Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,77

this?” Patrick asked.

“He lives down the street from Frederick’s house,” Roman said. Then he looked at the old man. “I’m sorry, I never got your name.”

“Lawrence. Lawrence Schmidt,” the man said.

“Mr. Lawrence Schmidt, this is Patrick Rooney. He’s the head of Talie’s legal team,” Roman said. “Patrick, this is Mr. Lawrence Schmidt. He’s the only neighbor that would speak to us when we were trying to find witnesses to what happened.”

Patrick shook the man’s hand. “It’s good to meet you, sir.”

“Yeah, likewise,” Lawrence said.

“Are you here for Talie’s hearing today?” Roman asked.

“Well, that’s apparent, don’t you think?” Lawrence asked.

Roman understood the gruff old man, and instead of getting irritated he just grinned. “Just didn’t want to assume.”

Lawrence nodded. “Look, I don’t know what I could possibly offer, but if I can help that girl get back to her daughter, and I didn’t, well, I just couldn’t live with myself. I missed the first hearing. Then I found out about this one, thought I’d come see if you still needed my testimony,” he said, winking at Ms. Autry.

“Thank you,” Ms. Autry said.

“Yeah, well, don’t forget I came,” he grumbled.

They shared a look that they’d met, but didn’t speak any further of it. It was clear Ms. Autry had been in contact with him.

“Mr. Schmidt, it’s most likely we won’t need your testimony, but, if you don’t mind staying just in case…” Patrick said.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. I’m here anyway. Might as well have a seat,” Lawrence answered.

“I’d like to take your statement anyway, just to have on file, if you don’t mind,” Patrick said.

“That’d be fine. Then I’ll feel like I didn’t let the girl down.”

Lawrence shuffled past Roman and took the seat on the other side of him.

“Can you tell me quickly, what do you have to offer to the case?” Patrick asked.

“Saw the dick running from a man chasing him. Lots of shouting and threatening, saw the man go around the back of the house, then the shouting stopped. Ten minutes later the girl comes home from walking her daughter to the bus stop, then the cops and ambulance show up,” Lawrence said.

Patrick stood there with his mouth open. “Assuming the dick is Frederick and the girl is Talie, you know she wasn’t there when the victim and Frederick had their confrontation.”

“Yep. That’s what I just said,” Lawrence confirmed.

“Alright,” Patrick said. “We have so many pieces of evidence now,” he said, then looked at Roman. “Your wife is coming home. Only question is when.”

Roman smiled and nodded as he relaxed the first little bit.

“Raymond!” Patrick said, turning to his brother.

“Yes?” Raymond asked.

“This is Mr. Schmidt, if you could please take a quick statement from him, just in case we need it for the case. Mr. Schmidt?” Patrick asked. “This is my brother and partner, Raymond Rooney. If you could tell him in just a bit more detail what you just told me, I’d appreciate it.”

“I could do that,” Lawrence said.

Raymond and Lawrence began to talk quietly with Raymond recording Lawrence’s statement on his phone.

Roman sat quietly as the courtroom began to fill, and Patrick started going through the papers he had in his briefcase. It wasn’t long before the door the defendants entered through opened and Talie was escorted in by her guards. Roman was relieved to see that the same female guard was with her.

“Good morning, Talie. Have a seat right here,” Patrick said, as though the guards weren’t securing her chains to the chair as they did last time.

Talie turned and looked over her shoulder at Roman, giving him a bright smile. “Hi,” she said quietly.

“Hi, love,” Roman answered with his heart in his eyes. His hands itched to reach forward and touch her, but he knew it wasn’t allowed and things seemed to be looking up so he didn’t want to do anything that may irritate those in power.

Just as Raymond and Mr. Schmidt finished up their impromptu meeting, the prosecution entered the courtroom, and the bailiff called the court to order. As the judge entered and took his place on the bench, Mr. Schmidt leaned forward and tapped Talie on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry none, girlie. I’m gonna tell them what I saw.”

Talie was surprised to recognize the voice of the old man from Frederick’s neighborhood, but smiled at him anyway.

“Don’t touch the defendant,” the bailiff ordered.

“Just telling her it was going to be okay,” Mr. Schmidt said.

“Fine. Don’t touch her,” the bailiff repeated.

“It’s okay. We don’t want to upset them. We want them on