Russ put his arm out,pushing him back. "Stay there and let me have a look at you." Whenhis brother complied, Russ gave him a quick examination, not liking what hefound.
"Listen up, mate,I need you to focus on what I'm saying." He waited for the nod. "Whenyou fell, did it feel as though you tore the ligament or just pulled it somemore?"
"I'm not sure. Itjust hurt like hell."
Russ lifted the leg andwith gentle hands, tried to flex it. "You have some movement inthere." He placed it back down again and stood up. "You have twochoices. Go to hospital now and see whoever is on call or wait for me to comein tomorrow. Either way, you will have to have scans and probably go to Sydneyto have it properly assessed."
"Can't you justgive me more drugs and let me be?"
"With the amountof whiskey you’ve had today, no. Now, do you want me to call an ambulance orhelp you upstairs to bed?"
"Leave mehere."
"No. You can'texactly stretch out and get a decent rest here, besides Essie wants you in yourown bed." Russ blinked his eyes rapidly, rubbing the bridge of his nose."Hurry up and make up your mind, I've had enough crap today to last me fora lifetime and I'm kind of short on patience right now."
"Ooh, big brotheris snappy today. What's the matter, nurse turn you down, did she?"
"Cade, do you wantto go in now or not?"
"No."
Russ leaned down andpicked up the crutches before he slipped his arm under Cade’s shoulders. Hehelped him stand and walk, guiding him to the old lift under the recess of thestairs. Taking a key from hook up near the top of the door, he unlocked thelift.
"This old thingwill break down half way up, then we'll be stuck there all night like dear oldAunty May." Cade leaned against the staircase and watched Russ pull theiron door open.
"Unlike her, Ihave my phone in my pocket. Get in."
Cade hobbled in andleaned in the corner for the short ride up to the next level. When Russ openedthe door, he hobbled out and went straight to his room. "Going to tuck mein, big brother?"
Russ followed him inand looked around the room. The smell of alcohol hung in the air and he openedthe window, letting in the sounds of the night and a soft breeze. The bed wasunmade so he pulled back the top blanket and smoothed down the sheets."There, you can tuck yourself in. I'll leave here about 8am. If you wantme to take you in, be ready."
Cade blew him a kiss ashe passed.
Russ stood in his roomand put his finger in his tie, pulling it loose. He threw it on the chairbeside the open window and undid the buttons on his white shirt. Shrugging it offhis shoulders, he let it drop to the floor before leaning on the window sill.The sheer net curtains blew around his shoulders as he gazed out into the nightletting the breeze roll over his naked torso.
Hiring a privatedetective to find some dirt on his ex-wife was going to cost him what cash hehad left in the bank, but it would be worth it. Tory had already called hersolicitor and relayed Russ's final instructions. If she insisted on stayingmarried, Russ would dig and find out everything she had done over the last fouryears they’d been married. Their bank accounts would be scrutinised for anyindiscretion she may have made using joint funds and if he could tie her toanother man, he would.
The only thing irkingRuss was the innocent child she claimed she was carrying. If he could smooththings over with Lizzie, he would but deep down he knew it would take more thanhe had to give to win her over. Another man might take up the challenge but fornow Russ was too down-trodden to even attempt it.
He stepped away fromthe window and undid the buckle on his trousers letting them fall in a heapwith his shirt and walked to the bed. He pulled down the top blanket and easedhimself down on the cool sheets, too tired to deal with the way his wife wastreating him. Russ closed his eyes and prayed for sleep to take away thehorrors he’d faced at work and with his brother. There had to be a betteroutcome for him somewhere after all the crap he had already taken from Paula.He couldn't face anymore.
Chapter Twenty-two
Rooney drove into thecar park and smiled at the sign hanging outside near the letterbox. Her ownbusiness at last. She hurried over and unlocked the front door, pausing to lookat the way she had set it out with Rhian yesterday. Everything had arrivedexcept a few supplies she could do without for the time being.
A battered old utedrove in and pulled up right at the door. Rooney glanced over and waited to seeif it was a patient or something else. The door opened and a man in grubbyoveralls climbed out and slammed the door. "You the new vet?" Heglowered at Rooney.
"Yes, I am. Howcan I help you?" She came forward and looked into the back of the vehicle,spotting an old wire cage. Inside a small dog cringed in a corner, its rustybrown fur matted with dirt and blood from what looked like a badly torn leg.
"This here pup isworth money to me. If you can save it without costing a bloody fortune fine,otherwise I'll take it home and shoot it. Don't have no time for things notgoing to pay me back."
"Bring it in andI'll have a look." Rooney's heart went out to the small dog. It looked asthough it didn't get much love from the owner.
He opened the door,thrust his meaty hand in and grabbed the animal by the scruff of the neck. Ithowled in pain as he pulled it out and carried it inside.
"Let's get thepoor thing up on the table and
