The judge recessed the hearing again while his clerk attempted to reach Dr. Avery.
They found him twenty minutes later.
He appeared by video.
Judge Mercer held up the report.
“Dr. Avery, did you prepare this evaluation of Eleanor Vance?”
The doctor stared at the document.
“No.”
Daniel whispered, “What?”
Judge Mercer continued.
“Is that your signature?”
Dr. Avery leaned closer to his screen.
“It resembles mine, but no. I did not sign that.”
Hale’s hands tightened on the table.
The judge’s voice became colder.
“Have you ever examined Mrs. Vance?”
“No, Your Honor.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel looked at her.
This time, she wouldn’t look back.
And then Dr. Avery said something none of us expected.
“I know that form, though.”
Judge Mercer frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s from a guardianship assessment template used by a private care company called Silver Pines Senior Support.”
My heart accelerated.
Silver Pines.
I knew that name.
And judging by the way Curtis Hale suddenly reached for his water glass, so did he.
PART 4 — SILVER PINES
After Richard died, I believed Daniel’s sudden interest in my finances came from greed.
I had been wrong.
Greed was part of it.
