"It's public record. Mac, this changes everything. Derek has been positioning himself as this ethically pure professional questioning Ellie's standards. But he has his own history of crossing lines."
"Can you pull together everything you have? We will present this Friday."
"Already on it. I'm making a presentation. Timeline ofDerek's career. The Massachusetts suspension. The three other PTs he destroyed back in Burlington, according to Rachel. The article about Ellie. The surveillance footage of him stalking Rachel." Jamie sounded punch-drunk but determined. "We're going to bury him, Mac. Completely bury him."
42
Rachel
Thursday night. Sophie’s café was closed for the night. Inside, the core group had gathered, Cole and Ellie on one couch, Jamie with his laptop, Mac sitting near the window, Sophie behind the counter.
Rachel walked in and felt Mac's eyes find hers immediately. She gave him a small nod, united front, and sat down.
"Okay," Cole said. "Friday night, seven PM. Town hall meeting. Everyone in Evergreen Cove will be there."
Jamie pulled up his laptop. "I've compiled everything. And—" He paused for effect. "—his own license suspension in Massachusetts eight years ago."
The room went quiet.
"His license was suspended?" Ellie asked, something like hope flickering in her eyes.
"For inappropriate relationships with a patient. They couldn't prove it conclusively, but there was enough for a formal warning." Jamie grinned. "Derek's been attacking your ethics while hiding his own history."
"We also have the security footage from The Grind," Macadded. "Showing Derek surveilling Rachel without her knowledge. Officer Martinez confirmed it's criminal behavior."
Cole looked around the room. "So here's the plan. Jamie presents the evidence. Ellie speaks about her treatment protocols. Rachel—" He looked at her carefully. "—if you're willing, you talk about what Derek did to you and Brad. The pattern."
Her stomach clench. Speaking publicly about Brad. About the engagement party.
But then she looked at Ellie. Ellie whose license was suspended, whose practice was destroyed, whose entire career hung in the balance.
"I'll do it," Rachel said. "Whatever it takes to stop him."
Mac caught her eye across the room. Thank you, his expression said.
“Tomorrow night,” Cole said. “We go to war.”
On the drive home, the cab of the truck was quiet Mac cleared his throat.
“Rachel,” he said, eyes fixed on the road. “I’ve been thinking. About the boundary you set. About what you need from me.”
She turned toward him. “And?”
“And I need something too.” He glanced at her, then held her gaze. “I need you to stop waiting for me to fail.”
Her expression flickered. “I’m not—”
“You are,” he said gently, but firmly. “I see it in your eyes sometimes. This expectation. Like you’re bracing for impact.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I’m not going to leave you, Rachel. But I can’t spend my entire life proving that I won’t.”
The truck slowed at a red light.
Rachel exhaled, slow and steady. “Not now, Mac,” she said quietly. “Tomorrow matters more. Let’s focus on that. Okay?”
He swallowed. “Okay.”
Rachel lay in bed that night, Mr. Darcy curled beside her, staring at her phone.
Mac had texted an hour ago:
