Witness Protection Read online

  “There was a little girl of about two maybe three and she was playing with the pots and pans while her mom cooked dinner. ‘What are you cooking?’ She asked her daughter. The little girl looked up with a serious expression and replied, ‘Why the children of course.” Horrified, the mother tried to think of some other meaning. She couldn’t be raising a serial killer. ‘What on earth do you mean? You’re cooking the children?’ The little girl rolled her eyes, ‘Mommy, I’m cooking Hansel and Gretel.’” I chuckled along with all of the women it helped to lift my gloomy mood.

  “Needless to say this mother was going to be a lot more careful which of the fairytales she read to her daughter at bedtime in the future.”

  “Since we have fairytales on the brain who has some hairy warts that we need to cover up with some foundation and concealer?” I brought it back to the topic of their order because I needed to get finished here and make it to a few more places.

  The bank wasn’t busy this early in the day and I always made sure that I stood over to the side so they could help customers. If I had interfered with them doing their jobs, I’d wind up losing mine as well.

  Thanking them and making my deposit, I checked my watch to see how much time I had left before I needed to be back at the hospital. I had already calculated trying to have a lighter schedule for the next week or so because Megan was going to need help with Sally for a little while until she got back on her feet.

  The last few errands flew by and I made it back to Megan’s room just as the lawyer arrived. I would call my boss at the bar and see if I could switch shifts for a couple more days.

  Upon opening the door, I noticed that the doctor was also present. He paused to nod in my direction but continued to discuss Megan’s condition.

  “As I was saying, I believe that with some rest and spending one more night in the hospital for observation I can release you to go home tomorrow if everything still looks good.” He glanced at me, “Do you have a place to stay where you can recuperate with overdoing it?”

  “I’ve got enough space that she and her daughter can stay with me until she’s ready to rock and roll again.” I made the offer, but no one was going to get much rest until the situation with Mike was resolved.

  Megan brightened, “Did you hear that? Only one more night and we can all watch princess movies together.”

  “So when I’m concussion-free, then I’ll be on the mend?” Her hopefulness at a discharge was also going to leave her very unprotected.

  “You may get some headaches over the next week or so. Unless the pain becomes unbearable just take a few of the pain meds to help. We’ll do a follow-up appointment so we can check on your progress until you’re completely well.” He gave her a reassuring smile, “I’ll check back in on you before the day is out, but you can eat solid food again.”

  She waited for him to leave before her words came tumbling out.

  “I know you were frustrated when I mentioned going back to Mike earlier.” She began, not realizing that the lawyer was in the room.

  “It’s just that I don’t know how to do anything else. I’m not sure that I can survive on my own.”

  Mark cleared his throat to announce his presence.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but I wasn’t sure if you knew I was here.” He flashed that blindingly white smile again.

  Geeze, how many times a day does this guy use a teeth whitener to get them to look like that? His mouth is practically glowing. He appears to have no idea that his smile is so overwhelming. I shook my head to clear the hypnotic cobwebs out as I tried to focus on what he was saying to Megan.

  “Hello, ladies. Mrs. Butts, you’re looking much better today. Did the nurses take good care of you during the night?”

  I had been alone so long that I must be imagining that the lawyer seemed very interested in Megan’s care.

  “I couldn’t help, but overhear that Allie is willing to let you stay there for a few days until this situation is taken care of. I was worried that you wouldn’t have a place to rest from the trauma of your attack.” He stood back a reasonable distance but was watching Megan’s face with care.

  “Absolutely. Who else is better equipped to take care of you than me and Sally?” I thought back to those first days when I’d arrived in Texas and how lonely it was to be in the WITSEC program. “Watching movies with you will be the best thing ever.”

  “Well, if you’re serious. It will just be a few days until I can get back on my feet again.” She looked so vulnerable in the hospital bed. “The ladies from the Umbrella Shelter stopped by while you were gone and told me about a halfway house that we can live in until I’m up and about.”

  “If Sally has anything to say about it, you’ll be staying with me instead of a halfway house. How else am I going to continue my education of all the princess movies?” At Megan’s horrified look, I hurried to continue, “Sally explained that I was lacking in knowledge and she was going to teach me everything there was to know.”

  “Thanks for being willing to take such good care of us when you didn’t have to.” A small smile graced her face for a moment.

  “Um, sorry to break up this little gathering, but I do have some things that you need to be aware of.” He placed the briefcase on the table over the bed.

  “They’ve issued a warrant for your husband’s arrest. When they tried to serve it last night, around eight, he didn’t resist. They made sure to have a few extra troopers for more manpower since it was one of their own. It looks like they are going to be giving him a chance to make bail this afternoon.”

  “He’s getting out? Today?” Megan’s voice filled with terror. “Does he know where I am?”

  Mark nodded, “He does. The judge was sympathetic because he’s been an upstanding member of the community so far. They may even release him on his recognizance. If this was just an assault charge they wouldn’t have issued a warrant for his arrest. Due to your injuries, and the fact that we’re charging him with attempted manslaughter, we were able to make a good case against him.”

  “Oh, my god.” Megan put her head in her hands, “He’s going to be so pissed off that he had to spend the night in jail. I’m not sure that the protective thingy will keep him from trying to get to me or Sally.”

  “He knows that if he takes Sally, I’ll do anything he wants to make sure that she’s safe.” Her hands started to shake. “If he has her, he can make me go home.”

  The machines monitoring Megan began to beep as her heart rate increased.

  “From what I overheard earlier, you’re still undecided about pressing for a divorce, is that correct?” Mark ignored the beeping and kept his focus on her.

  “If we file for a divorce today, we can seek immediate action to stop him from using all of the financial accounts until a judge can divide your assets fairly. He won’t be able to pay a lawyer either.” Mark appeared to find the idea funny.

  “Do you have any money or assets outside of your shared bank account?”

  She shook her head while I shifted uncomfortably because this was all very personal information she was sharing.

  “Mike has always had control of our bank and savings accounts. I have withdrawal slips and a debit card, but no idea what’s in the accounts.”

  Mark nodded, “Which happens way more than you would think. Since you were forced to leave for fear of your physical safety, and have no other income, I’m going to request that we are given a copy of the bank statements. The judge should be willing to give you a small allowance for living until the divorce is final.”

  “You have no idea what he’ll do if I take money out of our account.” Megan squeaked terrified.

  I moved closer and took her hand in mine as a sign of support.

  “I’m only allowed money for groceries unless we need something specific for the family. I have to give him receipts so he can update the accounting program.” She lowered her head, “Oh, this is not good at all.”

  “Megan,” I patted her gently, “swee
tie, you won’t have to answer to his demands again. There will be a judge standing between you and Mike to make sure he does what he’s supposed to do.”

  “He can’t fault you for what the judge decides. When the state collects the child support, he’ll have to pay or the judge will have him arrested. We can also get you in a housing program until you’re earning your own money and the divorce is final.” Mark explained the options available to her.

  “You are the victim. He’s going to try to make your life miserable so that you won’t continue forward. Normally, you’d have to stay in the same county, but I’m going to explain that it will be unsafe with all of his connections on the force.” His tone was meant to reassure me, but I was having a hard time paying attention to his words instead of being imagining him without a shirt. He wasn’t even my type.

  “They’ll want to know your whereabouts, but as long as you stay in the state, you should be fine. Even these special circumstances will make it more difficult to find you, but not impossible. He can still ask his pals for help to be on the lookout for you.”

  “So to make all this work, I’m going to have to press charges aren’t I?” She let out a sigh. “How do I get the divorce stuff started?”

  “The judge gave you temporary custody. Or if something could happen to you, Sally will stay in Ms. Foster’s care until they finish the investigation. Once the evidence has been presented and he’s convicted, then the charges will send him to prison.”

  Megan let out a laugh, “If I don’t go through with it now, I might as well just kill myself because that’s what he’s going to do with me once he gets out this afternoon.”

  I eyed her with concern. “Let’s not get too crazy now. Things will work themselves out. You’re going to be fine and so is Sally. We’ll make sure of it.”

  “We’ll have the paperwork ready for the judge this afternoon. It should be processed before Mike goes to trial. Filing for divorce is just an added protection in case he tried to hurt you again.” Mark handed her a few papers that needed her signature.

  He handed me a couple as well. “I’ll just need you to sign these stating that you’re willing to take care of Sally while her mother is unable to and if anything should happen to her.”

  With a glance at Megan, I took the pen and signed my signature onto all the copies he’d handed me. I just hoped that this handsome man in front of me was going to be able to keep Megan and Sally safe.

  I just wasn’t sure that I could trust anyone with teeth that white to be completely on the up and up. He wasn’t my type, but I could see the looks he kept throwing in Megan’s direction.

  It was too bad that she was still married otherwise he might have had a chance once she healed from her ordeal.

  “Thank you, ladies,” He placed the papers back in the case and closed it with a snap. “It’s been a pleasure. I’ll come by in the morning and make sure that everything is going smoothly.”

  His professional manner stayed in place as he shook our hands and left the room.

  “Girl, he’s working very hard to make sure that you’re well-protected. I mean he’s kind of hot if you go for the lawyer and profession type.” I winked at her. “Most women don’t have someone that attentive to making sure that they are protected when they leave their abusive husbands.”

  “Seriously, I know that Mike is a real threat, but Mark does seem to be going above and beyond the call of duty for this kind of situation.”

  Megan looked flustered at my words. “I’m not sure I’ll be ready for a new man in my life anytime soon. Mike was so controlling that I will always be afraid it’s going to happen again.”

  “Mr. Greenley is kind of cute, but he’s just doing his job. The same way he would with any other client.” She shook her head no. “I wouldn’t read anything into it. I just hope he can handle what Mike is going to dish out in retribution for me having him arrested.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t rushing you, sweetie.” I soothed, “I certainly didn’t expect you to jump his bones right this minute. But we can absolutely appreciate his assets when he leaves the room.”

  “Well, since we’ve gotten all that taken care of, I’d better go pick up a booster seat before Sally gets out of school. Then I’ll bring her by and we can hang out for a bit before dinner if that’s okay with you?”

  “Sure, I trust you to take care of her.” She smiled weakly as the energy drained from having to keep up a brave face while Mr. Greenly had been there.

  “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “You’d manage, it would just be a bit more difficult.” I gave her a salute and told the nurse that she might like to have some pain meds. If she took them now, then she’d be more alert by the time Sally came to visit in the afternoon.

  Chapter 5

  Allie

  “Can we go see my mom?” Were the first words out of Sally’s mouth as she climbed into the car.

  They’d never been apart, so this whole situation must have been trying for both of them.

  “We can run by, but we’ll have to leave when they bring her dinner. Then we can go McD’s and get something for us to eat.”

  Sally tilted her, “I guess that would be acceptable.”

  I held back the laughter that wanted to bubble out. Acceptable my ass. What is she? Fifty?

  “We can take it back to my house and start watching the next movie on your list.”

  “Yeah, I love the fries at McD’s, but sometimes they put too much salt on them.” She sighed, “Oh, I have homework to do. It won’t take me long, I promise.”

  Sounds like a plan.

  The visit with Megan didn’t last long because the doctor arrived and we didn’t want to overstay our welcome.

  After picking up dinner, and answering multiple questions about princesses so she would know which movie to pick out, she started homework.

  I left her at the table and carried the trash bag outside to the dumpster, but felt uncomfortable.

  The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I felt that someone was watching me.

  Lifting the dumpster lid, I threw the bag inside and hurried back to my apartment.

  The door shut and I flipped the deadbolt behind me. I washed my hands and then started to check all the windows to make sure they were locked. Still feeling uneasy, I closed the blinds as well.

  “The sun sure is bright when the blinds are open. Don’t want to get a sunburn while we’re inside do we?”

  Sally giggled at my joke and I felt a little of the tension inside, relax.

  “Sunburns can come upon you in the blink of an eye.” I snapped my fingers dramatically for a scary effect. “You never know where a sunburn might be lurking.”

  “You’re silly, Miss Allie. I like hanging out with you.” She stuffed a few more fries into her mouth. I’d thought she was done eating when she got the homework out, but then again what did I know about parenting.

  “Whoa, slow down there, kiddo. Those fries aren’t trying to escape the deadly sun rays. You can take your time and chew the bites.” I was trying to keep the mood light, but Sally’s imagination took my words and created a whole world with deadly sun rays.

  “Do your homework so we can watch the movie, please?”

  “I’m finished,” She slammed the books shut and shoved a few more fries in her mouth.

  “Great, then you can take a shower while I clean up.”

  “Ugh!” She stuck her bottom lip out, “A shower. I took one last night.”

  The disgusted look on her face made me want to laugh.

  “No, you didn’t, missy.” I shook a finger at her, “I was here, remember? I would know.”

  “You fell asleep early, but I’m onto your game.”

  “Awe, you’re too smart. Sometimes Mom forgets and then I get to skip two nights in a row.” Sadness filled her face at the thought of her mother.

  “Hey, kiddo. If you take a shower and get all the dirt off then we can have some popcorn while we watch the
movie. Only if you hurry and get your jammies on though.” I winked at her.

  “Okay, I guess that will work.”

  I went to dig for a clean pair of clothes from the suitcase and realized that I didn’t know if Sally was old enough to shower on her own.

  Sally was still in the kitchen dragging her feet to put all of her stuff in the backpack. It was like I’d asked her to go to her doom instead of just taking a shower.

  “Come on,” I urged holding out the clean clothes, but when I went to follow her she held up a hand to stop me.

  “I’ve got this. I am seven you know and can take a shower all by myself.”

  “Yes,” I gave her a salute, “I just wanted to start the water for you so it’s not too hot.”

  When I started to leave, she spoke up.

  “Well, if you want to for your own peace of mind, then I guess it would be all right.” She crossed her arms and tried to act casual.

  “Just for my peace of mind, then.” I was barely able to hold the laughter back as I turned on the spout.

  As the water became lukewarm, I left her to take care of her shower on her own.

  I thought I’d get a jump on the popcorn and drinks for the movie when a small figure stepped out from behind the counter, startling me.

  “Oh, my goodness!” I clutched my heart, “Sally, you scared me. Whew, can you take the popcorn so I don’t spill it?”

  “Sure, what are we watching?” She asked as the water dripped from her hair onto her pj's.

  “Um, I think it has a girl and a frog?” I wasn’t certain of the details other than it was in her stack of movie favorites. “Let’s get a towel for your hair first.”

  We settled in on the couch and started the movie. I was completely entranced by the music and the story. It wasn’t until the movie was over that I realized Sally was asleep.

  I covered her with a blanket and moved to the table to see if I could get some of my paperwork done for the day before I went to bed myself.

  An order had been delivered while I was gone that morning and I hadn’t had a chance to get it sorted out until now.