I had a half hour before Josh’s chemo appointment, so I drove to Julia’s house. I parked on the street and sent a quick text to Nate reminding him about Josh’s appointment. He wasn’t the type to forget something so huge, but he’d been so busy with his case, acting like a promotion would change everything, that I thought I’d remind him.

I’ll be there, he texted back.

And then a second later: X

I smiled and tucked my phone in my bag.

Julia answered the door looking fresh and chipper in khakis and an oversize dove-gray turtleneck, a stark contrast to the last time I’d seen her. Now that I knew, I could tell she’d taken painkillers. But even as a doctor it was difficult to spot the signs.

“It’s good to see you. Would you like anything to drink? Tea? Coffee?”

I hung my purse and coat on the coat hook by the door, my fingers brushing against something hanging from one of the hooks as I did.

“Sure. Coffee, thanks.” I followed her into the kitchen. “I just thought I’d stop by and see how you’re doing?”

Julia lowered her gaze, shamefaced, and turned to fill the kettle. “I’m so sorry for asking you to prescribe me oxy. I really shouldn’t have tried to drag you into this. I was just desperate.”

“It’s fine,” I assured her. “Seriously. I just hope you understand why I had to say no. Are you… feeling better now?”

She put the kettle on the stove and pulled two mugs from the cupboard. “Yes. I’m all… sorted out now.” I noticed the slight hesitation. She’d received the pills I’d put in her birdhouse last night, then.

“Good. Someone must be looking out for you.” I figured slipping the oxy I’d gotten from Ben into Julia’s birdhouse was the least I could do for her. She could lose her job, her license, her ability to pay for pain medication, all because I hadn’t locked the medical supply room door after I’d stolen the prescription pads.

Julia side-eyed me, but I smiled innocently, confidently. Even if she suspected it was me, I’d learned my lesson at the clinic and had been on the lookout for any video surveillance cameras. I’d found one directly above the door and had made sure I was never in frame. There was no evidence I’d left the pills.

“So, what’s your lawyer say about the drug charges?”

“I’m meeting with him later today. I was able to give him the alarm system footage here at home, which proves I wasn’t at the clinic the night they’re trying to charge me for. At the very least, it’ll cast reasonable doubt.”

“But you said you did take the samples.”

She shrugged, her mouth pressed into a hard line. “So sue me.”