Here is the next chapter. Please read and review. Amber

Chapter 6

Fenton Hardy turned Robert Shaw over to Con Riley and heard his wife's hollar. He said. "Sergeant! Get those medics here now."

"Medics we are clear." The sergeant boomed over the radio, then went upstairs to look at Callie Shaw. When he saw her bruises on her neck and face he had no doubt. "Honey who did this to you?"

"My...dad...he hit...me and...stran...gled...me with...the...seatbelt."

"When did this happen?" He asked gently.

"Coming...home...from...the game."

"2232 bring the camera quickly."

He came barreling up the stairs. "Here Sergeant."

Fenton came up with him and saw Callie. "Oh sweetie. Sergeant Lee I want him charged with four family offenses, two counts assault, one count of menacing, and one count strangulation."

"How many times did he hit you dear?" Sergeant Lee asked.

"Twice...strangled…one."

The medics came in. "Clear the way please."

Frank didn't move. He knew he needed to keep her neck still until the c-collar was in place. Thankfully the medics had brought a couple with them. They found the one that would fit and placed it on.

Callie moaned. "That hurts."

Frank murmured. "They have to Baby. I'm sorry."

They strapped her to the gurney and they went down the elevator to the ambulance. Frank insisted. "I'm going with her." He climbed into the ambulance first to be sure.

Frank felt helpless as the medic worked on Callie. He started an IV and put her on oxygen. They sped to Bayport General Hospital. Frank stayed with her as the medics were told to place her in Trauma two. Somehow he had Callie's purse, his brother most likely. The police also came to the hospital. The doctor rushed in. "What's your name sweetie?"

"Callie...Shaw...birthday...November...fifth...2002."

"I'm Dr. Sanchez, what happened Callie?"

Callie sobbed. "My...dad...hit...me...twice...and...strangled...me...with...seat belt...he...threatened...me."

Frank was squeezing her hand. A woman tapped his shoulder. "Sir, may I get your name?"

Frank turned, not releasing Callie's hand. "Frank Hardy. I'm her boyfriend."

"Can you come with me please."

"I'm staying here."

"Just for a moment sir. We need to register her."

Frank opened Callie's purse and pulled out her insurance card and ID. "That should be efficient."

The woman nodded.

Another doctor came in. "Callie...I'm Dr. Wise, the attending physician. I just spoke to the police."

Sanchez interrupted. "She needs a CTA scan STAT of her neck and x-ray of the face,neck, and chest."

Wise came over and listened to Callie's neck through the c-collar.

Callie hissed. "That hurts!"

"I'm sorry honey. We need to rule out injuries to your airway."

A phlebotomist came and drew blood from her, and x-ray came and went. "Start her on four miligrams of prednisone for inflammation, and 3 miligrams morphine for pain, and five miligrams of compazine for nausea. What's the number of liters of oxygen she is needing?"

"She's at four liters Doctor." The nurse said.

"CTA is calling for her." Another nurse called.

Wise said. "Get her there ASAP!"

Frank squeezed her hand. "I'll be right here Babe. I'm not leaving you."

While she was gone Frank paced. He then heard the two doctors talking. "Poor kid one of her cheekbones is fractured. Need to get a CT scan of her head and neck."

"Already ordered. She'll do that after the CTA."

Frank bristled and saw the x-ray and could see the fracture himself. The bastard was lucky he was in jail!

"There are no fractures in the neck that are visible. The cheekbone fracture is intact so hopefully she won't need surgery ."

Frank was very worried. He saw his mother come in with her work badge on. "Where is she honey?"

Frank swallowed. "CTA scan, then CT scan. Mom the doctors won't tell me anything."

"Are you Frank Hardy?"

Frank turned. "Yes."

"You're listed as Callie's emergency contact along with her mother."

"Her mother is dead." Frank said sadly.

"When did that happen?"

"Yesterday." Frank answered. "Who are you?"

"I'm Belinda with Social Services."

Frank narrowed his eyes. "Mame, she is going to be eighteen in two days. Can she come to my house?"

"It has to be approved by the state."

Fenton approached. "How about my home mame." He held up his credentials.

The woman nodded. "Well, she would be safe. I can work with that. I'll need your contact information though."

Fenton pulled out a card. "This has all the information you need. I run my business from my home."

"Thank you Mr. Hardy. It will be easier than finding a safe house for her."

"She'll be safe with us."

They wheeled Callie back into Trauma Two. Frank immediately took her hand. The nurse came in. "May I get your name?" He asked.

"Callie Shaw...date of birth November 5th, 2002."

"Thank you. I'm going to administer some prednisone, compazine, and morphine. Okay?"

"Please, I'm nauseous and in pain."

Dr. Wise came in. "Miss. Shaw you have a fractured cheekbone, and bruising of the trachea. We don't see any liaisons that require surgery. The inflammation of that area will be kept at a minimum with the prednisone. You have a concussion which is mild. I'm going to admit you for observation for the next three days, to monitor your airway due to the asphyxia. Is your voice normal?"

Frank answered for her. "No. She sounds hoarse."

"Alright, we are going to be moving you to MICU. This is to monitor your airway."

"Okay."

Laura, Fenton, and Joe stepped into the room. Callie looked up. "Not exactly the kind of party I wanted to attend tonight."

Fenton nodded. "Agreed. I've turned a copy of the recordings over to the police. They have entered it into evidence. That along with your testimony, along with the drivers who said he was deeply disturbed by what he heard, he's going away for a while."

Callie shuddered. "Will they be concurrent or consecutive."

"Depends on the plea deal, but the prosecutor is going to make sure he goes away for at least seven years."

"Okay."