Chapter 21 – More Later

Adventures of the Melee

Nolan 16½, Ryder 12½, Olivia 9½

Annabelle 4½, Victoria 4½, Lucas 3

Monday, October 19

Larry, panicked and flustered when Clarisse fell and appeared to be unconscious, jumped into his truck and began driving. He drove without any destination or plan. His breath was shallow and rapid as he attempted to figure out what to do next. Slicking his greasy hair back, he worried about his wife and unborn child. However, truth be told, Larry worried more about what might happen to him.

Once out of town, Larry stopped at a rest area and splashed some water on his face. When he looked in the mirror, he realized blood was on his arms, hands, and shirt. He hoped that the other men in the restroom didn't notice, but, of course, they did. A college student, stunned by Larry's appearance, acted as if he didn't see the blood on the abuser. One truck driver bumped into Larry as if by accident and grumbled, "Sorry…buddy."

The student stepped out of the bathroom and ran to his nearby car. Locking his doors immediately, he drove out of the rest area and took the next exit five miles up the road. From there, he called 911 and explained what he'd just seen. The dispatcher mentioned they had received two other calls about the same situation already. She asked for details and the student provided the make and model of Larry's truck as well as a basic description of Larry's appearance. Police were dispatched to the area and an APB was issued on Larry and his truck.

Meanwhile, at the ER, police questioned Clarisse.

"Ma'am, we'd like to ask you a few questions. I'm Officer Tone and this is Officer Simon," the female officer shared.

"I'm fairly tired and weak, Officers. There's nothing really to say anyway," Clarisse responded vacantly.

Officer Tone pulled up a chair next to Clarisse and gently insisted, "Clarisse…we'd like to hear what happened. You and your daughter were significantly harmed. Do you know who did this to you?"

Clarisse locked eyes with the officer and lied, "I just fell down the stairs and woke up here. I… I don't know what you're talking about."

"Clarisse, you're safe here. We're posting an officer at your door and outside your daughter's door. Somebody has been hurting you. Is it your husband?" Officer Simon pushed.

Rolling over on her side, Clarisse closed her eyes and avoided the question. The officers glanced at one another. Tone concluded the questioning and planned to send a social worker in. Perhaps Clarisse would soften her resistance with someone else.

The officers stepped out of the room and asked to confer with the Chief of Surgery, not knowing Owen's personal connection to the situation. Owen ushered them into an empty treatment room where the three of them spoke.

"The mom is not budging an inch," Tone shared. "I'd like to send a social worker in to speak with her. Can you arrange that, Chief Hunt?"

"Sure," Owen nodded seriously. "That's no problem. Social services has already been called for the daughter."

"The daughter. We'd like to see her," Officer Simon requested.

"I'll need to check on her. She wasn't speaking earlier. My son is with her now…I should explain. The daughter is my son's girlfriend. I'm familiar with the family," Owen disclosed.

"Where was your son when this occurred, Chief Hunt?" Simon questioned.

"My son? At school. Are you insinuating that…" Owen huffed.

Officer Tone moved her hand from a stop position toward her leg, "We're not insinuating anything, Chief. We're gathering facts. What can you tell us about the family?"

"Clarisse met and married Larry a few months ago. I assume they married because she was pregnant with his baby, but I don't know that for sure," Owen began. "Lissa, the daughter, has been losing weight and been down lately. My wife and I were both beginning to wonder if she was facing some sort of challenge. She'd gotten a black eye and her story didn't match the bruises. She seemed to be having peculiar accidents…my hunch is that Larry is to blame."

"This Larry fellow, what do you know about him?" Officer Simon inquired.

Shrugging, Owen admitted, "Not much, really. He's rough around the edges. Contractor of some sort."

"Thanks, Chief," Tone concluded. "Could we see the daughter? Even if she isn't speaking, we'd like to introduce ourselves."

Owen led the officers up to Larissa's room. She was sleeping and Nolan's head rested on the bed as he held her hand and sat in a bedside chair. Ryder was lounging on the sofa in the room, playing a game on his phone. When Owen and the officers entered the room, Nolan peeked an eye open.

Slowly lifting his head, Nolan offered with a sleepy and hoarse voice, "Hey, Dad."

"Nolan, Officers Simon and Tone would like to introduce themselves and ask Larissa a few questions," Owen stated. "Officers, these are my sons, Nolan and Ryder."

"Liss," Nolan softly rubbed Lissa's shoulder, "Lissy…hey, babe, there are some officers here to see you."

Blinking her eyes slowly and heavily, the edge of Lissa's mouth curled upward in a weak smile as she looked over at the officers. She nodded and closed her eyes for a few moments, before squeezing Nolan's hand and glancing his way, saying, "Stay, please."

"Of course," Nolan grinned softly as he gently stroked a spot of Lissa's hair that seemed unharmed.

As Owen and Ryder stepped into the hallway, Owen advised the officers, "Let's keep it brief. There will be time for more questions later."

"Larissa, I'm Officer Tone. I know you're hurting and tired, but I'd like to ask a few questions," the officer explained. Lissa nodded and the cop continued, "Larissa, do you know who did this to you?"

"Larry," Lissa responded weakly.

"Your step-father?" Tone confirmed. Lissa nodded. "And did Larry harm your mother, too?"

"Yes," Lissa whispered as she squeezed Nolan's hand.

"Can you tell us more. What started the situation?" Officer Simon interjected.

"Too long a story," Lissa, obviously tired, responded.

"Larry's beaten you and your mom before?" Tone wondered aloud.

"Yes," Larissa confirmed before closing her eyes.

Owen stepped back in the room and professionally urged the officers to cease their questioning. "Her heart rate is increasing the longer you're here," he explained. "You'll need to step out."

Lissa caught eyes with Tone and whispered, "More later, ok?" Tone smiled and left her card with Nolan.

As Owen, Tone and Simon stepped out, Simon pointed out that social services needed to step in and arrange a temporary custody situation for Larissa. Given Clarisse's denial and her own hospitalization, Lissa needed to be under the care of someone else. Owen asked what that process entailed and volunteered to fulfill the role. The officers deferred his questions to social services.

Back near Central Washington, Larry was spotted by a patrol car who had heard the APB. Unsure if Larry was armed, the officers called for backup. When Larry was finally pulled over, a total of six officers were involved. Larry was returned to King County and taken in for questioning regarding Clarisse and Larissa. The entire drive, Larry blubbered about his wife. He wanted to know if she and the baby were going to be fine. Without once mentioning Larissa, Larry spouted on and on about how Clarisse's fall was an accident.

Once he arrived at the county jail for questioning, Larry found himself under tremendous pressure to turn himself in. After further discussion, Larry asked for a lawyer. To the officers' dismay, the questioning had to cease until a lawyer could be appointed for him. However, Larry could still be held in jail without bail until he was arraigned. The district attorney became involved and started to put together multiple charges for domestic abuse and child abuse as well as murder of the baby.