"I understand. But I think addressing the community's concerns about athletic safety and professional standards should take precedence. Don't you?" Derek's smile was maddening. "Unless the council is trying to avoid difficult conversations?"
More murmurs. Louder now.
Mayor Henderson exchanged a look with Mrs. Henderson in the front row. She gave a subtle nod.
"Very well," Mayor Henderson said, his tone suggesting he knew exactly what Derek was doing. "The floor is open for discussion regarding the complaint filed against Mrs. Ellie Hansen's physical therapy practice. Mrs. Hansen, would you like to begin?"
Ellie stood, walked to the podium with her folder, and faced the packed room.
"Thank you, Mayor Henderson. And thank you all for being here tonight." Ellie's posture shifted, shoulders back. " Five days ago, he filed a formal complaint with the Vermont Physical Therapy Board that resulted in my license being temporarily suspended. Three days ago, Dr. Derek Matthews published an article in a medical journal questioning my qualifications and suggesting my treatment of my husband Cole Hansen was either luck or malpractice."
Gasps and murmurs.
"Tonight, I'm going to show you exactly who Derek Matthews is. What he's done. And why his accusations are not just false, they're part of a systematic pattern of destroying physical therapists who threaten his ego."
Derek stood immediately. "Mayor Henderson, I must object. This sounds like a personal attack rather than a professional discussion—"
"Dr. Matthews, you'll have your turn to speak," Mayor Henderson said firmly. "Mrs. Hansen has the floor."
Derek stood abruptly, his professional mask slipping. "Mr. Mayor, this is ridiculous. I could just walk out of here."
He started gathering his coat and briefcase, making a show of leaving.
Mayor Henderson's voice cut through the room like ice. "You could walk out, Dr. Matthews. That's certainly your right. But I wonder; how would that look on the front page of the Boston Globe tomorrow morning?"
Derek froze, his hand on his briefcase.
"Local sports medicine doctor flees town hall meeting rather than face questions about his professional conduct,'" Mayor Henderson continued. "I imagine that's the kind of headline that would interest quite a few people. Medical boards. Hospital administrators."
Rachel watched Derek's mask crack completely for just asecond, pure panic flashing across his face before he forced the professional smile back into place.
"That sounds like a threat, Mayor Henderson," Derek said, his voice tight.
"Not a threat. An observation." Mayor Henderson leaned back in his chair. "You came to our town. You published an article attacking one of our own. You filed complaints with licensing boards. So now you get to stand here and answer for it."
Derek's expression locked. He looked around the packed room, hundreds of faces watching him, cameras recording, the local news crew in the back with their equipment running.
If he walked out now, he'd look guilty. Cowardly. Like a man running from the truth.
If he stayed, he'd have to face whatever evidence they had.
Rachel watched the calculation happen in Derek's eyes, pride warring with self-preservation.
Finally, Derek sat back down, setting his briefcase beside him with deliberate care.
"Fine," Derek said. "I'll stay. But I expect the opportunity to respond to these... accusations."
"You'll get your chance," Mayor Henderson said.
Mac's hand squeezed hers under the armrest. Derek was trapped. He had to sit there and listen to the town.
Ellie pulled out her thick folder of documentation, her hands shaking slightly but her voice growing stronger.
"Dr. Matthews questioned my credentials in his article. So let me be very clear." Ellie opened the folder, holding up certificates and licenses. "Masters in Physical Therapy from UVM. Board certification in orthopedic physical therapy. Advanced sports rehabilitation certification. Over two hundred hours of continuing education in five years."
She clicked to her presentation, detailed treatment notes, methodology, protocols.
"Dr. Matthews suggested my treatment of Cole was 'questionable' and 'potentially dangerous.' Here's what I actually did."
