Chapter 5 – Talking to Elizabeth
"Elizabeth." William yelled, while pounding on her door.
"Leave me alone!" Elizabeth yelled back.
"Elizabeth Grace Marie Thatcher." William called. "Enough of this behavior. I expect you to open this door and apologize to me and your mother for the way that you are acting. You will then apologize to the Kensingtons."
Elizabeth didn't answer. She had no intention of apologizing. She knew that she hadn't done anything wrong when it came to the Kensingtons. Yes, she behaved badly toward her family, but she was trying to protect herself and they needed to understand that. Elizabeth just hoped that Jack meant it when he said that he would be there for her no matter what. She grabbed her phone and texted Jack.
Jack's phone chimed and he looked at it. It was from Elizabeth.
Jack, Dad is pounding on my door. It is locked. I can't do this anymore. I need to leave. Please hurry. E.
Jack looked at Doug and then back at his phone.
"We need to get there." Jack said. "Elizabeth is scared. She is locked in her room and her father is pounding on the door."
"Jack." Doug said. "Slow down. We are almost there. We can't do anything until dad and Devin get there. Take a deep breath. I don't think that her father would hurt her. She is in her room and is safe at the moment."
"I know." Jack said. "She sounds scared. She says she wants to leave."
"Okay." Doug said. "Please let dad and Devin handle this. We have to do this the right way."
"Okay." Jack said. "Let me text her back."
Jack took a deep breath and tried to steady his hands before he typed a message back.
Elizabeth, I need you to trust me. I will take you way from there if that is what you want. I just need you to pack some things and wait until I call. Doug reminded me that we have to do this the right way and that means waiting for Chief Burke. I have gotten a place ready for you and will make sure that you are safe. I will explain everything later. Jack
Jack took another deep breath as Doug pulled the car over a couple of houses down from Elizabeth's. Jack texted Devin and let him know that they were there, but waiting. It didn't take long for Devin to text back that he was close. Doug and Jack were looking out for Devin when Doug spotted his dad's car. Doug flashed his lights to signal his father. Chief Burke pulled into a spot across from where Doug and Jack were parked. Chief Burke got out and walked over to Jack's Jeep.
"Hey Dad." Doug said. "Jack called Devin and he is also on his way."
"I know." Chief Burke said. "Thomas called me. He let me know that Devin has paperwork, including a temporary restraining order to keep the Kensingtons away from Elizabeth. Thanks for the heads up. I had already talked to your father and had gotten some of the paperwork started earlier this afternoon. I just hope that this goes well. I have a few officers standing by down the block. They will pull up after we go in."
"Jack." Doug said. "Show dad the text messages from Elizabeth."
Jack handed over his phone.
"I told her I would call when I got here." Jack said. "I was just waiting for you and Devin like you asked."
"Okay." Chief Burke said. "Text her and tell her to stay in her room. I am going up to the house. You two wait for Devin and his two men."
"We will." Doug said. "What is the plan?"
"I will ring the bell." Chief Burke said. "I am going to try and talk to William Thatcher. He didn't really want to listen on the phone, so I am hoping that face to face will go better. When Devin and his guys get here, call Elizabeth and then come up to the house. I am hoping that the Kensingtons don't show in the meantime. I called Charles Kensington and he refused to talk to me. All he wanted to know was how much to make things go away. He still is adamant that Charlie did nothing wrong and that Elizabeth hurt herself. He is willing to pay anything just to make this go away. He doesn't want Charlie's future ruined by these accusations."
"Sounds like Kensington." Jack quipped.
"Jack." Chief Burke warned.
As they were talking, two dark sedans pulled up and parked near Thatcher's home. Jack's phone chimed to let him know that Devin was there.
"Devin just pulled up." Jack said. "Let's go."
"Jack." Chief Burke said. "You need to let Devin and I handle this."
"I will." Jack said. "I just need to see Elizabeth."
Jack and Doug got out and walked over to greet Devin.
"Devin." Jack said. "You know Doug and his dad, Chief Burke. Thank you for doing this."
"Good to see you, again." Devin said. "I have Chris and Rob with me. I also have paperwork from Thomas. Chief Burke, Chris, Rob and I are armed, but are under orders to allow you to take control. Our job is to get Elizabeth, Jack and Doug out safely."
"Understood." Chief Burke said, looking around. "As long as we all understand that."
"Understood." Everyone else echoed.
As the group walked to the house, Jack called Elizabeth.
("Jack." Elizabeth cried when she picked up.)
"Take a deep breath." Jack said. "We are here, I need you to come downstairs. Leave your stuff for a moment and come down now. We are on the porch."
Elizabeth hung up and waited a moment. She wasn't sure if her father was out in the hall or not. She heard the doorbell and her mother answer.
"Evening officer." Grace said. "Can I help you?"
"Yes." Chief Burke said. "I need you to get your husband.
"I am right here." William said from the steps.
As soon as Elizabeth heard her father, she opened her door and flew past her father, down the stairs and right into Jack's arms. Jack wrapped Elizabeth in a protective hug.
"Can we leave?" Elizabeth asked.
"In a few moments." Jack said. "We need to take care of a few things."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
"What is going on here?" William demanded.
"Sir, I am Chief Burke." He said. "I got a distress call about Elizabeth and I am here to make sure that she is okay."
"Well." William said. "You can see that she is fine."
"I need to assess that myself." Chief Burke said.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "I am not going anywhere, but I need you to talk to Chief Burke and my friend Devin here. Okay."
"Okay." Elizabeth said softly.
Elizabeth turned and leaned her back against Jack's chest. He had his arm around her waist. He wasn't going to let her go unless he had to.
"Miss Thatcher." Devin said. "My name is Devin Thompson and I need to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Please call me Elizabeth, Mr Thompson."
"Okay." Devin said. "You can call me Devin. My first question, do you wish to continue with the current charge of simple assault against Mr Kensington?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"Okay." Devin said. "Second, has anyone pressured you to change your mind one way or the other on this matter? Has anyone tried to influence you to do anything in regards to this incident."
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "My father is demanding that I apologize and forget everything, as well as drop the charges. He also wants me to see Charlie."
"Okay." Devin said. "Third and final question – do you feel safe staying here right now?"
"No." Elizabeth said. "I want to leave."
"Elizabeth." William said. "You can't be serious. If you leave, I will cut you off."
"Actually, Sir." Devin said. "I have an injunction barring you from doing that. You can't turn off her phone, or close her checking account. You can't even touch her accounts. If you do, you will be held in contempt of court. There is also a second injunction barring you from keeping Elizabeth from her education fund.
From what I understand, it is a straight forward education fund and you can't touch it unless it is an emergency. Miss Thatcher is the beneficiary and if you touch it, you will have a fight on your hands. Miss Thatcher is an adult and can decide what is best for herself and her education."
"You can't do that." William bellowed.
"Actually." Devin said. "I can and I have. If you wish to contest the orders, you are free to contact Miss Thatcher's lawyer. The information is in the order."
"I am her father and lawyer." William said.
"As of this afternoon." Devin said. "Miss Thatcher has a different lawyer."
"Elizabeth." Chief Burke said. "Do you want to go grab a few things before you leave?"
"Yes, please." Elizabeth said.
"Chris." Devin said. "Please escort Miss Thatcher to get her stuff. No one else enters that room without her consent."
"Understood, Sir." Chris said. "Miss Thatcher, lead the way please."
Elizabeth headed up the steps and Chris was right behind her.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" William bellowed.
"I have been hired to protect and represent Miss Thatcher." Devin said. "I am obligated to listen to what Miss Thatcher wants and to make sure that she is safe as well as has what she needs."
"Who hired you?" William demanded.
"I am not at liberty to disclose that information." Devin said. "If Miss Thatcher wishes to tell you later, that is her call."
"Where are you taking her?" Grace asked.
"Again, I am not at liberty to disclose that information." Devin said. "If Miss Thatcher wishes to tell you later, that is her call. For now, all you need to know is that she will be safe and Mr Kensington will not be able to hurt her."
"I don't believe that he actually hurt her." William said. "I believe that it was one of those two young men standing behind you and she is too scared to say anything and is therefore blaming Charlie. We have known his family for years."
"Well." Chief Burke said. "I was there and I saw her injuries. I also talked to her. For your information, the finger bruises on Miss Thatcher's wrist don't match either Doug or Jack. I took further measurements to prove it. There is also a distinct mark on the ring finger. Neither Doug nor Jack wear rings."
"You are just protecting your son." William shot back.
"Dad." Doug said. "I am going to check on Elizabeth."
Doug walked over to the stairs glaring at William Thatcher, then headed up to help Elizabeth. He knew that William Thatcher had hit a nerve and he just hoped that his dad didn't blow a gasket. Chief Burke waited until Doug was halfway up the stairs before he turned to the Thatchers again. Devin hoped that Jack stayed calm as well, he knew that it must be hard to stand there and listen to what was being said.
"Sir." Chief Burke said. "That was uncalled for. Doug knows that if he crossed the line, that I would be the first person to lock him up. I don't put up with that type of behavior from my children. My son also knows that I would never defend a man who thinks he can hurt a woman. Elizabeth was distraught when I saw her this afternoon. She was very clear that it was Charlie Kensington that hurt her and that she had previously asked him to leave her alone."
"Too that measure." Devin said. "This is a restraining order, this is your copy. This prevents any member of the Kensington family or household from coming within three hundred feet of Miss Thatcher. It also prevents any communication – phone, letter, email or other electronic means such as social media. It also prevents any third party communication that doesn't come through Miss Thatcher's attorney of record. Anyone violating this order will be arrested and held in contempt. That includes if you try to pass messages to Elizabeth from the Kensingtons or pressure her to drop things.
The Kensington household has also been served. Since you have chosen to side with the Kensingtons, this order is also in effect for you with the condition that if Miss Thatcher contacts you it negates the order against you, but not the Kensingtons. I am going to advise Miss Thatcher that she should take the next week off and think about what she wants. I suggest that you leave her alone and let her make a decision about what she wants. If she wants to talk to you, she will contact you."
"This doesn't say where Elizabeth will be." William said. "It is supposed to say where they are supposed to stay away from. She is my daughter and I can contact her if I want."
"After talking to the judge personally." Devin said. "He agreed that due to the circumstances of this case, that the location of the victim can remain undisclosed. If someone shows up where Miss Thatcher is staying, the first time they will be asked to leave and informed that they are not allowed to be there. A return trip will result in arrest. Miss Thatcher is an adult and can choose what she wants for her future and life. If you can't respect her and give her some space, you can enjoy the accommodations of the State of New York as you sit in a jail cell."
