Read Online The Trial of Dr. Kate by Michael E. Glasscock III - Free Book Online

her hand, she said, “Hi, Army, it’s been a long time.”
    Looking at Shenandoah with a puzzled expression, Army asked, “I know you, lady?”
    “Shenandoah Coleman. We went to school together.”
    Army took Shenandoah’s hand and squeezed hard. He said, “Kate told me you were in town. You’re a reporter?”
    “Yes, I’m here to cover the trial. I’m sorry about Lillian. I take it you don’t believe Kate had anything to do with her death.”
    Army took a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes from his shirt pocket and tapped one out. Lighting it with a gold Zippo, he inhaled deeply. “I think Kate’s innocent.”
    “You have any idea why Kate passed out?”
    “You’ll have to ask her about that. I’m running late. Maybe we can talk later.”
    “I’ll stop by the garage.”
    When Shenandoah opened the door to the vestibule of the jail, she saw Deputy Masterson sitting behind the desk.
    “Doc’s waiting for you, Shenandoah. I just left her in there ‘cause I knew you’d be coming.”
    Kate looked up as Shenandoah entered the room. “Morning, Shenandoah. I’m glad to see you.”
    “Was Army just here?” Shenandoah asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Do you think that’s wise?”
    Looking away, Kate said, “Army is a longtime friend. I won’t ignore my friends just because of vicious rumors.”
    Her voice seemed strained, and she fidgeted with a pocket in her dress. Shenandoah put her hand on Kate’s and felt a hard object. Pulling her hand away, Shenandoah saw the top of a small silver flask sticking out of the pocket of Kate’s dress.
    “Is that what I think it is?” Shenandoah asked.
    Kate’s face flushed. She wouldn’t meet Shenandoah’s eyes.
    “Why didn’t you tell me you have a drinking problem?” Shenandoah continued. “Is that why you can’t remember anything about the day Lillie died?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “No, Kate, you’ve got to level with me.”
    “You’re not my attorney. What gives you the right to judge me?” Kate said, raising her voice two octaves. “I think you should go.”
    “I’m not judging you, Kate. I’m only here because you’re a dear friend and I care what happens to you.”
    “Leave me alone.” Kate’s eyes flashed, and she swallowed hard.
    “So you can take a drink, stave off the DTs? Is that vodka? Is that how you’ve hidden your problem for all these years?”
    Kate’s shoulders began to shake, tears flooding her eyes, but she remained silent.
    Shenandoah moved her chair closer and put her arm around Kate’s shoulders. Pulling Kate toward her, she said, “Did Army get you hooked on this stuff?”
    Kate raised her head and looked Shenandoah in the eye. “I’d like to blame it on my father’s genes, but in truth I’m the one who’s responsible. I saw what it did to him, yet I took the same path.”
    “Does Jake know?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why are you still drinking? Have you tried to quit?”
    “Over the years I’ve tried to quit several times. I even joined Alcoholics Anonymous for a while. I drove to Cookeville once a month. But I’d get stressed out over work and start drinking again. I’m what’s known as a functioning alcoholic. The reason I can’t remember anything about the day Lillie died is because I blacked out.”
    “I thought you said you passed out. What’s the difference?”
    “When someone drinks alcohol over a long period of time—when they’re an alcoholic—there can be problems with their memory. Alcohol interferes with the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory. In a blackout the individual may act normal, drive a car, walk around, do all kinds of things, and yet have no recollection of what they did. It’s called an alcohol blackout. Sometimes the person does pass out, falls asleep. That’s what happens to me a lot of the time.
    “I’m weaning myself off, though. I have to do it slowly or I would go into the DTs. You may not know it, but the mortality rate when you go into the