Abused

He must have been scared enough to call 911. I lay in a pool of blood it was running down my face. A bone protruded at the elbow. I had blacked out feeling disoriented I could hear my husband talking on the phone.

The sirens in the distance, then four paramedics filling the living room all asking questions.

I could barely hear my husband telling them I had fallen down the stairs, they gave me oxygen and proceeded to lift me on the stretcher hooking me up with tubes. Jim my husband told them he would ride with me to the hospital. 

When they told him, he would have to follow the ambulance there was no space for him is when he whispered in my ear I will kill you if you do not tell the doctor that you fell. He was not aware of one of the paramedics over heard him as he backed away. Jim wanted to know what hospital I was going to as they hurried me out the door.

The paramedic radioed ahead changing the hospital as they drove away. Also speaking softly reassuring me I would be safe. Taken into surgery right away given a shot the pain eased. When I woke, my arm had a caste, they had shaved my hair where they had sutured my large wound closed.

I could hear yelling out in the hall or was it just my head pounding I was not sure, until Jim’s voice came through loud, he wanted to see me now. I could make out the doctor telling him, he could see me in an hour after I came out of recovery. Then the door flew open Jim standing there his eyes wild and furious, wanting to know why they had taken me to a different hospital and not told him.

Two police officers, arrived through the door, taking hold of him, when Jim told them he was on the job, they relaxed their hold. Jim came over to the bed bent down whispered to remember that I had fallen. Then he was lead out.

I must have slept as the sun was shinning through the window, a doctor arrived checked my stitches telling me my hair would grow back soon enough. I had not even seen my face as he brought a mirror. My face swollen, black and puffed up he had really done a job on me this time. I could not move without shooting pains through my body. Another shot and I was out again.

I awoke to a policewomen standing looking down at me, she was not from Jim’s precinct as I did not recognize her. Another woman came into view she wore a suit and carried a briefcase. Kate was in uniform, Joan a lawyer. Apparently, the report the paramedic filled out brought them here.

Then the questioned started, how long had Jim been abusive towards me? Had I told anyone? Did I not think it was time to lay charges against him before he did kill me? Joan put a paper in front of me it was a signed by a judge for a restraining order, and a charge of assault  all I had to do was sign it. I started to shake realizing if I signed this document, my life would never be the same. I had tried to leave Jim two years ago, he had come after me dragging me home threatening if I ever tried to leave him I would be dead with no trace of where he had buried me alive.

Kate took my hand giving me a pen, she told me she knew what was going through my mind as she had been with an abusive husband for a year until she finally decided to stand up for herself, leaving him and charging him. She now lived a full life never looking back on that horrid year. She would be there to help me get through this.

I signed.

Jim’s partner arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers that afternoon. Jim had signed the card. The nurse came in with a vase I told her to throw them in the garbage. Mike told me that Jim loved me and wanted to start over again. To give him a chance. When I told Mike that I was charging Jim and had a retraining order against him, I thought he would fall off his chair. What was wrong with me he would lose his job if he went to court or jail?

All I said was he should have thought of that when he was beating on me.

Kate was there when they released me from hospital, she insisted I come stay with her, as she had a two-bedroom condominium. She and her partner would go pick up my things when they knew Jim was out. I should make a list of what I wanted from the house, I only wanted my clothes and a few personal items everything else had no meaning for me.

I slowly regained my strength, my arm had healed, I had gotten a short haircut it was time for me to get back to work. The court date was two months away and I had not heard anything from Jim or Mike. Starting to feel myself again, I went to a self-defense course with Kate and her friend Beth. They included me in their nights out with friends it was a hopeful chance at happiness.

Sundays was a day we all went jogging or climbing and I felt in better shape than ever. The sun had bronzed my body, even been asked out on a few dates, which I turned down, as I just was not ready to have a man in my life yet.

Kate was on night shift this week so I had stopped on the way home from work to pick up a few groceries and a bottle of wine. As I walked up the street I spotted Jim’s car parked in front of our building. He was leaning against the trunk as he spotted me a wide smirk spread over his face. Those eyes told all he was pissed off and it showed.

I did not slow my pace as I approached, he stepped away from his car as I shifted my grocery bag to my side hip. He told me it was time for us to talk before I proceeded with the court hearing and I should drop all the charges against him. I had reached the stairs to the condo starting to climb when he reached for me turning me towards him. His eyes were deadly sinister as I grab the railing and pushed him down the stair. He stumbled caught himself before he slipped to the sidewalk.

It gave me time to slip inside the door, locking it behind me. Taking out my cell phone, I dialed 911 he could see that I was phoning and turned towards his car.

  

Raising his hand, as if he was going to shoot me.

The police arrived questioned me on what had happen, they picked Jim up at the house kept him overnight as his alcohol level was high. He was out the next morning. The phone calls started late that night he had received the divorce papers, he said he would sign them if I dropped all charges. I told him I would get the divorce anyways when they found him guilty in court.

The night before court Kate was on a stakeout she would be home in time for court. I had run a bath put on some music and lit some candles pouring myself a glass of wine. Heading into the bathroom to relax my tense body I slipped down into the bubbles. Feeling my body start to relax half dozing the phone beside me rang, looking to see who it was I did not recognize the number. Deciding not to answer I let it go to the answering machine in the living room.

His slurred voice was yelling for me to pick up, as he knew I was home. Then the banging at the door, I jumped from the bath threw on my housecoat heading towards Kate’s bedroom. She had shown me where she kept her personal gun. I tried to remember what she had said about the safety as she always kept it loaded. I was in a panic trying to remember, when the front door crashed open.

A click told me I had released the safety as Jim stood at the doorway of the bedroom. The surprise showed as he noticed the gun in my shaking hand. He lunged, quickly towards me swatting the gun from my hand, as it flew across the floor. He grabbed at my housecoat pulling it off as I scrambled towards the gun. He was going to reach it before me, as he went to pick up the gun, he had not seen me take Kate’s statue from the table. Hurling in straight at his head it connected with his forehead he went down on all fours stunned. Picking up the statue, I hit him again, he was breathing ,but unconscious

The police arrived taking him away.

The judge sentenced him to five years for attempted murder. He went to the prison where he had convicted many criminals over the years. He would not have a good time there.

Stakeout

My partner lay in my arms with blood running down my lap and legs, if he did not get to a doctor, I was sure he would die.

We had been on a stakeout twenty miles from town in an orchard where two drug dealers had been waiting for over six hours for their suppliers to arrive. At least that was what our source told us.

We had eaten all our snacks and coffee hours ago, Joe was dying for a cigarette, but was afraid the ember would be seen from inside the cabin, he was getting antsy. He left to take a pee in the bush.

That is when I heard a shot then another, two men coming straight in my line of vision, with two shotguns sweeping the area. I pulled out my glock lying on the ground beside a log, they came within inches of my body. It was a cool night yet the sweat was running down my face and back. I could probably get one shot off before they got me. I could hear one say not to worry he was dead, and to get on with business. A small light swayed in the breeze on the porch, a man opened the door a slit as the two slipped through the opening.

I ran towards Joe he was so still I turned him over to see a large hole in his chest, my whole body shook as I took off my jacket stuffed it around his wound. He had blood running down his arm the second shot had hit his shoulder. He told me to leave him to go and get help.

I half dragged him to our car that was under some tree branches. Finally, I manoeuvred him into the back seat propping his head up on a pillow that we always had with us so one could sleep if it was a long stakeout.

As I started the engine the door to the shack opened, a man emerged with his gun raised. He came running towards the car getting off a shot to the windshield before I floored the engine stalling it just as I clipped him with my fender and sent him flying. The three others came out the door at a run as I swerved to miss a tree and got off a shot to the tires of the truck that was sitting there. The car stalled again as the men grew closer one had his hand on the door, twisting I let off two shots the engine finally caught I turned on to the highway, yelling to Joe to keep awake, he finally told me to stop yelling, I was giving him a headache.

Good sign.

I called for help over my radio to have emergency crews ready for Joe at the hospital. My rear view mirror showed a car gaining on me, I had my foot as far down on the petal as it would go but the car was still gaining swearing that I should have disabled that one as well. Calling for backup to intervene and stop this car. Joe always joked that I drove too slow, well not this time as I raced down the highway, holding the steering wheel so tight my hands started to numb. The car started to swerve on the road because of the speed I just kept my foot on the gas petal. A police car passed me with flashing lights. I turned a corner a dark road behind me.

Praying Joe was not losing any more blood. I drove into the emergency entrance a stretcher and five people were waiting. They had Joe out of the back seat on the stretcher and whisked away before I could even say a word. The police chief was waiting for me, asking me all the details. I asked if they had called Joes wife, which was one woman that I did not want to deal with right now. She had made it very clear that I was not a favorite person of hers, at barbecues or work related function, she had made it clear that I spend more time with her husband than she did. Once after too much wine she had accused me of having an affair with Joe. Telling me, she would make sure Joe never saw his kids again if she caught him cheating on her.

A doctor had come out of surgery to update the chief and me how things were progressing as Maria burst through the doors. The loathing showed on her face as soon as she saw me. The doctor mentioned Joe was holding his own, he would be in surgery at least another hour. He mentioned whoever had put a jacket into the bleeding hole to stop the flow had helped save his life.

A nurse came over handing me some scrubs, I had not even noticed that my clothes where covered with Joes blood. She ushered me into a washroom to change leaving me. The door explode open, Maria stood screaming that if we had not been fooling around Joe would not been shot. She was becoming hysterical I slapped her across the face and walked out.

Joes stay in the hospital lasted longer than expected, I visited only once as the family made it clear I was not welcome. I tried going in late at night but the nurses always said he was sleeping and not to disturb him.

  

They wanted to set me up with another partner after a month, saying no, the boss put me on desk duty for not doing what I was told.

I was getting restless tied to a desk and was going to cave and take on another partner. I would decide after my days off. A light knock came to my door early in the morning as I was having my coffee. Opening all I could see was a bouquet of red roses and a face smiling at me. Joe took me into his arms and then the dam broke, I cried until I had no more tears left. His eyes filled and he asked would I please let him in to sit.

That is when I knew all would be fine.

Eyes Watching

A shiver went down the length of my body right to the core of my soul.

Someone was out there watching my apartment window. I turned off my lamp and moved to my bedroom window I could see a shadow lurking beside the tree that came close to my bedroom window. Just the slightest of movement below, if I had not been staring out I would have missed it completely. Whoever it was dressed in dark clothing, a car drove by illuminating the base of the tree and his face for only a second.

I recognized him instantly, he was the man in the floor below me, and he had tried many times to get me to come down to his place for a drink. He was a creepy sort of a person with a rotund stomach with one eye that danced around his round face. Always saying no with an excuse, I had finally told him I was not interested in his company. He lurked in the lobby most days when I arrived home with a harsh glare at me with his wobbly eye.

I had moved in to my place less than two months ago and was already thinking of moving because of this man. Someone had been inside my place when I was at work. My drawers were not how I had left them. I told myself that was just being paranoid as no one had a key to my place.

Looking down at the tree trunk, no movement, had he given up and gone inside. My phone rung and all I got was a heavy breather and then a click. My number was unlisted so shrugging it off I went back to reading my book. That is when I heard a shuffle of feet in the hallway outside my door. Quietly making my way to the peephole, I scanned the hallway no one was there.

I decided to turn in early, snuggled down dozing still with the book in my hand. I awoke to the sound of my window being slid open. Jumping up I grabbed the nearest thing, which was the handle of my vacuum cleaner that I had not put away. Turning towards the window a leg was on the sill,  I charged forward raising the handle I pushed at the body that was now a quarter of the way inside. His wobbled eye started up at me. He lost his equilibrium as  his stomach pulled him farther out, Holding the handle tight I used all my strength for another big shove he slipped trying to grab on to a branch as I kept hitting him.

Finally, I heard the crash as he tumbled to the ground.

Then silence.

A women’s voice yelled to her husband to call an ambulance, then shortly in the distance a siren. I locked my window and got back under the covers. I would sleep like a baby tonight, he would not be a bother for a while.

Via the gossip in the mail room, I heard he had two broken legs, his arm had two pins put in and lacerations to his face. He would be spending at least a week in hospital. Nobody seemed to know how this had happened.

Assuming he had not told anyone how his accident occurred.

The threatening phone calls began around the time he came home from the hospital. I had my number changed still wondering how he had it in the first place. Still in his casts, he sat in the lobby just staring and mumbling under his breath when I came home.

I was thinking of moving, deciding why should I let this crazy man ruin my cozy place that I had fixed up and enjoyed. I had changed my locks, adding two sliding bolts for when I was inside. Everything ran smoothly for the next two months, no phone calls no sounds outside my door, he had even stopped sitting in the lobby.

Arriving home, I started to get into the elevator, which was full of people, I backed out saying I would take the stairs, before the doors closed a very different man stood inside. He must have lost fifty pounds and look fit as if he had been working out, as the door closed his face broke into a sneer along with his wobbly eye stare.

That was when I decided to keep my Beretta close to me.

Another month passed with no sign of my stalker.

I had run a bath, lit my candles and planned to soak with a glass of wine. Slipping down into the bubbles, soft music in the background, I started to drift off, as the water grew cool, but something in the air had changed. I wrapped my towel around me heading towards my bedroom.

There in my living room sat my stalker, his gnarled ugly face grinning. The first thing out of his mouth was he was going to have me now. He started to get up, as I ran towards the bedroom, he grabbed my towel, pulled it to the floor. This man was going to rape me.

I ran into my bedroom the window was wide open, locking the door, I grabbed for my gun from the bedside as he crashed through, leaving the splintered door hanging from the hinges. He came towards me, stopped when to his astonishment he saw my gun pointed straight at him.

He sneered and kept coming. I had a split second to make a decision.

Did I want the police called then a lengthy trial and him out in six months and this nightmare to start all over again.

He reached for me, that is when I shot him in his chest. He stumbled to the floor. His

ugly face showed terror. That is when my second shot hit him right in his wobbled eye and the blood spurted out.

Bending over him, I found no pulse.

I put on my housecoat, called 911, poured a glass of wine and sat down to wait.