’ve protected me if I’d done anything wrong.”
“But they did, didn’t they?”
“They stood up for me because I was vindicated. Surely you read the medical reports?”
“Of course I have. Thousands of times.”
“Then you know that there was an undiscovered tumor. The hospital defended me because I wasn’t in the wrong. Your family sued the radiologist and won. Surely that showed you where the blame rested.”
He didn’t respond.
“I had no way of knowing about the tumor. I rely on the information given to me by the primary doctor and the radiologist. I’d never have operated on Lucinda if I’d known about the tumor. But I didn’t know the full situation until I was in the middle of the operation. There wasnothingI could do. I couldn’t just stop the operation and hit the reset button. She started hemorrhaging uncontrollably, and it was impossible to tie off the veins. I did everything I could.” I gritted my teeth. “I swear on my life, I tried to save your sister.”
“I don’t believe you. I think you nicked an artery but were too cowardly to admit it.”
“Do you seriously think everyone in the operating room at that time just covered stuff up for me? There’s no way they’d risk their careers doing anything that insane.”
“Maybe you bribed them.”
“I didn’t,” I rasped. “River, that’s crazy.”
He moved closer, the venom in his voice washing over me. “Just for the little time I’ve known you, I can see what a selfish person you are. You don’t care about anybody but yourself.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, that’s right, you care about Royce,” he mumbled. “I can’t imagine what a man like him is doing with you. No one can.”
I lifted my chin. “My relationship with Royce is none of your business.”
He gave a mean laugh. “You know you’re the reason Royce’s job is in trouble. People dislike you so intensely they can’t understand why he’s with you. Being in a relationship with you makes him seem unstable. Clueless.”
“You’re wrong. He’s respected. Everybody loves Royce.” I clenched my fists, anger washing through me. It was one thing to insult me and quite another to insult Royce. Royce was the furthest thing from unstable or clueless.
“Don’t kid yourself. He’s lost credibility since he’s been with you.”
“I don’t believe you. People can dislike me while still respecting Royce.”
“You really think so? If you do, you’re sticking your head in the sand. The Raidens are going after him with everything they’ve got. He’d better wake up and fight, or he’ll be out of a job.”
“The Raidens are just petty people.”
He smirked. “That they are. But they’re using all of their wealth and power to convince the mayor and city council to hold a special election. I suspect they’ll get their way too. Penelope hates disappointing people who donate to her campaign.”
“I don’t believe you. Penelope loves Royce. The townspeople love Royce. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
He laughed. “Other than date you? I’m telling you, Max, you’re the worst thing that ever happened to him.” I opened my mouth to respond, but he held up his hand. “We’re getting way off track. We aren’t here to discuss Royce’s future as sheriff of Rainy Dale. I brought you here so you can finally admit you were negligent in my sister’s death.”
“I’m not going to admit to something that isn’t true.”
“Then you’re going todie.” His harsh voice reverberated through the small room.
Fear made my throat tight. I held his cold stare, uncertain of how to respond.
He snorted a laugh. “If you could just see your face right now. You look scared shitless, Maxwell.”
My face warmed. “Obviously, I’m alarmed at your mental state. I don’t want to die.”
“Neither did Lucinda.” As he spoke, he tugged a hypodermic needle from his pocket.
