A Little Too Late

Chapter 18

"He is going off the evidence that we grew up together, Your Honor," Nicole sighed. "It is true that we were childhood friends but we have not been in contact with each other in years. He is just making assumptions that since we have history that I would use Dr. Green to doctor my medical records to gain sympathy through the jurors or to get what I want. Yes, when I collapsed in court Dr. Green was in the hospital and treated me, but so were Dr. Roberts and Dr. Williams. I had no prior knowledge of Dr. Green being in the hospital when I was rushed there. I have the medical records to prove that Dr. Green is not my only doctor. He isn't even my OBGYN. He has no reason to tamper with my records. In fact, he wasn't even the one that ordered me on bedrest, Dr. Roberts was. You can see in the records and call up to the board if you would like to verify. Your Honor, Mr. Andrews is only doing this to me because he is sleeping with the client's wife and when I brought it up to him I refused to hand it over."

"THAT'S A LIE!" Mr. Andrews shouted. "SHE IS LYING, YOUR HONOR!"

"I have the proof Your Honor," Nicole smirked then winced. "Excuse me, I need to sit down."

"You may," Judge Lake nodded.

"If I may?" Sean asked but Nicole shook her head.

"I'm fine Dr. Green, just ligament pains," Nicole said waving her hand. "Anyway," she took a breath then slowly let it out. "If you look at this evidence it was caught by chance." She pressed against her ribs then focused on her breathing while the judge flipped through the file.

"What am I looking at, Miss Cattell?" Judge Lake asked as he flipped through some papers then picked up a CD. "What is this?"

"This is zoomed in images and the actual recording that was given to me by a TV reporter," Miss Cattell explained. "The reporter was actually recording the baseball game but if you look in the background you can see Mr. Andrews and the client's wife holding hands and then you can also see them kissing and there is even photographs of Mr. Andrews entering the client's house at night and emerging the following morning."

"You had me followed?" Mr. Andrews asked in shock. "Your Honor that is unethical. I should press charges on you."

"I did nothing of the sort," Nicole shook her head. "This case is widely known in town. The reporter saw Mr. Andrews and the wife while they were reviewing the footage of the game and brought it to my attention. Once I confirmed that it was Mr. Andrews they sent one of their investigators to follow Mr. Andrews for further evidence of him being with the client's wife and I was given the evidence because it seemed unethical to the reporter. You can clearly see Your Honor that the recording was not tampered with. If anything, it needs to be Mr. Andrews that needs to be removed from the case, not me, but if you think it will be best, I will also step away from the case so new lawyers can be brought in."

"This certainly is intriguing," Judge Lake said as he put the CD into his computer and watched the uncut footage. "What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Andrews?"

He sighed and glared at her, "I'll remove myself from the case," he said through clenched teeth. "But I'm telling you Your Honor, her medical records have been tampered with."

"I know Dr. Green's parents, he is an only child and just because they are childhood friends does not make enough circumstantial evidence that he would have reason to tamper with her records, especially with two other doctors treating her," Judge Lake said. "But I do think with your pregnancy it would be good for you to step away for right now."

"Yes, Your Honor," Nicole nodded. "I have complied a list of lawyers that I recommend that are not from my company and for both sides of the case."

"I will look them over," Judge Lake nodded, "now, get out of here. You, Miss Cattell, back to bedrest and you, Mr. Andrews, I suggest you start finding yourself a new career or a damn good lawyer."

"Yes, Your Honor," Mr. Andrews said before storming out of the office.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Nicole smiled softly as she slowly stood. "That actually sounds really good."

Judge Lake chuckled, "send pictures once they are born."