Page 33 of A Burning Rage

“Do you think this is enough to reverse the decision on Andrew?”

“Absolutely. I’ll contact the parole board and demand a review.”

After I end the call with Troy, I head straight home to give Beth the news. When I walk in through the door that leads to the garage, Luke runs to greet me. “Daddy’s home!”

I scoop him up in my arms and kiss his forehead. “Where’s Mama?”

“I’m right here,” Beth says as she comes around the corner, holding Ava perched on her hip. “This is a nice surprise. What brings you home so early?”

I set Luke on his feet and pull out my phone so I can show her the images Tyler took. “Take a look at these.”

Beth’s eyes widen. “Is this—”

“Yes,” I say.

“Can I see?” Luke asks, straining to see my phone.

“Nope, sorry, buddy.” I turn him toward the family room. “Go play while I talk to Mama.”

Beth flips through the images over and over. “Oh, my God! They’re having an affair?”

“Looks that way.”

“Where did you get these images?”

“Tyler took them earlier this afternoon.”

Beth gazes at me wide-eyed and hopeful. “She lied at the hearing, didn’t she?”

I nod. “Troy is contacting the parole board to ask for an emergency hearing. We’re going to demand that Andrew be taken back into custody.”

* * *

The next day, Troy receives a response from the parole board. “They granted our request for a hearing,” he says over the phone. “Tomorrow morning at nine.”

“That was fast,” I say.

“Yeah, well, these are pretty egregious charges. If she’s indeed having an affair with Richard, and that looks to be the case, she’ll likely lose her license to practice medicine, and Andrew’s release will undoubtedly be revoked. Her testimony will be invalidated.”

The relief I feel is immense. This nightmare may be over soon, and my wife and children will be safe. I’ll finally be able to breathe again.

After my conversation with Troy ends, I call Beth at home to give her the good news.

Chapter 13 – Beth

My stomach is in knots on the drive to the hospital where we’re going to meet again with the parole board. Shane is driving us in his Jaguar. Troy will meet us there. My brother is bringing physical evidence in the form of photographs and videos that Richard Morton and Dr. Masterson are having an affair. I just hope that information is enough to convince the board a mistake was made in Andrew’s release hearing.

Shane pulls into the parking garage and finds a parking spot near the bank of elevators.

I glance over at a dark sedan parked two slots away from us. The car’s windows are darkly tinted, but it appears there are two adults in the front seat, and one passenger in the back. Andrew’s here. “Isn’t that the Mortons?”

Shane glances over at the car. “Yes. It looks like they’re here for the hearing.”

“Andrew’s with them.” For some reason, I wasn’t expecting him to be here. My heart shoots up into my throat.

Shane reaches for my hand. “It’ll be okay. If Tyler can prove his accusations to the parole board, maybe they’ll take Andrew into custody.”

“Ready?” Shane asks after he shuts off the engine. He reaches for my hand and brings it to his mouth to kiss.