Chapter 6 : Connexions.
When he had handed her the file, Lilly had wondered why he had taken her inside his office, but as she read the name on the folder she understood. She felt like she had been stabbed in the chest and she looked in disbelief at her boss hoping that he would tell her right away what this was all about.
-Lilly I've some things to ask you if you don't mind.
She didn't want to argue with him especially now, but she wasn't quite sure if she was even ready to answer him yet. On the other hand, if it was something involving her like she thought it was she had to tell him everything as she had already done with Scotty, staying speechless like now wouldn't be useful.
-Okay, I don't think I even have the choice anyway. she finally replied.
-I'm glad you accepted. So, it seems we have found a connexion between you and a cold case that's being reopened after similar deaths at the same hospital over the past six months.
-If you mean Roseanne by "connexion", then yes, my daughter died 15 years ago two days after she was born. I didn't sue the hospital because I couldn't afford a lawyer; I had barely enough money to buy food! When I got out of hospital I went looking for a job, I became a waitress till the end of July and in September I enrolled at university thanks to a scholarship. I don't know how much my life would have been different with her and never will.
Lilly was more annoyed by his question than angry at him and she knew he had to ask, he wouldn't have either way. Maybe she shouldn't have been that aggressive in her answer but she didn't want to think of her daughter as a "connexion".
Stillman was stunned by the way she had replied, he had rarely seen her that way. It was clear that she had still problems to deal with that and he would have preferred not to be obliged to question her, but with her involved he'd have had to interrogate her like every victim's family.
-I guess it isn't easy for you but I wouldn't want you to be pissed at me, I'm doing my job, our job, and I can't imagine how I'd be if it was my daughter who had passed away. I won't say I understand, I can't because I haven't lost a child but I'd appreciate your help on this if you feel ready to work on her case. he had tried to choose his words carefully, he didn't want to make more damages than what was already done.
-You want me to work on this? Interrogate parents who, just like me, want their child to rest in peace, tell them we'll do as much as we can when I don't believe I can go through this again? But, you know, I think I'm up the job because the chance, as thin as it is, exists that we find the person who did that, to put him or her in jail so we can all have closure.
-You can start working on the files, but I think it would be better if you didn't have any contact with the families, it could avoid some unwanted mistakes if you lost your temper.
This chapter finally came after weeks of thinking. Hope you'll like it. Reviews make my day.