CHAPTER 2: THE SCENT THAT EXPOSED THE LIE
CHAPTER 2: THE SCENT THAT EXPOSED THE LIE
The elevator doors slid open.
Richard Bennett stepped into the pediatric wing wearing the same navy overcoat he had thrown on only minutes earlier.
At sixty-eight, he still carried himself like the federal judge he had been for nearly three decades.
People instinctively moved aside.
Not because he demanded respect.
Because he had earned it.
The moment he saw Meredith sitting outside the ICU, he crossed the hallway without a word and wrapped his daughter in his arms.
For the first time that night...
She broke.
Her body shook with silent sobs as she buried her face against his shoulder.
"I couldn't save him, Dad."
Richard gently kissed the top of her head.
"You gave him every chance to live."
Behind them, Garrett cleared his throat.
"Judge Bennett..."
Richard slowly turned.
His expression was unreadable.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
Richard looked at him for several long seconds.
Then his eyes dropped to Garrett's cashmere coat.
Meredith hadn't moved.
She simply stared ahead.
"I called him seventeen times," she whispered.
Richard nodded once.
"I know."
Garrett stepped forward.
"My phone died."
Meredith finally looked at him.
Then, without thinking, she reached for the lapel of his coat.
She didn't intend to.
It was instinct.
Years of working emergency medicine had trained her senses.
Blood.
Smoke.
Alcohol.
Medication.
Perfume.
She leaned closer.
One breath.
Just one.
Everything inside her froze.
Not floral.
Not vanilla.
Gardenia.
Expensive.
Strong enough to cling to wool for hours.
A fragrance she recognized immediately.
Because six weeks earlier Garrett had come home wearing the exact same scent.
He had blamed it on a client hugging him after closing a business deal.
Now it was there again.
Mixed with faint traces of champagne.
And luxury hotel soap.
She slowly released his coat.
"Where were you?"
Garrett didn't hesitate.
"At the office."
She held his eyes.
"No."
"You weren't."
A flicker of panic crossed his face.
Barely visible.
But Richard saw it.
"So," Richard said quietly.
"Try again."
Garrett swallowed.
"I stopped to meet a client."
Meredith shook her head.
"You were never at your office."
Silence spread through the hallway.
Richard reached into his pocket and handed Meredith a clean handkerchief.
Then he turned back to Garrett.
"My grandson died."
"My daughter faced that room alone."
"And you're still choosing lies."
May you like
Garrett opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
