nodded and sat on the couch next to David.
She answered the routine questions about Danny and their relationship before the policeman delved into the events of the day.
"Did he threaten you in any way today?"
"No. I was afraid to answer the door, so David went out."
"Why were you afraid?"
"Danny has a terrible temper. He's jealous, and the way he was leaning on the bell and pounding the door scared me."
"Has he ever been physically abusive to you?"
Andrea looked at her hands and turned away from David. The officer repeated his question.
"Yes, he's been physical with me."
"Have you reported the incidents?"
Andrea sighed. "No. But I ended the relationship several weeks ago, and I thought I'd seen the last of him until yesterday. He saw me at a club with David and grabbed me. David and the security guard at the bar intervened."
"Mrs. Whitney, are you fearful that he'll return?"
David interrupted. "Officer, you should know that when Danny was taking off on his bike, he told me, 'This isn't over.' Those were his exact words."
Andrea's eyes widened.
David turned to Andrea. "I'm sorry. I haven't had a moment yet to tell you that."
The officer reviewed his notes and verified times.
"Mrs. Whitney, there's little I can do about what happened here today, except report it as a disturbance."
He turned to David. "Would you like to file a report about the assault?"
David shook his head. "No, but what can you do about protecting her from further incidents?"
The officer closed his book. "The only real recourse you have, Mrs. Whitney, is to file an injunction if you believe you're in danger of becoming the victim of abuse."
"How does that work?"
"You get the forms from the clerk of the circuit court. There's no fee to file. If you ask, you can be notified within twelve hours of when the restraining order is served."
"I don't know," Andrea said. "That might make him madder."
"Violation of the injunction is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to one thousand dollars. Mr. Sullivan will be advised of the consequences, Ma'am."
Andrea nodded as she walked him to the door. "I guess I can do that on Monday. Thanks, Officer."
* * *
David turned to his father. "Dad, thanks for making those calls this morning. I'm not sure Danny would have left if it was just me he was dealing with."
Mark shook his head. "Taking him on alone was a brave, but stupid, thing to do, David. I'm glad it all worked out, but I'm concerned about the comment Danny made before leaving. Now it seems he could be after you as well as Andrea."
"Don't worry, Dad. I can take care of myself—and Andrea."
David didn't want to mention it in front of his father or Andrea, but he felt confident of handling Danny and any friends he might bring along. He had karate training, and while he was no black belt, he could fight off a pack of losers like Danny and friends.
He turned to Andrea. "Listen. I'm going to stay with you, for at least the rest of my break. What about your kids, though? Are they safe?"
Andrea's hand flew to her mouth, and David saw worry spring into her eyes.
"I don't want to chance it until I know," she said. "I can ask my parents to keep them for a few more days. They've wanted to take them up to the Orlando theme parks for a while. This might be a perfect time, right before school starts again."
David caught his father's eye. "I'm not going to back down from this, so I'm counting on you to spell this all out for Mom. Can you do that for me?"
Mark sighed. "I'll handle your mom, but I think you and Andrea might want to stay away from Club Secrets for a while."
He reached over and took Andrea's hand. "He may come looking for you there."
Andrea nodded. "It's not a problem. There are other places we can go."
Mark stood up. "Good. David, stop by our house for a few minutes later today and talk to your mother. I know she'd appreciate that from you."
David hesitated. "Yeah, all right. Thanks again
She answered the routine questions about Danny and their relationship before the policeman delved into the events of the day.
"Did he threaten you in any way today?"
"No. I was afraid to answer the door, so David went out."
"Why were you afraid?"
"Danny has a terrible temper. He's jealous, and the way he was leaning on the bell and pounding the door scared me."
"Has he ever been physically abusive to you?"
Andrea looked at her hands and turned away from David. The officer repeated his question.
"Yes, he's been physical with me."
"Have you reported the incidents?"
Andrea sighed. "No. But I ended the relationship several weeks ago, and I thought I'd seen the last of him until yesterday. He saw me at a club with David and grabbed me. David and the security guard at the bar intervened."
"Mrs. Whitney, are you fearful that he'll return?"
David interrupted. "Officer, you should know that when Danny was taking off on his bike, he told me, 'This isn't over.' Those were his exact words."
Andrea's eyes widened.
David turned to Andrea. "I'm sorry. I haven't had a moment yet to tell you that."
The officer reviewed his notes and verified times.
"Mrs. Whitney, there's little I can do about what happened here today, except report it as a disturbance."
He turned to David. "Would you like to file a report about the assault?"
David shook his head. "No, but what can you do about protecting her from further incidents?"
The officer closed his book. "The only real recourse you have, Mrs. Whitney, is to file an injunction if you believe you're in danger of becoming the victim of abuse."
"How does that work?"
"You get the forms from the clerk of the circuit court. There's no fee to file. If you ask, you can be notified within twelve hours of when the restraining order is served."
"I don't know," Andrea said. "That might make him madder."
"Violation of the injunction is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to one thousand dollars. Mr. Sullivan will be advised of the consequences, Ma'am."
Andrea nodded as she walked him to the door. "I guess I can do that on Monday. Thanks, Officer."
* * *
David turned to his father. "Dad, thanks for making those calls this morning. I'm not sure Danny would have left if it was just me he was dealing with."
Mark shook his head. "Taking him on alone was a brave, but stupid, thing to do, David. I'm glad it all worked out, but I'm concerned about the comment Danny made before leaving. Now it seems he could be after you as well as Andrea."
"Don't worry, Dad. I can take care of myself—and Andrea."
David didn't want to mention it in front of his father or Andrea, but he felt confident of handling Danny and any friends he might bring along. He had karate training, and while he was no black belt, he could fight off a pack of losers like Danny and friends.
He turned to Andrea. "Listen. I'm going to stay with you, for at least the rest of my break. What about your kids, though? Are they safe?"
Andrea's hand flew to her mouth, and David saw worry spring into her eyes.
"I don't want to chance it until I know," she said. "I can ask my parents to keep them for a few more days. They've wanted to take them up to the Orlando theme parks for a while. This might be a perfect time, right before school starts again."
David caught his father's eye. "I'm not going to back down from this, so I'm counting on you to spell this all out for Mom. Can you do that for me?"
Mark sighed. "I'll handle your mom, but I think you and Andrea might want to stay away from Club Secrets for a while."
He reached over and took Andrea's hand. "He may come looking for you there."
Andrea nodded. "It's not a problem. There are other places we can go."
Mark stood up. "Good. David, stop by our house for a few minutes later today and talk to your mother. I know she'd appreciate that from you."
David hesitated. "Yeah, all right. Thanks again
Similar Books
