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sat behind his desk. “So. Gareth. Thanks for coming in. I’d normally say ‘how can I help you?’ but I guess in this case it’s ‘how can you help us?’”
    â€œWell, let me be upfront with you, Ross. And Montague. I’m what you would call a disgruntled former employee! That’s not always a positive indicator of credibility. True, I was unjustly dismissed from the Baird Centre, and my relationship with that organization is conflictual. But I’m here to tell the truth and do whatever I can to help the survivors of Corey’s suicide.”
    â€œMonty and I are most appreciative, Gareth. What can you tell us about Corey?”
    â€œWell, as you probably know, Corey was admitted to the facility on more than one occasion. He struggled with an addiction to cocaine and of course he had family issues as well. So many people do. During his most recent, and final, admission I was of the view that his recovery had not progressed to the point where he should have been discharged. Our director did not share my view.”
    â€œThe director is Doctor Edelman?” I asked.
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œAnd your position was what?”
    â€œI am a clinical psychologist. I was on staff as a therapist.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œWell, Corey’s recovery was —”
    â€œNo,” I interrupted again. “I mean, what happened with you? How did you end up leaving the centre?”
    There was a quick tightening of the lips but, if Swail-Peddle was annoyed at the change of subject, he did not let on. “Doctor Edelman and I had what might be called a personality conflict. He is a fine psychiatrist. But he is very controlling. He could not accept that my treatment methods were as valid as his, and he made my situation there untenable. It’s all for the better. I have opened my own practice, and the self-actualization I am able to achieve now is something I could never have achieved as a staff psychologist. So, as bitter as the parting was, I really should thank Edelman for his unintentional role in my self-fulfilment as a therapist! Back to Corey, though, it was Edelman who had the final say in discharging Corey prematurely from treatment. His methods were very orthodox; he failed to see that they were ineffective. Corey should have been admitted to our Phase Two program, which involves a much longer stay and a more intensive course of therapy. But no. Corey was out, and you know the result.”
    â€œI take it you’ll have no trouble facing off against Doctor Edelman if and when this goes to court?” I asked, thinking that he probably lived for the day he could castigate the psychiatrist in a public forum.
    Swail-Peddle smiled and held out his hands in a nothing-to-hide gesture. “No trouble. I won’t conceal from you the fact that I was frustrated in my efforts to get a hearing before Doctor Edelman. Now perhaps I will. Though I imagine he will become quite unpleasant, through his own lawyer, if I challenge him in public.”
    â€œYes, I would say the Baird Centre will mount a vigorous defence,” Ross put in, “but we intend to counter it.”
    â€œI don’t suppose you have any notes or a chart relating to Corey?” I asked. “The records would have stayed at the centre, I presume.”
    â€œHis chart, his medication records, and so forth would still be on file at the Baird.”
    â€œWe can subpoena those.”
    â€œBut I believe I may have some notes of my own. I kept a diary and some of the entries may relate to Corey.”
    â€œIf you could provide those, we’d appreciate it.”
    â€œI’ll call and let you know what I’ve found. And if there’s anything else I can do for Corey’s family, don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
    â€œSo, what do you think?” Ross asked me when the psychologist had departed.
    I leaned across his desk and said,
sotto