Wash Her Feet novel · Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter 18: Suspended
I took the photograph in both hands.
The woman in the yellow apron had Shelby's chin and Rafe's squint, and she was laughing at whoever held the camera.
"She's beautiful," I said.
Shelby's face twisted.
"Give it back."
I gave it back.
She closed the wallet against her chest and walked away through the crowd with her head down.
Nobody stopped her.
Nobody filmed her, either, and I saw a few people lower their phones as she passed.
Rafe watched her go until the crowd closed behind her.
Then he sat down on the edge of the fountain with his elbows on his knees, and I sat beside him, and neither of us said anything for a long time.
By the next morning the video had been seen thirty million times.
I knew because my phone would not stop.
The county prosecutor called at eight to say the false police report was being taken seriously.
My father's old lawyer called at nine, crying, and said he should have told me everything years ago.
At ten, the children's hospital put out a statement.
I read it standing at the kitchen counter with a cold coffee.
Shelby Kessel was suspended without pay, effective immediately, pending an internal review of her conduct, her use of hospital footage and the statements she had made on the ward.
"They're calling the ward footage," Rafe said, reading over my shoulder.
"She used a camera clip from the children's ward."
"Yes."
"Of me."
"Of you, in the hall. She cut it down to a few seconds."
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