Goldstein had already spent several hours with her talking about the case. He determined early on that she had nothing to hide. That didn’t stop the hospital attorneys from attempting to make a case against her. Not that Monica had any intention of working there again. But a discharge based on the crap they were spewing—and a loss of her license—would certainly prohibit her from working anywhere else.

Katie took her shopping before the deposition. Monica wore a pencil skirt, matching jacket and the perfect flats because her leg had only been out of the cast for a week and she couldn’t wear heels without falling on her face. Monica felt like she belonged next to these high-powered lawyers. More so, she was bent on proving she wasn’t some needy woman desperate for a vacation who would use a charity to score a free airplane ride.

She may not have been one to flaunt her sister’s new family, but she didn’t have any problem helping her accusers connect the dots so they could see how asinine their claims were.

A petite woman made her way into the conference room first. She reached over and shook the hands of Monica’s attorneys. She introduced herself as the court reporter and set up a laptop.

Monica sat up straight in her chair and rubbed her leg absently. Goldstein spoke with his colleagues in hushed tones as they waited for the hospital representation to arrive.

A lone man stepped into the large room, his abdomen preceding him by a good six inches. The sweater-vest he wore with a lack of a jacket, mixed with the thinning hairline, was a testament to the man’s disregard of the case. Monica couldn’t help but notice his general lack of polish. Suddenly she realized that her team knew exactly what they were doing, dressed the way they were. Her team stood and shook hands with the opposing attorney. He smiled at her, but didn’t bother putting his hand out.

Good. I don’t want this guy to think I like him or who he represents.

Mr. Hudson set his papers on the opposing side of the table, but didn’t sit.

“Looks as if the nurse union has stepped up their attorneys,” he said with a laugh that could only be described as guarded.

Goldstein sat back and said nothing while his colleague corrected him. “Oh, no, Mr. Hudson. There isn’t any union representation here.”

Hudson shot a look at Monica. The cocky smile on his face fell.

“Is that right?”

“That’s correct, counselor. Miss Mann has waived her right to a union attorney.”

Hudson started to smile again. As if he knew something none of them did.

Goldstein’s right-hand man, literally, removed a card from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to the other attorney. All the while Goldstein had said nothing.

Hudson glanced at the card and Monica would swear she could hear his heart palpitate from where she sat. She really hoped this guy was healthier than his fast food lunch gut made him appear. It would suck to have to render aid to the enemy.

“If you’ll excuse me?” Hudson said as he left the room.

“Where’s he going?” Monica asked as she watched him retreat.

Goldstein reclined in the surprisingly comfortable conference chairs.

“Recruiting reinforcements.” A smile played on her attorney’s face.

Suddenly Monica had a new appreciation for lawyers.

Ten minutes later, Mr. Hudson returned with two more attorneys, one woman in her midthirties with sharp eyes and a pinched face, and a man somewhere in his fifties dressed to the nines. Would you look at that, Monica mused. Mr. Hudson found his jacket.

Everything began with cordial tones. State your name for the record, show us your ID, and your nursing license so we have that as well… everything Goldstein told her to expect. Forty-five minutes into the deposition and the only questions raised were about where Monica went to school and where she was raised. She didn’t see the importance of her childhood home address but Goldstein didn’t stop her from answering the questions.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they asked about her involvement with Borderless Nurses.

“How long have you been on their list of recruits?”

“A year and a half,” she answered.

“And have you ever gone on an assignment with them before the recent relief effort in Jamaica?”

“No.”

“They’ve never sent you anywhere?” Hudson asked.

“No… well there was a training I went to in Florida.”

“Mandated?”

“Yes. The first few days were mandated, I opted to stay for the more detailed course since I was there.”

“So a week in Florida?”

She smiled and felt like she was being led. “Yes.”

“Did you meet anyone on this trip to Florida?”

“Sure. There were a lot of physicians and nurses from all over the country all there for the same training.”

“Anyone else?”

Monica glanced at Goldstein. He sat forward and for the first time during this deposition said something. “What are you getting at, counselor?”

“Did you meet anyone romantically, Miss Mann?”

Her face grew cold.

“I don’t see what this has to do with Jamaica,” one of Monica’s other attorneys said.

“It’s OK,” she interrupted him. “I didn’t see anyone in Florida. The hotel was on the beach and the organization did spring for a farewell dinner the night before I came home. Didn’t even stop in Disney World or anything.”

“So you enjoyed your time in Florida?”