anne hallorhan

ok, i picked up on anne hallorhan
meeting matt at Paddy's an hour later.
yikes.

Anne got to Paddy's a little before
eight.

she walked in and scanned the restaurant
bar bud did not see matt.

a waitress came over and said one.

no, anne replied. it will be two. and i'll take a booth.

the young redheaded waitress showed her to a booth by the
window and Anne, said this is fine. thank you.

would you care for a drink or can i get you something else.

i'll have a glass of red wine, ponoir, if you have it.
and bring my friend a glass of scotch on the rocks he
should be here momentarily.

sure, said the young woman and she flashed anne a smile.
i'll be right back with the drinks.

anne looked towards the door and saw matt walk in
and she waved him over.

matt got to the booth
just as the young waitress brought the drinks

i took the liberty of ordering you a scotch
i thouhgt you might need it.

thanks, said matt, you seem to know me pretty well.

anne eyed matt as he sipped his scotch
he looked tired she thought.
but what did that matter to her
he wasn't anything to her.

well, what have you got for me matt said
and caught her square in the eye as she
was looking at him.

anne pretended not to notice the personal
maneuvering and answered in a business tone.

i just wanted to check in with you to let you
know that i talked with molly's husband and
i also looked at her chart. there's no change
she is still sedated. but an interesting thing
happened tonight before i left the hospital.

yeah, what was that matt said.

dr. hastings stopped me and he wants a meeting
with me tomorrow.

what about said matt.

he didn't say.

hmm, said matt, that is a development.

do you think he is suspicious.

no, i haven't given him any reason to think
that i am anything other than a nurse taking
care of patients.

well, let's see what happens tomorrow.

anything else you have for me.

well, said anne on a business level
what's going on with you and the chief?

what do you mean what have you heard?

well, i got a call from charlie olson yesterday
he works in the dispatch office and he told me
there was some hubabaloo between you and the
chief and the mayor's office.

what the hell has charlie olson got to do with you?

well, if you must know he has a crush on me
and he tends to call every couple of weeks to see
what i am doing.

oh, is it anything serious.

anne, was getting annoyed by the questions.
she didn't like to answer questions
she only liked to ask them

she put on one of her pan looks and looked matt
straight in the eye.

there is nothing going on with charlie olson,
and it is really none of your business.

just being friendly matt said.

no need to get upset.

i am not upset said anne

and with a blink of her eyes as if dismissing her
personal life she got back to matt, the chief and
the mayor.

so, what was the big fight about.

it wasn't a fight more of a disagreement
the mayor wants this serial kidnapper found
and he thinks we are too slow on getting the
case solved.

what did the chief say.

well, you know the chief.

yes, said anne. he was a good chief once
but now he was heading for retirement so
he had become somewhat of a mayor's chief
instead of the man he once was.

the waitress came over and said, do you
guys want refills.

yes, i'll have another said anne.

none for me said matt.

i have to be going
but if you want anne i'll sit here with you
while you finish your drink.

don't have to
i am quite comfortable being by myself.

that's a shame said matt.
you're a pretty good looking woman
how come you are not in a serious relationship

look, can we not make this about me.
matt took in a deep breath.
ok,all right, i'll skip if for now, but
i am going to revisit the subject another time.

well, you won't get anywhere.
we'll see said matt.

he rubbed his forehead
anne's drink came
and she sipped it slowly
man, she loved a good glass of win
sometimes she thought she drank too much.
and that maybe she should stop, but she didn't.

Matt, look, i want you to do something for me.

what is it?

dr. hastings i heard came from wisoncin seven years
ago. can you find out what hospital he worked at.
maybe we can find out why he left and came to st.
vincent's.

ok, i can do that.

ok, said anne, anything else as she drank the
last sip of wine.

no, nothing that i can think of.

well, there is one thing.

what is that, said anne.

be careful. we don't know what hatings is up to
and until we do we are in a blind.

ok, said anne i'll be careful.

laura the waitress watched the two adults get up
from the booth and her blue eyes followed them to
the door.

she looked around
saw cliff the boss behind the counter and said
she had to make a phone call.

go ahead
don't be long.

i won't she said.

laura reached the phone by the ladie's room
and pulled out a small piece of paper from
her apron pocket.

she dialed the phone number.
and let it ring three times.
a voice on the other phone said, yes.

laura hesitated a moment and then said in
a hushed voice.
they just left.

ok, good.
that's all for now. we'll be in touch.

laura hung up the phone
and breathed in a gulp of air.

she did not like this one bit.