~~~~Love Above All~~~~

Chapter 37


Elisha stared at the man who walked through the doors. It was him. She should have known better than to expect that he would keep quiet in a case such as this. His reputation would be at stake. Her hands started to shake and she felt faint. David placed his hand over hers and squeezed it, hard. "Elisha!" He stage whispered in her ear. "We prepared for this. Don't collapse on me." He pressed a cup of water into her hand and forced her to drink it. "Better?" Elisha nodded. "Yes, it's a shock. How did they find out?" "We'll soon find out." He poured her another cup of water to have at the ready. "Just try not to look anymore surprised than you just did about seeing him, okay?" The prosecutor was standing before the witness stand with his hands in his pockets questioning Frank Taylor, the detective that Elisha had hired to find Mandy. "May I ask why you came forward today?" Frank glanced up at Elisha sadly. "My wife convinced me it would be the right thing to do." "So am I to assume that you know something about why Mrs. Carter is on trial today?" Frank nodded slowly. "I found and tailed Miss Williford for her." The prosecutor dragged all the details out of Frank, albeit reluctantly. "So what did she say when she showed you the money?" "She told me that it would be mine if I forgot she ever existed, or words to that effect." The prosecutor looked at Elisha and then to the jury. "And how much money was it?" He turned back to Frank. "More money than I normally make in a year, or I should say, a good year."

After a few more questions, the prosecutor rested and David rose to cross examine. "Did Mrs. Carter explain what had gone on to make her want to locate Miss Williford?" Frank studied his fingernails before he looked up. "She didn't have to. I knew who she was and who Miss Williford was. The story had been all over the papers in Florida." He looked at Elisha again. "It was horrible what she did to them, taking their babies from them." The prosecutor stood. "Objection! It was never proven that she was the one who kidnaped the Carter's babies and is irrelevant to this case." "Over-ruled!" The judge stared at the prosecutor in amazement. "It's highly relevant to this case." David smiled at his colleagues slip up. "Did Mrs. Carter ever say anything to you about wishing to harm Miss Williford?" "No she did not." He smiled at Elisha. "I believe she was frustrated that the police couldn't find Mandy and didn't seem to care about finding her once the babies were returned." David ran through a few more questions. "When Mandy arrived in Kentucky and at the hotel, how long did it take Mrs. Carter to show up after you called her?" Frank considered for a moment and smiled. "Not long at all. Quicker than I expected!" David looked surprised. "You expected her and not the police?" Frank looked at David intently. "If someone had put your family through as much hell as Mandy put the Carter's through, wouldn't you want to have a few words with them before the police arrived?"

When David was finished with Frank, the prosecutor declared his case closed. The judge ordered a recess for the day and the court began to clear out. "Oh my Lord!" Elisha declared and placed her head in her arms on the table. "That was fantastic!" Nick rushed through the barrier and over to Elisha. She looked up at David. "It really was, you turned it totally in my favour!" she said, gratefully. "Well, tomorrow it is your turn and you will need to be rested and prepared. Go home and relax, get a good nights sleep." He urged. "I'll make sure of it." Nick promised. The joined the others in the hall. "Oh Elisha!" Christine gave her a huge hug. "It's almost over." "I hope so." she said softly. They said their goodbyes and promised to join up for dinner as soon as the trial was over. "I feel awful not spending any time with all of you." Elisha said, turning to AJ. "Hey, pretty lady. You have kids to look after, not to mention yourself and this lug here." He slapped Nick on the back. "We'll get together when it's all over." Howie vowed.

"Hey mommy, are there a lot of police at the courthouse?" Brian climbed up on her lap after supper and hugged her around the neck. "No honey, there are a few, but most of them are all out protecting people." Brian studied her face. "Okay!" He snuggled in and turned to face the television. Elisha looked over to Nick, who was feeding Diana, and suppressed a giggle. Their children came up with the most amazing questions sometimes. When she finished her bottle Nick handed Diana to his mother and picked up Gene. "I kind of like that I can feed them now." he said, gazing at his son's peaceful face. "What a great feeling." Elisha smiled at the two of them and grabbed her camera from the side table, quickly grabbing a shot. Rebecca joined her younger brother on her mothers lap. "Looks like someone has been missed." Jane commented. Hugging the two of them, Elisha agreed heartily. "I miss them way more than they miss me." Bob laughed. "I don't know about that one!"

They both tucked the children into bed and bade goodnight to the other Carters. Elisha got ready for bed immediately. "No shower?" Nick asked, disappointed. She smiled and came over to him, hugging him from behind, running her hands over his chest. He caught one of her hands and placed it to his lips. "I'm exhausted honey, today just drained me. I'm sorry." "I understand." She moved off the bed and to his front. Nick gently pulled her into his lap. "Really? You don't mind if I go right to bed?" She playfully kissed him on the chin. "Mind? Oh yeah, I mind!" he teased. He laid her on the bed and tickled her stomach before kissing her lips. Their kiss deepened and Nick broke it off, breathless. "I understand though. Tomorrow is the biggest day in our lives. You need to rest." Elisha wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back down to her. "I don't know if I can after that kiss." He kissed her once more. "I don't think you can either!" She smiled wickedly at him. "That's why my shower is gonna be a cold one!" he exclaimed, jumping up off the bed. He pulled the blankets up over her and tucked her in. "Go to sleep, darling" He kissed her forehead and then her lips. "I'll see you in the morning."

next page-----previous page

home

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1