Kind of a precursor to Shadows of the Past, but it could easily be a stand alone.
Stuck
Chapter 1
Officer Mike Slattery heard the radio call for a domestic assault and groaned. They were the worst type of calls and since he was on his own that day; he shouldn't have even been responding, but he was the closest officer and it was a past assault. He threw his coffee in the nearby trash can and headed towards the apartment building where it was located.
Of course; in the August heat, and his thirty pounds of gear, there was no elevator and the apartment was on the third floor. It was not a nice neighborhood and the entire way up; Mike was surveying his surroundings, not that he ever stopped. He confirmed the apartment number with dispatch and knocked. On the second knock, a young woman answered the door. A pretty, brunette woman. Surely, she wasn't the victim? What man in his right mind would hit her?
"Did you call the police?" Mike asked. She nodded in response and opened the door. She pointed at a woman sitting on the couch, that had noticeable bruises.
"This is my mother, Lenore. My name is Christine Davis." The young woman said. She pointed at a chair for Mike to sit in, that he declined. He was familiar with Lenore Davis, one of the area drunks, but he had never met her very pretty daughter.
"I'm Officer Mike Slattery. What happened here, ma'am?" Mike said, addressing Christine's mom, Lenore.
"Nothing." Lenore answered. She had no respect for police officers, despite the fact that this one could help her. Her eye was bruising and her lip was split from the latest beating.
"Miss?" Mike said, addressing Christine.
"My dad beat her up, but she won't press charges. She never does." Christine answered.
"Where is he?" Mike asked.
"The bar. Where he always goes." Christine answered.
"It doesn't matter. Now, go. I don't want no cops here." Lenore answered, standing up and gesturing at Mike to follow her. She was already halfway to the door when Mike handed Christine a business card, with a cellphone number written on the back.
"If you need anything. My cellphone number is on the back. Keep it to yourself." Mike said before following Lenore out.
Since Lenore Davis refused to file charges, Mike went back to his foot patrol. He didn't figure Christine Davis would call him, but he hoped she would. Meanwhile; he would keep an eye out for her. He suspected she was also abused. He went off duty and headed to the gym before going home to watch a football game.
Mike went about his week, and honestly almost forgot about Christine until his cellphone rang late one night. It was his night off and it took him a moment to wake up. He didn't recognize the number, but flipped open the phone to answer it.
"Hello?" Mike asked groggily.
"Officer Slattery?" The female voice asked.
"Yes." Mike answered, already getting frustrated.
"This is Christine Davis. We met earlier this week." Christine said and Mike immediately sit up.
"Is everything alright, Miss Davis?" Mike asked.
"My mom…she threw me down the stairs. I think I have broken ribs…I know I should have called 9-1-1, but I don't want to press charges. I just want out, but I really don't know what my options are." Christine said.
"Where are you?" Mike asked as he got out of bed.
"The lobby to my apartment building." Christine answered.
"Okay. You need to get out of the building. There is a little diner within walking distance. Nora's? Do you know it?" Mike asked.
"Yes. I walk by there a lot." Christine answered.
"Go there. Tell the night manager that I sent you and I will be there soon. Order yourself something to eat." Mike told her.
"I don't have any money." Christine said.
"That's okay. I'll be there soon." Mike answered. He hung up; got dressed, and headed to the diner.
Christine was in far worse shape than Mike imagined, and as soon as she finished eating, Mike took her to get checked out. A fractured wrist, broken ribs and a slight concussion later, Christine was still insistent about not pressing charges, and was not complaining of any pain. Mike's opinion was that she was not a stranger to pain. He went and got her a few things to wear and made the decision to take her back to his apartment instead of taking her to a shelter. Probably not one of his better decisions, but Christine Davis was an innocent eighteen-year old girl. And he would behave himself.