The New Girl

Chapter 11

As Andrea turned the corner inside the waiting room, she zoned in on Lyric like she was a beacon flashing her exact position. “Mom, what are you doing here?” Lyric asked, then thinking it was a stupid question. “Well, because your here and I wanted to see how your friend was doing.” Andrea said as she set down in a chair across from both girls. As Lyric explained everything to her mother Donner stood across the room watching them.

He hadn't seen his ex-wife in over thirteen years and he thought she was just as beautiful now as she was then. He watched them a few more minutes then quietly left the hospital, leaving behind the two women he still loved more then life itself once again. As he got in his car he felt like he did thirteen years ago, the first time he left, like a sniper that had destroyed everything that had meant anything to him. He started the engine and drove towards the police station. Donner pushed the mistakes of his past out of his head by thinking of the interrogation of Heather Shilling.

Ten minutes before he had talked to her for the second time he had gotten the lab results back, her finger prints had been all over the bottle that was thrown inside the pizza house that started the fire. Not only that but her DNA was on the material that had been stuffed into the bottle. It had been one of her own shirts that she had torn up and used. Not to smart of her, considering all the forensic shows on TV.

He had to give Heather Shilling one thing, she was a very tenacious young girl. He knew that because this was her first offense and that she was only fifteen years old, she wouldn't serve any real time for her involvement in this crime. He also knew that her father, Trent Shilling, and Judge Harris were best bud's, which meant that Heather would only do a few hours of community service, if that.

It bothered Donner to no end to think that kids could commit an adult crime and get off scott free because of their age. He felt that if they were old enough to make an adult decision then they were old enough to pay the price of that decision. Donner didn't think he was an asshole by any means, he didn't think that kids should be thrown into an adult prison. He just thought that they should pay for their crimes in some way and be helped to better their lives.

This was Donner's plan for Ethan Toliver. Any other night he would be headed home but he was headed for the station to pick Ethan up. If he was wrong about Ethan then Donner was willing to pay the price but if he was right then he would save just one more kid on a downwards spiral of self destruction. Donner knew his choice to save kids was in part his guilt at failing his own daughter by leaving. Even though it made him proud to watch the kids flourish it didn't erase his guilt and shame for not being there for his own kid. Before his thought's could arouse more stuff he didn't really want to think about, he pulled into the police stations parking lot.

As ordered by Donner from a phone call earlier to Connie, she had Ethan mopping the stations floors when he entered. Connie looked up from the front desk and smiled, “You look like crap, still handsome as ever but you need some sleep. She nodded over at Ethan and added, He's just finishing up and I haven't had a single problem with him.” “Thanks and I think a good nights sleep will do him some good too. Heard anything from his father or Sheriff Butts?” Connie shook her head, “Not a single word from either one of them. I tried to call the Sheriff earlier but got no answer, just the answering machine. I left a message for him to call but he hasn't as of yet.”

Donner thought that was odd for the Sheriff, “Who's on night shift tonight?” “Officer Tally.” Connie replied. “When he get's in send him over to check on the Sheriff before it get's to late. It's not like Clyde to not check in. I would go but since I'm taking this one, he nodded in Ethan's direction, home with me I think it would be better if someone else went.” Connie nodded her understanding, “Will do. Clyde and Tally have been friends a long time so he should know his hiding places if Clyde's not home.” Just then Ethan walked to the desk with mop in hand, “I'm done Miss Connie, anything else that you want me to do?” Connie smiled at the young man, “Nope, I think you covered everything. Just take that mop and bucket back to the storage room and then you and Donner can head on home.”