DISCLAIMER
Belongs to Top Kick Productions and Chuck Norris. Inspired by the trailer for the movie "Don't Tell". I use a line from the Touched By An Angel episode "The Feather".
"Tracey, uh, how long has this been going on?" Connie wondered.
"Ever since I turned thirteen. I'm just so sick of it," Tracey answered.
"Just so that I'm clear on what you want: you want us to call the police and tell them what Dad's been doing to you," Peter said.
"Yes. I want to come clean about him touching me," Tracey answered. Peter blew out a breath and messed up his hair with his hands.
"I don't know, Trace. I mean, what happens in the family--" he started to say.
"Stays in the family," Connie finished. "Man, he's been feedin' us that trash since the cradle!" she continued in disgust. "I say we do it. I say we fight back. I say we show Daddy that we're not children anymore," she insisted. Then, she grabbed her sister's hand and started for the door. Could we do it? Could we really tell everyone what Dad's done to us? Peter wondered. The man had sworn them all to secrecy, said it was just a family thing. No one was supposed to know. But things were different now. He had hurt Tracey…after swearing that he had stopped with him. Peter's mouth curved into a grin. Yeah, out Dad. It'd feel dang good.
"Hey, wait for me," he said, hurrying to catch up with his sisters. "You really want to do this?" he questioned.
"Yes," the younger girl replied.
"All right, then. We'll help you," he promised. They got into a car and Peter drove them out. His mind wandered. He couldn't believe that they were actually going to do this. Had they all gone crazy? They all knew the consequences. Peter whimpered as he scooted backward. Brett Harding cracked a whip menacingly.
"You are going to pay, boy," he threatened. Peter's throat muscles constricted and he shivered in fright.
"Peter, watch it!" Connie's exclamation as well as a blaring horn broke the man out of his reverie. With his own cry, Peter quickly straightened out the wheel.
"Are you okay, Peter?" Tracey questioned.
"I'm all right, Trace. Just a bad memory," Peter replied. The girl leaned over to squeeze his shoulder, and then settled back in her seat. She couldn't believe she had gotten the courage to do this…and that Connie and Peter were willing to help. Now if they could just get Johnny on board. She sighed and slumped in her seat. She didn't know what she was thinking. Johnny had made it perfectly clear that he wanted no part of any of this. And now that she thought about it, it wasn't really like she could blame him. Their dad was a sick freak. Of course he'd want to forget all about it. Connie glanced in her rearview mirror.
"You okay?" she questioned.
"I'll be okay after we report him," came the response. Soon after, they reached the local precinct. Peter parked the car and they all got out and walked into the building.
"May I help you?" the desk sergeant questioned.
"Yes. Um, I'd, uh--like to press charges against my father," Tracey replied.
"For what?" the desk sergeant asked. Tracey attempted to speak but no sound came out. She tried again.
"Se--sexual abuse," she admitted.
"Hold on. Let me get you a female detective. I think that'll make this a little easier on you," the desk sergeant told her. He then went over to one of the other desks and after saying something to one of the women, and then they came back to the trio.
"You said you wanted to press charges against your father?" the female officer asked. Tracey nodded and then told her story, as Peter and Connie occasionally interjected with their own tales. Back at Thunder Investigations, Trent aimlessly sifted through the paperwork. He couldn't get the look on Tracey's face out of his head. She had looked so hurt, angry, and betrayed. And could he blame her? He had basically told her that she was on her own. But she didn't understand. He couldn't tell. His throat muscles constricted as a memory came back to him. Johnny began storming towards the front door when Brett grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back.
"Let go of me," the boy demanded.
"I don't want you getting any bright ideas, boy. You connect me, I connect you," Brett warned. Johnny froze. "You hurt Connie just like I did." The last four words repeated in Trent's head. Then, with an angry and agonized yell, he knocked the papers and his belongings onto the floor. Once he got started, he couldn't stop. He continued to throw things across the room and to punch and kick the furniture. He panted as he looked around the room. Then, covering his face with a hand, he sank back into his seat, unaware that Butch, Kim, and Carlos had witnessed the whole thing.