But, strictly from a practical standpoint, she strongly doubted that Bradley Stanwick would risk his reputation even for his beloved wife's sake.
Unfortunately for him, his in-laws persisted until the
DA's office ordered an investigation—which proved to be a waste of time and manpower. No evidence was found to substantiate the relatives' charge of criminal wrongdoing.
There was no indication that Dr. Stanwick had done anything to hasten his wife's death. The DA declined even to present the case to the grand jury, claiming there was no basis for it whatsoever.
Nevertheless, the story didn't end there. During the
weeks that investigators were interrogating Dr. Stanwick, his colleagues, his staff, friends, family, and former patients, every aspect of his life was extensively examined and debated. He lived beneath a shadow of suspicion that was especially unsettling since the majority of his patients were considered terminally, irreversibly ill.
The hospital where he practiced soon found itself in the spotlight too. Rather than standing behind him, the administrators voted unanimously to revoke his privileges at the facility until he was cleared of all suspicion. No fool,
Bradley Stanwick knew he would never be cleared of all suspicion. Once a seed of doubt is planted in the public's mind, it usually finds fertile ground and flourishes.
Perhaps the ultimate betrayal came from his partners at the clinic he had established. After working together for years, pooling their research and case studies, combining their knowledge, skills, and theories, forging friendships as well as professional alliances, they asked him to resign.
He sold his share of the practice to his former partners, unloaded his stately home in Highland Park for a fraction of its appraised value, and, with a "Screw you all" attitude, left Dallas for parts unknown. That's where the story ended. If Tiel hadn't lost her way and wound up in Rojo
Flats, she probably would never have thought of him again.
She asked him now, "Is Sabra the first patient you've treated since you left Dallas?"
"She isn't a patient, and I didn't treat her. I was a cancer doctor, not an OB-GYN. This is an emergency situation, and I responded. Just as you did. Just as everybody has."
"That's false modesty, Doc. None of us could have done for Sabra what you did."
"Ronnie, okay if I get a drink?" he suddenly called out to the boy.
"Sure. Okay. The others could probably use some water too."
Leaning forward, Doc took a six-pack of bottled water from the shelf. After taking two of the plastic bottles for
Tiel and himself, he passed the rest up to the boy, who then asked Donna to distribute them.
He drank almost half his bottle in one swallow. Tiel twisted off the cap and drank from her bottle, sighing after taking a long draft. "Good idea. Trying to change the subject?"
"Good guess."
"You don't practice medicine here in Rojo Flats?"
"I told you. I ranch."
"But they know you around here as Doc."
"Everybody in a small town knows everything about everyone."
"But you must've told somebody. Otherwise, how'd it get around—"
"Look, Ms. McCoy—"
"Tiel."
"I don't know how it got around that I once practiced medicine. Even if I did, what's it to you?"
'Just curious."
"Uh-huh." He was looking straight ahead, away from her. "This isn't an interview. You won't get an interview from me. So why not save yourself the breath? You might need it later."
"Prior to the… the episode, you lived a very active life.
Don't you miss being at the center of things?"
"No."
"You don't get bored out here?"
"No."
"Aren't you lonesome?"
"For what?"
"Companionship."
He turned his head and readjusted his position so that his shoulders and torso were almost facing her. "Sometimes."
His eyes moved downward, over her. "You volunteering to help me out on that?"
"Oh, please."
And when she said that, he began to laugh, letting her know that he hadn't been serious.
She hated herself for falling for the ruse. "I hoped you were above that sexist crap."
Serious again, he said, "And I hoped you were above asking questions, particularly personal ones, at a time like this. Just as I was beginning to like you."
Strangely, the way he was looking at her now, with that probing intensity, had a greater effect than the smarmy sexual insinuation. That had been phony. This was real.
Her tummy lifted weightlessly.
But then an uproar on the far side of the store brought her and Doc scrambling to their feet.