Lawrence’s face twisted into a sneer. “All lies, I’m sure,” he spat out. “That girl is just as weak as her mother.”
“I have to agree about Vivian,” Hale piped in. “I treated her years ago. She’s bright, but she never could stand on her own two feet.”
Anger flared through Delaney. “She did stand on her own two feet when she tracked down her daughters, girls you secretly stashed in your so-called institute without telling their mother.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” Eli said, and there was plenty of disgust in not only his voice but his expression. “You ignored her paternal rights, butmore than that, you put your own granddaughters in a prison.”
Lawrence’s face went red and he opened his mouth to snap back, but Hale laid a cool hand on his arm. Lawrence froze mid-gesture, jaw clenching under Hale’s calm authority.
Delaney watched as Hale’s face softened, his shoulders dropping slightly.
“This is a very emotional subject,” Hale began. “Lawrence loves his daughter and granddaughters more than anything.”
Eli’s eyes flicked to the image of Olivia on the screen, then back to Hale. “That’s a strange way to show love,” he said, and he tipped his head toward the bruised photo.
Lawrence opened his mouth, ready to retort, but Hale held up a hand.
“My institute and its practices have helped thousands,” Hale said, voice firm. “Including Lawrence’s late wife. She was suicidal. I saved her, and she continued to lead a depression-free life until she succumbed to cancer a few years ago.”
Lawrence’s jaw flexed, the memory flashing behind his eyes. Delaney felt the room shift as personal history collided with professional purpose. Now every word carried the weight of lives saved. And lives ruined.
Lawrence’s features softened for a moment. “It’s true,” he said. “Dr. Hale helped my wife when she was at her lowest.” He cleared his throat. “It’s a shame he couldn’t do more for my daughter.”
Delaney braced herself as Lawrence’s gaze sharpened and his voice rose.
“Vivian has made one poor decision after another,” Lawrence snapped. “First she fell for a loser like her first husband, followed by a string of more losers with the latest and worst being Grant Maddox. He is nothing but a gold digger interested only in her fortune.”
He stood and began pacing beside the table, hands clenched at his sides. “Olivia and Ava were troublemakers,” Lawrence went on. “Always running wild and disrespectful. They needed discipline and structure so I placed them in Dr. Hale’s institute to set them straight.”
Delaney exchanged a glance with Eli, recognizing the rigid certainty in Lawrence’s tone. He seemed to believe he was acting in their best interests even as every word felt like an accusation.
Lawrence’s pacing slowed when Hale rose from his chair and stepped over to him. With a gentle hand on Lawrence’s arm, Hale guided him back to his seat, his touch both firm and reassuring. Lawrence sank down, still scowling but no longer shouting.
Hale turned to face Delaney and Eli. His voice was calm and even. “You two have seen only one side of the story. I understand the search warrant is stalled, but that is to protect the identities of my patients. Confidentiality is essential.”
Delaney and Eli exchanged a quick look,surprise flickering in both their eyes.
“However, I am willing to grant you both a private tour of the institute tomorrow morning,” Hale continued. “You can see for yourselves that it is a place of healing, not a prison. One visit under supervision. No interruptions.”
Delaney’s mind raced. A supervised visit might give them access to evidence. But it felt like a trap. Still, she forced herself to nod. “We’ll take that tour.”
Eli merely inclined his head, expression guarded. He obviously didn’t trust Hale, but a chance to see inside the institute could turn the tide.
Noah folded his arms and asked, “Can we talk to Ava during the tour?”
Hale’s lips curved into a nearly smug smile. “That’s up to Ava,” he said, pulling out his phone. “She recorded a message for her mother and the authorities. I think you’ll want to hear it.”
He tapped the screen and set the speakerphone between them, and a trembling voice began. “Hi, this is Ava Camden. You don’t have to worry. I’m safe. Well, safe now that Olivia isn’t here.”
Delaney tamped down her reaction to that. Barely. What the heck had Ava meant by that? And was she saying this voluntarily or had someone coerced her?
“I need everyone to know the truth,” Ava went on, the words ending in a hoarse sob. It tooka couple of seconds for her to continue. “Olivia didn’t leave the institute because it was a bad place. She left after she tried, and failed, to kill me.”
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Chapter Eight
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