Chapter 9

When I arrived, the doctor was treating Kat for her injuries. Bert had asked him to perform a rape-kit on her too.

Tony was talking with Bert in the waiting area. He assured us that Kat’s father was going to spend a long time recovering and that he surely would go to prison.

“This is Middletown’s first major crime in years.” The old sheriff shook his head in disbelief. “You can all come tomorrow morning to the station to sign the written statements.”

“We will, Bert.” I assured him.

“Give my regards to your father when you see him, boy.” He said before leaving.

“I’ll tell my father you said hi, Bert. Thank you.”

When they finally released Kat, she looked like a beaten dog begging for scraps from the table.

“Thank you. Thank you both of you,” she muttered, embarrassed when her voice came out raspy.

“How do you feel?” I asked her, passing an arm around her waist to help her to walk out of the center.

“I think every inch of me is bruised, but at least he didn’t rape me, thanks to you.”

“It was a terrible experience, Kat, but it’s over.” We walked out of the health center and helped her into my truck.

“I think we were not properly introduced. I am Tony, Red’s partner,” he said, introducing himself.

“Partner?” Kat looked at me with a confused look on her face.

I rolled my eyes.

“He meant business partner. We run a restaurant together.” I explained.

“Oh, okay. Nice to meet you, Tony.” Kat shook Tony’s hand gently. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”

“The real hero is your friend. I just called 911. You two know each other?” Tony asked, looking at Kat and then at me.

“Yes, we do. We have known each other since we were kids.” I explained. I started the truck and we moved very slowly down the road. “Then I left for college and lost track of her. Or better said, she lost track of me...” I looked at Kat and asked, “What happened to you? Why did you stop answering my emails and change your phone number?”

She gently bit her lower lip as she stared at me. “It had nothing to do with you, Red, but my monstrous father. While I was in high-school I had been putting whatever money I could to the side. As soon as I was eighteen, I ran out of the house. Well, the trailer. Dad’s abuse was getting worse. Mom had started drinking heavily too.” A shiver went through her body.

“I got some minor jobs in the city, but nothing steady. Money was tight and my phone plan was cancelled. There were days when I didn’t have enough to eat.” She gulped hard.

I suspected that there were things that Kat wasn’t saying. Was she embarrassed about her circumstances? Did she think I would come to her rescue if she told me what was going on with her life? One thing was sure: this wasn’t the moment to have this conversation.

I looked at Tony, and he looked back at me. There was no need for words. He gave me a barely perceptive nod.

Kat continued explaining, “I had people checking on mom. I was worried for her. So when a neighbor told me she hadn’t seen her or heard from her in weeks, I decided to come back to Middletown and check on her. I came after work. No one answered my knocks, so I entered the trailer looking for clues about my mother’s fate. I supposed my father would be drinking or gambling, but he must have had a bad night because he surprised me snooping around. He hit me on the cheek and I pushed him away and ran ... He ran after me and ... well, you know the rest of the story.”

“I hope they lock him up and forget where they put the key!” Tony exclaimed with vehemence.

“I hope it too. My father is a gambler. There was never enough money to pay his debts and feed mom and me. He would often give my mother sexually to those he owed money to in order to meet their demands for payment of his debts. I’m pretty sure he had the same sick plans for me.” Kat said with a shiver.

“Did you find what happened to your mother?” I asked.

Kat shook her head. “I’m afraid she might be dead. He kept saying she was gone. I doubt she left him.”

“Did you tell the police?” Tony asked.

“Yes, they are going to question him about that and check around, looking for her.”

Kat remained silent, and I honestly didn’t know what to say. Tony took Kat’s hands in his and patted them.

Fifteen minutes later, we were back at ‘The Jammed’. Tony went to the kitchen and came back minutes later with a bowl and set it out in front of Kat. The bowl held a beef soup, hearty and thick, with potatoes, carrots, turnip, and homemade noodles. The most delicious aroma was coming from it.