Here is the conclusion to Daddy's Girl. Tory is a handful in a very different way than Liam, and it was a fun trip into the Daddy/daughter relationship. I promise that I am continuing to the best that I can and hope to have a chapter ready to share next week.

Daddy's Girl part II

Jay

I got up in the morning after only sleeping a few hours. My eyes immediately went to the framed picture that Tory had drawn when she was six or seven. It was of the two of us, holding hands, balloon bodies and stick appendages, big smiles on our faces and a heart next to my head. She had written in her youthful scrawl, "I love my Daddy." It had been on the fridge forever until Hailey had given me a frame for it one day. She told me it was a keeper and I had to agree. When we moved here I hung it up in my bedroom.

I needed a plan, but my fatigue was keeping me in a fog. It was quiet, Tory was still sleeping or at least pretending to. I slipped into the shower and found something left behind from last night, not my idea but hey I like adventurous women. I set it aside and would text Stephanie about it later, maybe she'd be back after all.

I needed to get my head straight and pull wisdom from my parents. I never much agreed with my father's methods of discipline but I guess they had their place. My mother was a softer touch, but she knew how to zero-in on an effective retribution. What was too far, what wasn't far enough. My head still hurt as I thought of all that could have gone wrong. Tory was a good kid, really never had to worry about her behavior—until now that is. I barely ever had to raise my voice. Never laid a hand on her. Just raising one eyebrow was enough for her to rethink her path or words. She wasn't perfect, but damn near close. I guess she had just made it too easy for me, which made her recent choices such a kick in the gut. How I responded would paint the picture for her high school years and I had to be the perfect artist.

Tory

I heard Dad in the shower and got myself up finding a purring Fluff had spent the night with me. When Dad went into his room to finish getting dressed I headed for the bathroom, I just wasn't ready to face him yet. I scrubbed my whole body from top to bottom, washing my hair twice, scraping my face as clean as I could get it, as if I could just wash away last night. I had balled up the clothes from Lily and stuffed them in a bag to take back to her house. I still needed to get my backpack and clothes from her. I had no idea what Dad had in store for me. I could barely ever recall him yelling at me. I think once when I was about to run out into the street when I was little, he screamed out my name to get me to stop. Then he calmly squatted down and explained why my actions had been so dangerous. He never spanked me, not even a swat, which I might have deserved a time or two over the years. I had no idea what to expect or what I deserved, because I had never really broken the rules to the degree that I had last night.

When I was clean and presentable I headed to the kitchen where Dad was making pancakes. I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or bad thing. He was evening putting in the tiny chocolate chips that I liked. My last meal perhaps? We moved into the dining area and ate quietly. I picked at my food and he encouraged me to eat as he stabbed at his own pancakes. My stomach was a flutter of butterflies, but I forced down what I could. When we were finished he stood up and took our plates to the kitchen while I sat frozen to my chair.

"Go sit on the couch," he told me as he wiped up some syrup that had found its way to the table.

I complied and went to the living room; I thought I could feel his eyes on me as I did. I sat down in a ball of tension and waited while he went back to the kitchen for what seemed like forever. I'm sure this was a police tactic. Why couldn't he have been a mailman or a teacher, or anything but a cop. I didn't dare move because if I did I knew that would be the moment he would walk in. Therefore, I picked at my nails, twirled my hair, laid down, sat back up, thought about grabbing the remote but figured that would be a poor choice. So I waited.

Jay

I cleaned up the kitchen, going over what I wanted to say in my head, yet I knew that I would forget it all when the time came, even if it was five minutes from now. I could face the worst of the worst criminals without fear, yet my own fourteen-year-old daughter had me a chaotic mess. I kind of had an outline at what I wanted to touch on, but she wasn't a perp and I wasn't sure how she would react to my diatribe. Would I come off too harsh? Should I care if I do? She could have been assaulted. Damaged for life. This was serious, really serious. I finished up, put my Dad face on and marched into the dining room.

Tory

Finally Dad walked in. His face was blank, his shoulders pull backed, his body stiff. It was then that I realized I was in the box and about to be interrogated.

"First of all, no makeup for the rest of the school year. We'll discuss it before your sophomore year." He began.

"The whole school year? Not just until the end of December?" I gasped.

"What did I just say?"

"The school year," I replied.

"Then that is what I meant. You pulled that stunt the other day and I didn't even have a chance to speak with you about it before you did it again. So, yes, it is the rest of the school year."

"What about Halloween?"

"There is no Halloween for you this year."

"But Dad, that's like six weeks away."

"I'm well aware when Halloween is."

I wanted to protest, argue, but one look at his face and I knew I would lose. He had a look I had never seen before, it was somehow worse than his disappointed face. His eyes were like lasers, everything was tight, his lips in a line, his arms were crossed, his stance sent waves of confidence. He did this for a living and I was way out of my element.

"Do you know how serious this was?" All I could manage was a shrug. "Well, let's go over it. You weren't at Lily's where you were supposed to be. How did you even get downtown? I wouldn't have a problem with your little dress-up game if you stayed in the house. But no, you dress like a—a," he stammered, unable to say it.

"Hooker," I supplied.

"Yes, a prostitute," he agreed. "Your face made up like one too. Then what happened? How did you end up downtown?"

I opened my mouth and closed it again, but his gaze bore into me and I knew he could stand there all day if he had to. So I explained how we went down to Lindsey's and realized too late that I could have probably left that part out, but then again, somehow he would have circled back around because something didn't completely add up and I would have had to admit that part anyway. So I proceeded and left nothing out—well almost nothing.

"So, do I have this straight? You get into a vehicle with a girl that you have been told to stay away from and with a driver that you had never met! Am I getting some of the highlights so far?" I didn't know what to say so I didn't say anything. "I'll go on, now you are in a vehicle with someone you aren't supposed to be around and driver you don't know and decide to drink. Was the driver drinking?"

"I don't know," I whisper, but I did know and the answer was yes, but I figured I could get away with that omission.

"I suspect he was. And who knows how sober he was when you got into the vehicle. Let us see, then this "friend" drops you off downtown in your prostitute garb and leaves you no way to get home so she can go clubbing. Then you try and figure out how to get home before thinking to call me. Why didn't you call me as soon as they pulled away?"

It was quiet for nearly a minute before I realized I was supposed to answer. I had no good answer. But my hole was so deep I didn't think I could make it much worse. Besides, he already knew the answer. "I didn't want to get in trouble." I finally admitted.

"Of course you didn't. You knew your whole evening had gone down a rabbit hole and you wanted to climb out of it and pretend nothing happened."

"I knew you'd be mad."

"Of course I'm mad. I'm more than mad. I'm irate. I am disappointed and aggravated and I'm going to remain that way for a while." His eyes remained fixed on me. I know he was standing and I was sitting for a reason. He looked so much more imposing. I kept waiting for his eyes to soften by they didn't and that's when the tears just burst forth without warning and trekked down my face. It wasn't a ploy for sympathy, it just happened without my permission.

I sobbed once, twice and then he was beside me on the couch pulling me close, holding me tightly. He let me cry for a few minutes and when I finally settled down he let me go. "I am everything I just mentioned and I have right to those emotions. And I will carry them with me for a bit. But I want you to listen to me." I swallowed a sob, my body still jerking from the power they had left behind. "I love you and I will always love you. I can be upset with you and still love you. And I do. But I am far from happy concerning your antics last night and every poor decision you made. I am not going to forget what you did anytime soon, nor should I. You are responsible for your actions and your behavior was unacceptable. I'm not going to pretend it was okay or should be easily forgotten. But that does not mean that I don't love you. Do you understand that?"

It took me a second to calm my voice but I finally managed to answer that I did understand. "No makeup or Halloween, what else?" I dared to ask.

"Your phone. You can have during school and at home before I get here. But I don't want you on it. The only time you are to use it is when I call or text you and I will be doing that. I suddenly feel the need to check in on you regularly. I will check your usage every night and it better be next to nothing. In fact go get your phone right now."

I got up and retrieved it from my room, feeling the vibration that indicated a text. I opened the app to see it was Lily telling me she was about to lose her phone and ask if I was all right. I wanted to reply but Dad took my phone from my hand before I could. I could see him typing and then hitting send.

"What did you say?"

"I said you were fine and your phone was now in my possession."

He then began to hunt around and almost immediately found my selfies. He looked up at me with the disappointed face that I hated so much and shook his head. "Did you put these on social media?"

I shook my head back and forth. But when he looked up at me I felt I owed him more. "No sir," I replied, my throat raspy from my tears. I had never called him sir before and I think I saw him flinch just a bit.

"Did anyone else take pictures of you?" He asked as he deleted all of my pictures.

"I don't think so."

"But you're not sure."

"No. Not positive."

He sighed. "Well let's go. I spoke with Lily's mother earlier and they're ready for us any time."

"Why?"

"Because we want to make sure that both sets of parents know everything. I don't want any surprises, did you tell me everything?"

"Yes. I swear."

He just looked at me as if he were trying to decide whether to believe me. "Okay then. Let's go."

Jay

We walked the two blocks to the Cole's house where I had barely finished my first knock when the door flew open. Patti stood there with her husband, Mitchell behind her. "Come on in," she invited, holding the door open. "Can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, water?"

"No we're fine," I assure her as we are led into the living room where Lily was already waiting looking both bored and guilty.

"So Lily filled us in on their night and I can say that we are highly upset."

"What were your details?" I asked. Patti gave me a rundown, leaving out only one thing.

"Lily," I said, causing the girl to look up at me, "where were you picked up for your ride around town?"

"Just outside," she said.

"In front of where?"

"Just outside," she repeated.

"Lily, what do I do for a living?"

"You're a cop."

"I'm a detective. Do you really want to lie to me?"

That is when Mitchell jumped in. "What did you leave out?"

"We just walked like a couple doors away to Lindsey's house. I yelled down to you guys that we were going."

"We didn't hear you if you did, and you did so that we wouldn't see what you were wearing. Where did you even get those clothes?" Mr. Cole asked.

"That thrift store on the corner."

"You do not get to just yell down to us what you are doing," Patti said. "And when did you go to the thrift without me?"

"It's in the neighborhood, I can walk there myself and I used my own money."

"Well it was money wasted. I want everything you bought and I will be checking your closet."

"Fine," she huffed. "But I told you we were leaving."

"Lily," I broke in, "you don't tell your parents what you are doing—"

"I did tell them," she complained.

"Listen to me," I said somewhat sternly, "you don't tell them what you are doing, you ask permission to do it. You are not in charge. If they had known what you two were dressed like that the whole situation could have been avoided. Parents have more life experience; can see things you can't, which is why we need to know what you are doing so we can stop you from doing stupid things like you did last night."

I wasn't sure if I had overstepped my boundaries, but neither Patti or Mitchell seemed to mind. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I guess."

"You guess. Well if you are going to hang around my daughter, you better get a really good grip on it."

"I just didn't want to get Lindsey in trouble," she began. "That's why I didn't include her."

"Where was the club?"

"I don't know. I haven't spoken to Lindsey today."

"What's Tessa's last name?"

"Merado or Mercado? I'm not sure. She has had a hard time. Her dad was killed in prison and her mom OD'd last year. She's been splitting her time between her grandma's house in Little Village and her Aunt's house here."

"I'm sure your parents spoke to you about your poor choices, but I'm going to tell you my piece. When you are with my daughter you are my responsibility and what happened last night is to never happen again. Tory will be grounded for the foreseeable future and some of her privileges such as her phone and makeup have been taken away. Your parents will decide what is best for you, but you will not cross into Tory's punishment and make it difficult for her to complete what I ask of her.

"I like you Lily," I continued, "and you have been a good friend to Tory and I appreciate that, but what happened last night is inexcusable and there will be no second chances. I will not give you specifics, but I truly don't believe that you understand the danger you were in."

"It's not fair," Lily cried out. "I mean how come we can't dress the way we want. It's like we have to do things because men are assholes."

Both Patti and Mitchell gasped and apologized, but I put my hand up. "You are right, to a degree. No man should react to what you are wearing, however I am here to tell you that they do. Rape isn't caused by what you are wearing, if you are drunk, what neighborhood you are in. It is one-hundred percent caused by a rapist. But you will be the one to pay for their crime, every time. It is not fair but it is reality.

"You are both beautiful girls and you don't need to degrade yourself by covering up your face with mounds of makeup and wearing revealing clothing. Just be you, stop trying to be older and something that you aren't. Now where is Lindsey's house?"

I could see Tory mouth the word 'sorry' to Lily as I stood up. But I scored points with her parents, her father cornering me before I left, telling me how appreciative he was of my words of warning and my actions last night.

Tory

I couldn't believe what just happened and was terrified of what was about to happen. We walked the three doors down to Lindsey's house where Dad pounded on the door until her mom finally opened it up. She squinted out into the sunshine, "Jay Halstead? Is that you?"

"Hi Mrs. Lawrence. Is your daughter around?"

"Yes she is, come on in. Hi Tory. What's going on?"

"Has she spoken to you about the events of last night?"

"She hasn't. I had to work an overnight shift and haven't seen her. Lindsey come down here please." Brenda Lawrence yelled up the stairs. "What happened?"

"Tory, Lily and your daughter got into an SUV with Tessa and her cousin and went for a ride downtown. Their manner of dress and overall look weren't what you would call wise choices for young teenage girls." Dad explained as he peered up the empty stairs, causing Mrs. Lawrence to scream for Lindsey again.

"What the hell Mom. I was sleeping," she said as she appeared. She didn't seem to notice us standing at the bottom of the stairs until she nearly ran into Dad.

"What were you up to last night?"

"Nothing."

"Oh nothing. What about your little joy ride?"

"No big deal."

"This is how you want to play it?" Dad asked, his voice several octaves lower than normal and internally I pleaded for Lindsey to cooperate. I knew I hadn't seen full-on angry Dad, but he was simmering just below the surface. "Tell me where the club was?"

"What club?" Brenda asked.

"The club she went to with Tessa and her cousin. After they dropped Tory and Lily off on the street in the West Loop."

"What is he talking about Lindsey Marie?"

I looked down at my shoes so I wouldn't feel Lindsey's enraged glare. I didn't think our friendship was strong enough to endure this bump in the road. I also wasn't feeling particularly confident in my relationship with Lily either.

"It's not a big deal. Tessa showed up with her cousin Ricky and we drove around."

"Then what club is he talking about?"

"Look Mr. Halstead, I don't know what Tory told you—"

"First of all it's detective and I know that she told me the truth, while you are not."

Lindsey looked insulted. "Of course you'll pick her over me."

"No, I'm picking the truth. If my daughter was lying I'd know it, just like I know that you are lying to me right now. Now I'm going to ask you again, where was the club?" But Lindsey just stood there while I cringed. "Okay then, we can take this to the district." He threatened.

"Lindsey just tell him the truth!" Brenda implored.

"I don't know. Okay!? I didn't pay much attention."

"How far from where you dropped the girls off?"

"Several blocks, maybe five."

"If I took you down to that area could you find it again?" She looked as if my dad had asked her to dance an Irish jig. "I asked you a question." He pushed.

"Maybe, I don't know."

"Go get dressed, wash your face and then we'll go." Lindsey looked over at her mom for help. "Your mother is more than welcome to ride with us."

Lindsey disappeared up the stairs and we heard a door slam. "I'm so sorry. Like I said I worked an overnight shift. The pay is better and I thought I could trust her. Since my husband moved out, I've needed extra shifts at the hospital."

"I understand. I do. I work a lot of hours and have to count on Tory doing the right thing. But sometimes they don't and here we are."

"Let me freshen up and I'll go too."

"Of course."

"Feel free to have a seat in the living room or kitchen." She said as she disappeared up the stairs.

"Dad, how could you do this to me? Lindsey is going to hate me now. I have to go to school with her and she is going to tell everyone that I'm a snitch or a tattle-tale."

"I'm sorry if that happens, but my priority is you and your safety. Look, you stay here, I'm going to go home and get the truck. It should only take a few minutes. If they are ready before I'm back tell them I'm on my way."

"Don't leave me here." I begged.

"You have to be here in case they come down. I won't be long."

"Can't we just all walk to the truck?"

"I'll be back," he promises and disappears out the door. Great, now Lindsey will come downstairs and kill me before he gets back. I find the living room and begin to pace. There are clothes strewn around, papers and books on the coffee and end tables. I head into the kitchen to find dirty dishes all over the place and wonder if Lindsey has any responsibilities or if she just chooses to ignore them. If Dad came home and our house looked like this I'd be grounded.

Now I was beginning to understand how Lindsey had so much freedom and could come to school in so much makeup and sketchy choices in clothes. I knew her parents were going through something and that her mom worked as a nurse. Her mom was probably already gone when Lindsey left for school. That happens sometimes with Dad and me but he really tries to be there in the morning.

"Sorry about the mess," Mrs. Lawrence tells me as she walks into the kitchen. "I've been working a lot and as you can clearly see, Lindsey isn't much of a team player. She was supposed to have this all cleaned up, but asking nicely doesn't seem to get me anywhere."

"Um, my dad went to get his truck. We walked over here." I told her; grateful she had been the one to come down first.

"Okay. Can I get you something to drink?"

"Water," I managed to ask with my rusty voice.

"Of course," she said finding a clean glass in the cabinet and filling it for me.

"I'm sorry for all of this. Lindsey hasn't had stellar behavior lately. I figured her heading into her sophomore year had her rebelling a bit. But I didn't know about the clubbing."

"I don't know anything about it either. Is she going to hate me?"

"I wish I could say no, but you know teenage girls. Tory, what you did was the right thing, by telling your dad the truth. What happened?"

So I quickly filled her in, feeling like a back-stabber all over again. "So, I have no idea what happened after I got out of the car."

"I can't believe they just left you. And your dad was quite the hero."

"How did Lindsey get into the club?" She asked as I had left the part out about the fake ID. But thankfully Dad knocked and stepped inside.

"We about ready?" He asked.

"Let's go Lindsey!" Brenda yelled up the stairs.

"I'm coming," she replied stomping down. She had changed into yoga pants and a half-shirt. Her hair was in a ponytail and her face had been washed and new makeup applied. Her purse was slung over her shoulder.

"Can you please dump your purse on the table." Dad asked indicating the side table by the stairs.

"You can't make me!"

"Maybe he can, maybe he can't, but I can. Dump it now!" Her mother stated.

Lindsey dumped it out and we saw all kinds of makeup, tissues, candy, tampons, and loose change skitter out. "Open your wallet for me please." She did and it showed her school ID card. She opened the slot for the money and it held a few bills.

"Let me see it please."

"Give it to him," her mother demanded. And from the look on her face I knew it hadn't occurred to her to hide her fake ID.

Dad sifted through the slots, looking behind her ID and finding the fake one. "Where did you get this?"

"Unlike some people," she said glaring at me, "I'm not talking."

"It's illegal for you to have this. You are impersonating someone older and it is a punishable offense. So I'm going to ask you again, where did you get this?" He asked holding it up.

"There's a kid at school. I don't think he even goes there anymore, just hangs around. Fifty bucks and he gets one for you." She said sounding annoyed.

"What's his name?"

"I don't know. Something weird like Derby or something."

"I'm going to need you to find out for me if can't remember. Otherwise your school resource officer will be doing a lot more looking around." Lindsey's lip went up like a dog that was about to growl. Dad ignored her and waved everyone outside.

We all piled in the truck, Mrs. Lawrence letting me sit up front. "So is this like the truck you arrest people in?" Lindsey asked.

"It's my work truck. But usually a patrol car takes people down to the district.

"This is heavy," she says as she picks up his bulletproof vest.

"It's what we call our plate or vest. It stops bullets."

"Does it work?" She asks as she runs her fingers over the embroidery that spell out Halstead and Intelligence, then she traces the star that stands for his badge.

"Yes," Dad replied dryly. "For most bullets."

"Have you been shot?" Lindsey asks as she places the vest in her lap.

"I have and the vest probably saved my life."

"But not the time you weren't wearing it," I add and see him give me a sideways look.

"You know the story with that and we're not going to talk about it now." Then he looked into the rearview mirror, "I'm going to drive to where I picked the girls up and we can go from there. I need you to pay attention and look for landmarks."

When we got to the area the memory of the night before hit me like a lightning bolt. My heart starts to pound and sweat breaks out on my upper lip. "Where were you dropped off, which way from here?" Dad asked.

"That way," I pointed. "We walked from that way."

Dad drove the direction I indicated asking Lindsey if she recognized anything.

"It all looks different in the daytime. Anyway, why does this even matter. The club will be empty. Closed up. That's the whole point of a pop-up club."

"Which is why it is hard for the police to catch up with them."

"It's just fun, why ruin fun. Fun suckers."

"Lindsey Marie," Brenda gasped. "Apologize right now."

"Why? For telling the truth?"

"I don't even know who you are anymore. You have become this rude, sarcastic, sneaky brat!"

"Okay," she agreed blandly. "Hey, I think it's down that way. That building looks familiar." She said suddenly being cooperative.

"Where did you park? In a garage? On the street?"

"On the street. We had to walk a few blocks."

Dad kept driving around in loops until finally Lindsey pointed and said she was sure it was the building near us. "Yeah, we had to go down the alley."

Dad parked in the mouth of the alley and reached over and grabbed his gun and badge causing my stomach to suddenly clench. "I'm going to go inside. You stay in the truck and that is not a request."

"Do you want this?" Lindsey asked, holding up his vest, suddenly looking slightly distressed.

"Please Dad, wear it." I begged him.

He opened the back door and took it from Lindsey and slid it on. My heart and stomach were in a competition as to who was more upset. Seeing him last night and now in work gear had my anxiety through the roof.

"Stay here," he instructed and jogged down the alley.

He must have found the side door and it easily opened for him and he disappeared. I guess you don't care about locking up if it isn't even your building. I reached for my door handle and just held it in my hand. "Stay here," Brenda warned.

"But what if he isn't okay? What if someone is in there?"

"He has his gun and vest," Lindsey said, but some of her bravado was gone.

"This shouldn't be happening, this is all my fault," I said, tears forming. "Where is he? I can't just wait here."

"Stay in the truck like he said." Brenda told me.

"What if he doesn't come back soon?"

"He will," she assured.

A minute later he appeared and walked our way. He stopped by the truck, took his vest off and handed it to Lindsey and climbed in the car putting his badge and gun back in the glove box. "Empty of course."

"Told you," Lindsey mumbled.

Dad twisted in his seat and looked back at her. "But I did find flyers for their next event. This place used to be a restaurant, someone bought it and was going to turn it into a bar but the financing fell through. They take over properties not in use and bring in their own equipment and make a ton of money. How much was the cover charge?"

"Thirty, I think."

"And drinks?"

"Seven or ten maybe, but I didn't really drink."

"Oh, okay," he said in a sarcastic tone. "Was it full? A lot of people?"

"Yes. But I still don't get what the big deal is."

"This is the big deal," Dad began, "they clearly don't care how many underage patrons they have in there, which is illegal, you are in there with adults, adults who have been drinking. They are serving underage children along with these adults. I'm sure they were way over fire code. They don't care what happens once you are inside, they want your money and if you drink too much or buy drugs that I'm sure were being sold on a continuous basis and OD in the bathroom it's not their issue. If you are assaulted in that very same bathroom while someone is overdosing, do you think they'll call the cops?"

Lindsey just shrugged.

"They don't have a reputation or a business license to protect. They will not do the right thing. We have seen so many victims of these places, called to DOA's left behind when they packed up. Women and girls assaulted, raped right on the dance floor and we don't even have a place to start. There's no cameras, no witnesses to find. It's all just packed up and moved as if it didn't really happen. Who knows what wreckage came from last night."

"My God," Brenda said staring over at her daughter.

"What? I didn't know."

"Exactly," Dad barked, making us all jump. "You don't know. You don't care to know and you put yourself in situations you are ill equipped to handle. You think you are on the cusp of adulthood, that you know everything, can handle every situation, but I'm telling you that you can't. You were lucky last night, both of you," he said glaring at us, his body twisting to keep up with his head. "And I'm telling you right now that your luck will run out."

I was trying not to cry again, so I just stared into my lap. I had no idea how Lindsey was handling Dad's message.

I chanced a look and it didn't appear that Lindsey was giving in. "I didn't make Tory get into the vehicle." She answered as my Dad's eyes focused in on her.

"I never said you did. My daughter made plenty of her own mistakes, mistakes that almost got her assaulted. That possibility terrified me. And I'm at my worst when someone I love is in danger. You were in danger as well, it just wasn't as obvious to you."

"If there is danger everywhere why don't the police stop it."

"They're trying," Brenda practically screamed. "But why do you expect them to fix everything when you need to be responsible for yourself. What do you think we are doing here? Detective Halstead is trying to find these people, but you're whining about him ruining all the fun. I can't even believe you right now."

"Mom," Lindsey began but she was immediately cut off.

"Just shut up Lindsey, I have had enough. This total lack of respect is ridiculous. This man is trying to help you and you are rude and ungrateful. You are so grounded."

"Like that even matters. It's not like you are around to enforce it."

"If you want to eat, then I have to work extra hours. I can't keep up on the mortgage and everything else unless I work. You can just go hang out with your father and see how great that is."

"Maybe I will," she replied. "Or just let Detective Halstead take care of me, maybe all I need is a good spanking."

The truck suddenly grew quiet and nobody moved. Until Brenda broke the silence. "Don't say another word. Detective Halstead, I am so sorry."

"You can call me Jay and I think it's time to take you home."

Needless to say the ride home was quiet and a bit awkward. But we finally made it. Brenda climbed out as did my Dad and Lindsey. "Bye Jay,' she yelled out as she moved towards the front door.

"Hey! I told your mother that she could call me Jay, I'm still Detective Halstead to you."

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms.

"I may be in touch if I need any other information. What is Tessa's last name?"

"Contessa Mercado, but don't bother, she's moving to Arizona or California next week. Her Aunt and Uncle are going and her grandma can't take care of her so she has to move with them. Bye," Lindsey said with a half wave and dug her key from her purse and stomped her way inside.

"I can't possibly apologize enough. I am just so sorry about her. How do you do it, being a single father?"

"I have to trust my daughter much of the time. I have a tracking app on her phone and I do watch it. I suggest you do the same with Lindsey."

"And then what? She isn't listening to me."

"As her parent, you are obligated to provide shelter, food, clothing and an education. No promises of the extras such as a smart phone, a bedroom of her own, her favorite foods, a closet full of clothes, a tub full of makeup. Strip everything bare and make her earn it back. She'll have tantrums, probably on a regular basis, but if you don't try something, her luck will run out. I don't know your ex-husband, but discuss with it him. If Lindsey sees him on the weekends he has to be a part of this or she'll just get what she wants from him. But this is your call.

"I'm not far. Two blocks away, but I'm limited in what I can do. She doesn't seem to have any more respect for me than anyone else. She is past the age where the effect of a male voice will scare her. But she's heading towards trouble if she keeps up with this attitude."

"Thanks again Jay. Tory, listen to your Dad, he's a smart and brave man."

Dad climbed back into the truck and sat for a second. Then for some ridiculously unknown and stupid reason I said. "I think Mrs. Lawrence wants a spanking too."

"Excuse me?" Dad asked looking at me with an astonished look.

"Sorry. Sorry. I think Lindsey has a crush on you." I say trying to distance myself from my previous remark.

"Ya think? I don't want to hear talk like that from you, Understood?"

"Yes sir. Sorry."

We drove the two blocks home in silence, me sitting with regret for opening my big mouth. Once inside I headed straight to my room and made it to the doorway before I was stopped.

"Where are you going?"

"My room. I thought a break would be good after everything."

"It would be great to have a break after that ordeal, but not right now. Sit," he said pointing to the dining room table. Seeing no other choice, I sat.

Dad rummaged through a drawer until he unearthed a notebook and a pen and sat down across from me and began writing. "You are already aware of the no makeup and no Halloween." He said writing what appeared to be a list. "You are to be home directly after school unless you have band or some other activity, and you know that I can check the school website to ensure they are scheduled. Once home, you will do your homework immediately. I want the house immaculate. I won't show up with a white glove but it had better be clean. Your attitude had better be in stellar shape as well." He added.

I took a chance and spoke up as he finished writing his sentence out. "How long am I grounded for?"

He finished writing and looked over at me. "Six weeks."

My head began to buzz, that was forever. "But this is the best weather for the entire year in Chicago."

"You should have done this in January then, though I suppose you would have been chilly in your outfit."

"But we always do fun stuff in the fall."

"We do, I'll miss it. But this is more important." He says matter-of-factly.

"No pumpkin patch?"

"Not this year."

"But Dad, I'll never be fourteen again."

"Very true, but I want you to turn fifteen, so it's important that you understand what you did was dangerous." He said looking at me with his unblinking eyes.

"But we were okay," I try knowing it was stupid.

"Because I showed up. How confident were you before then?" I had no answer, actually, I did, but it wouldn't play into my favor. Dad was not one to give up. "I asked you a question. You opened the door, so finish it."

"Not very," I say so softly I can barely hear it.

"Let me tell you right now," he began picking up steam and volume, "you and your friends seem to be taking this a little too lightly. Lindsey, drinking in a club full of drunken men, you and Lily on the street corner, and you think just because nothing happened nothing could happen. If I hadn't showed up do you think those men would have just wandered off on their own?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Now his eyes got bigger, and he tilted his head in a manner where he was looking down and up at the same time. However he did it, it was very unnerving.

"Why are you trying to lessen the events that happened? Pretend they're not a big deal?" I merely shrugged because that is all I had. "I think it's because you know they were a big deal and it scares you."

"It's over and I'm sorry, I really am. And I won't do it again. Can't I just be grounded for a couple of weeks?"

"You think you can dictate your punishment. Oh that's rich," he said in a manner I had never recalled seeing. I had gotten a good look at his skill set the last several hours. "All you're doing now is tacking on to it. It's my job as your father to make sure that you understand, and you, young lady don't seem to be understanding."

"I do. I swear I do. And I'll do the homework first and clean the house, but can't we do some fun things."

"I was thinking of that very possibility, like a furlough, but you just pushed it right out of contention with your lack of respect for what happened."

"What's a furlough?"

"Kind of like a vacation. I was thinking that if you did everything asked of you and had a good attitude, perhaps we could sprinkle in some fall fun, but you have decided that since what happened was no big deal, I have to enforce every single day of it.

"Didn't you tell me that Ashley skipped one class and was grounded for a month?" He asked of my friend from last year.

"Yeah, last year in eighth grade."

"So in comparison, maybe I'm being too lenient."

"No, it's okay. I'm okay with it all. What do you think will happen to Lindsey?"

"I don't know and it's none of my business. I hope that her mother can make her understand her actions weren't advisable."

"Somehow I doubt it."

"Somehow I do too. I don't want you around her."

"But she's one of my friends."

"Is she? Because she left you on the street."

"She wasn't driving and she was right, she didn't make me get into the car."

"You can hang around her at school, but not afterwards. At least not for a while. She doesn't look like she is on a very good path and I don't want you to get pulled down with her."

"Okay. Can I go to my room now?"

"You can and I will be with you."

"Why?"

"We are going to go through your closet and dresser to inventory your clothes."

"Seriously?" I asked, my voice shrill in disbelief.

"Yes, seriously."

"But you see what I wear before I leave for school."

"Usually, yes I do. But not every morning and forgive me if I'm having some trust issues with you right now. So let's go."

We started in my closet with him holding up my dresses and skirts to my body to see where the hem landed. Then he began to go through my shirts analyzing the necklines. I was mortified by this entire process, while his face held nothing but satisfaction. He held up one lacy crop top and gave me the disappointed look as he tossed into the go pile where Fluff had taken up residence, taking his role of holding the clothes down seriously. A few more followed, including the one I wore the other day under my flannel.

"Your overalls, how come you never wear these anymore. You loved them last year." He said holding up my denim overalls that I had in fact I had loved last year. The key words being last year.

"Those are for middle school. Not high school." I informed him to which he sighed and looked either frustrated or disappointed, I couldn't tell which.

In the end, two skirts and four tops were deemed unacceptable. "Did you get them at the thrift store?" He asked.

"Some of them. The shirts I wear under another shirt."

"Until you take off the top shirt."

"I just unbutton it a little bit."

"Uh huh," Dad replied skeptically.

"That's a skirt you bought me." I pointed to a pink and yellow pastel number.

"When? Two years ago when you were shorter?"

"Probably," I admitted causing him to roll his eyes.

"Where are your shorts?"

"Can't we do that in the spring?" He looked displeased but let it go.

"Where are the clothes you wore home last night?"

"Oh, those. Those are Lily's."

"Find them and we'll take them back to her."

"I want to wash them first."

"Nope. Find them and give them to me. I have a feeling that she won't be wearing them again. We forgot to get your stuff when we were down there earlier so we'll take these and exchange them for your backpack. Oh and where's your tablet?"

"My tablet too?" I whined.

"Of course your tablet. You get it back after your grounding is over."

"But what if I need it for homework?"

"You can wait until I get home."

"This sucks."

"This is supposed to suck," he said sharply, surprising me with his abruptness. I grabbed the bag that held the short skirt and tight, V-necked shirt and handed it to him. "Seriously? This could all fit in a sandwich bag." His voice back to normal a decibel as he peered into the bag.

"It couldn't fit in one of those."

"Almost. Let's eat a late lunch and I'll check when it will be a good time to swap out items."

We ate toasted cheese sandwiches and I unearthed my tablet, finding it hard to let go when he took it from me. He, of course was aware that I could Facetime, text and message with it, so naturally I wasn't allowed to have it. We walked back to Lily's house and got my things and true to Dad's word, Mr. Cole put the clothes right into the outdoor trash bin. I also found out Lily would be grounded for six weeks as well. I quietly wondered if all the parents had gotten together and decided the time frame.

Once back at home I cleaned up my room and finished my homework before it was time to start dinner. "Can we go for walks when you get home from work, like we used to when I was little? I mean so I can enjoy some fresh air during the best weather we have all year?"

"I'd love that. You can sit outside and do your homework, you just can't walk anywhere."

"Okay," I sighed as I sliced an onion.

After eating and cleaning up the dinner dishes Dad crashed on the couch.

"Can I have TV time?" I asked hopefully.

"Sure, but I get to pick." He replied as he patted the couch cushion next to him.

"No cop shows," I begged.

"I hate cop shows; they're so far from reality."

"Dad?" I asked as I leaned against him, putting my head on his shoulder. "Seeing you in action with that guy last night. Pulling him away from me and yelling at him and getting him away from us—is that what you do at work to people? And watching you go into that building with your vest and gun—it was kind of scary for me to see."

"Most of my job is sitting at a desk making phone calls or tracking things down on the computer. I am in the field, but we do our research and are always prepared. I train for every scenario."

"Every scenario?"

"Every single one." He promised.

I looked at him skeptically but continued. "Why did you take a picture of his ID?"

"So I could look him up tomorrow. See if he has any type of criminal history. I want to keep him on my radar."

"How come you didn't arrest him?"

"Because, although he seemed threatening, there wasn't much I could charge him with. He would have been out first thing in the morning. It wouldn't look good for me arresting him and when the reason why was discovered, your name would be involved and it would look personal. It could be an issue if we ran into each other in the future."

"But he was like up in our faces and wouldn't leave us alone, either one."

"The biggest charge would have been drunk and disorderly. He hadn't hurt you yet. You can't arrest someone for what you think they might do."

"Doesn't seem fair," I murmur as I scoot away and lay down on my back with my head in his lap, like I did when I was a little kid.

"It often isn't fair. But we can't predict the future. This is why the burden is often on the innocent. And why I am so upset about last night."

"Okay," I sighed. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"You still love me right?"

He slipped out from under me and sat me up. "Remember our conversation earlier, that I can be mad at you, disappointed in your choices, but that I would always love you?"

"Yeah. I guess I just needed to hear it again."

"I love you kid, now and forever. And I am proud of you for calling me last night."

"You are?"

"Yes. You knew you'd be in trouble but you called me anyway."

"I was scared."

"I bet you were. I was scared."

"You were?"

"Absolutely. I couldn't get to you fast enough. I don't think my heart has ever beat that fast."

"Even when you're on a case?"

"Even then."

"Love you Daddy and I'm sorry." I told him as I snuggled back into him.

He eventually found the ballgame to watch and as I sat there next to him I had never felt safer or more loved.