Chapter Thirty-four
"Thanks forstaying with me. I appreciate it." Rooney smiled up at Stevie, her eyesdreamy, her face relaxed. They sat outside under one of the huge trees in thefront yard.
"It's what I'mhere for."
"How did Tam likeyou taking her to school?"
He smiled at the visionof his daughter beside him in the police car when he drove her into the schooldrop of zone. "She seemed pretty proud to arrive in the squad car, even ifit is undercover. You've done a great job with her, Rooney. She is an amazingkid."
"Yeah, she is.I've been lucky I guess. She’s been the easiest kid to raise, which is just aswell with all the study and work I've had to do." She looked down at herfingers tearing at the strand of grass in her hand. "Can I ask yousomething?"
"Of course youcan. Whatever you need is yours, you know that." He waited with a knot inhis chest to see what she needed and hoped it wasn't space from him afteryesterday.
"Can you stay withme again tonight? I don't think I can stand to sleep alone for a while and Idon't want to take a tablet every night. They knock me around. I still feeldopey."
"Of course I will.I might need to go home and grab a bag of clean clothes but I won't leave untilyou say you'll be okay on your own."
Rooney lifter her handand cupped his jaw, bringing his lips down to hers. "I'm fine here withEssie. You go and do what you have to do. I'm sure they need you at work."
"I do have thingsto take care of but I've promised Tam I would collect her after school. If youcan manage until then, I can go into town and get everything done." He strokedhis finger down her cheek and traced her lips with the tip of his finger."I said I'll do anything to prove how much you mean to me, and I meanit."
"You’ve alreadyproved more than you need to. I love you, Stevie Taylor. I always have."
Stevie said goodbye andleft Rooney in the care of Essie before heading back to town. He was almost atthe Police Station when his mobile rang.
"Taylor."
"Stevie, it'sRuss. I wonder if you have time to call in and see me today?"
"Sure, what'sup." He listened while Russ filled him in on what he needed help with."Fine. I'll meet you in your office in half an hour."
As he passed a servicestation, he pulled over and brought the morning’s paper. On the front page wasa photo of Rooney and Stubbs, and a smaller one further down of Lizzie whenshe’d been brought in for questioning five years prior.
"Hell, this is thelast thing she needs." He threw the paper on the front seat of his car andheaded into the office to sort out his roster and make plans for the rest ofthe week.
Then he drove to thehospital. Tucking the newspaper under his arm, Stevie walked inside and askeddirections to Russ's office. He walked in and sat in the corner to wait.
He heard footstepsapproaching and a muffled giggle of a young lady. The door opened and Russappeared.
"I knew you wouldcome to your senses when you read the real story of Lizzie Stanley in the papertoday." Diane walked in clutching onto Russ's arm. When she saw Steviesitting in the corner, she stopped.
"Come in, Diane.Have a seat." Russ walked behind his desk. "You know Senior SergeantTaylor?"
"Diane."Stevie stood and walked behind her to stand at the door.
"What's this allabout?" She twisted her fingers together and looked up at Russ withfrightened eyes.
"I've asked SergeantTaylor in today because of something on the front page of the newspaper. Didyou have anything to do with that?"
"What? I didn'tkill that man. That was your sister’s fault from all accounts."
"What DoctorWilliams is asking, Diane, is did you have anything to do with the commentsregarding Nurse Stanley and what happened to her years ago?"
"I don't know whatyou mean?" She sat with her hands gripping the arms of the chair, herknuckles showing white and he could see her attitude changing as she realisedwhat was happening.
"There is areference to other cases of homicides in the area with regard to crimestatistics. It would appear someone has given information to the paper about acase Elizabeth was involved in some years ago."
"Why would that haveanything to do with me?" She glanced up at Russ, her eyes pleading.
"Speaking to mysource at the paper, they said they got a call from a female member of thepublic concerned about the rate of crime in our town. Said person made sure mysource remembered the incident and also pointed out that she was cleared undermuddled circumstances."
"Well, it's true,isn't it?" She turned to glare at Stevie, her temper rising. "I heardall about it. She got off because of connections with the police or something.Everyone knows she was involved and her boyfriend didn't just happen to pullthe gun on himself." She shook her head and glanced at Russ. "You'rea fool, Doctor Williams, to fall for someone who has a past when you could haveany other girl in this place including me." Diane stood up, lifting herchin. "Your loss, I suppose."
"I think not,Diane. I would strongly suggest you go and see Human Resources about findinganother position at a different hospital before I approach them myself. I don'twant your kind of poison in this department." Russ walked over and heldthe door open for her. "I'll let Nurse Stanley know you won't beback."
"That was plainnasty." Stevie sighed. "Has Lizzie seen the paper, do you know?"
Russ shook his head."I'm not sure. She’s off me anyway, so I'm probably the last person shewould talk to."
"Okay, I'll go andhave a word with her." He paused by the door. "Russ, if you care forher at all, let her tell you the story of what went down. She is the innocentperson in all of this."
"I'm sure she is,but I doubt she’ll give me a shot after this."
"Might be time youstood up and fought for what you wanted. Rooney told me to remind you of whatshe said."
"How is my sisterthis
