Didn't get any reviews for the last part :(
Also just to warn you, there's mention of child abuse in this chapter.
"I've held up my end of the deal. It's your turn now."
"Well, I was expecting more than an hour a day. Still I'm impressed you managed that much. Ask away."
Excitedly she switched on a tape recorder and readied her pen to take notes. She took a deep breath.
"What was your mother like?"
He shrugged and shook his head slightly. "I don't really remember her. She left when I was an infant. She was a drug addict but that's about all I know." Black looked ready to interrupt. "Before you ask, I'm not sure exactly what she was taking."
"So you were raised by your father?"
"In a manner of speaking."
"What sort of man was he?"
"He was an abusive bastard."
She was startled, not by the words but by the flat emotionless tone with which he delivered them. "In what way was he abusive?" she asked, watching his reaction.
"Mostly he beat us up, though sometimes he got more... creative. He didn't speak to us much, certainly didn't bother to provide food or clothing."
"How often were you beaten?"
"Pretty much every day."
"And how is it that you're school never became aware of this?"
Jackson smiled grimly. "Is this your first time in The Narrows Dr.?"
"It is."
"Well abuse isn't exactly... uncommon here. And if any of the teachers noticed that mine and Jonathon's situation was worse than most they didn't care." He paused, looked across at her sceptical face, almost laughed. "You don't believe me."
She shook her head. "No."
"Fine." He held out his cuffed hands, palms uppermost. "Look for yourself."
Numerous small circular scars almost covered the skin, unmistakable for anything but cigarette burns.
"There are other marks but I'd rather not strip." Sarcasm. "If that's ok with you?"