"Never would've guessed she was that kind of person."
"Shelagh, this is supposed to be a happy occasion! Did you have to ruin it like this? Ezra really drew the short straw marrying you."
I looked at every single one of them and laughed. A cold, hollow sound.
"Ezra Mason! You're so damn sure I'm lying? Then let your medic get a physical exam! Better yet, let every woman here who's ever had a child take a look at her belly! She should be about four months along by now!"
The moment those words left her mouth, every pair of eyes locked onto Denise's loose-fitting clothes.
Panic flashed across her face. She burst into tears.
"You're smearing my name just because you know I'm too decent to fight back! Demanding I bare my stomach in front of all these people! You're trying to destroy my reputation!"
"Fine then, I'll just die! If that's what it takes to prove my innocence!"
She bolted toward the cliff's edge.
"Denise!"
Ezra shouted and lunged forward, catching her before she could reach it.
Her face had gone white as paper, and she collapsed limp in his arms. He turned on me, his voice cutting through the air like a blade:
"Shelagh! You forced my hand!"
He wheeled toward the officers, anguish twisting his features:
"Sir! I'm formally requesting that my wife be sent to the psychiatric facility for treatment!"
"I've heard electroshock therapy can correct certain mental disorders. I'm requesting she undergo the procedure!"
I whipped my head toward the officers:
"Sir! Everything I said is true! If you don't believe me, go check! The convicts you brought in a few days ago are already gone!"
"The only person with the authority to release them is Ezra Mason!"
I could see it. The officers' expressions had turned grave. One of them was already reaching for his pager, about to contact headquarters.
Ezra's voice cracked through the room like a whip.
"Shelagh! That's enough!"
He squared his shoulders and addressed the officers, every word measured and absolute:
"I stake my entire career as my guarantee. Everything she's said is the raving of a sick mind. There is nothing between Denise and me. And we certainly did not release any convicts to harm her."
"If any of it turns out to be true, I will surrender everything willingly. I'll accept whatever punishment comes."
The officers exchanged a long look, then turned to me: