11:23 a.m. Leo says your dad prescribed morphine for V ever since she got back. Lethal amounts. Big whoop. Most terminal cancer patients have that. Q must bring this out on cross! Shad asking about adrenaline. Leo admits your dad has written adrenaline scrips for himself. Not in long time though. Says many docs with heart disease keep adrenaline vials around house, in car, but Shad cuts him off.

11:34 a.m. Leo reluctantly admits Tom prescribed potentially lethal amnts drugs to people w endstage cancer, AIDS, etc. if patient were to take overdose. Says not uncommon, but Shad cuts him off again. Pray Shad doesn’t have disgruntled patient family ready to testify to asst suicide in past. Tho I guess would b better than murder 1.

I type: If he doesn’t, it’s not for lack of looking.

11:37 a.m. Shad just let Leo go. Quentin HAS to cross here, let Leo say what he wants, undo damage.

11:39 a.m. No questions from Q! I’m in shock. Lawyers in crowd freaking out. This is an emergency.

11:44 a.m. Recessing for lunch. On my way 2 your house. We gotta stop this circus!

“Daddy?” Annie asks, and her voice startles me so badly that I shove the kitchen table forward with a screech.

“I’m sorry,” she says from just inside the kitchen door. “I just wanted to let you know I’m okay. For real.”

Mia stands in the hall behind her, looking far from certain of that.

I reach out and pull Annie to me for a hug. “I’m glad, Boo.” I glance up at Mia over her shoulder. “How’s Dolores doing?”

“Serenity’s still in her bedroom with her.”

After a few seconds, Annie pulls back and looks into my eyes. “Daddy, you look almost like you did when you heard Caitlin’s phone message at the church.”

Can I tell my eleven-year-old daughter the truth? That I feel as though my father is dying of some terrible disease, and I’ve turned him over to a renowned surgeon who seems to have forgotten basic anatomy and whatever surgical technique he ever possessed.

“It’s just the trial, Annie. From what Rusty tells me, Mr. Quentin’s not doing what he should be doing in the courtroom. He’s not doing what I would do, anyway.”

Annie sticks out her lower lip. “I told you in the beginning you should be defending Papa.”

“I’m afraid that’s not really an option. But Mr. Rusty’s on his way here. He and I are going to talk about what to do. I may need to go down to my study with him for a while.”

She nods quickly. “It’s okay.”

“And John Kaiser’s going to be coming over as well. To try to help Mrs. Dolores.”

“Good. I’m really okay, Dad. You do what you have to do.”

Chapter 25