All Right Ch. 04

"Thanks, Ted. Oh, here's your goddamned paperwork."

"All right, I'll let her know the baby is fine, that someone will be in tomorrow after lunch to pick her up, and that her boyfriend will probably be dead by noon. No muss, no fuss, no threats and nothing down the road."

"The rest is okay, but I can't promise about the boyfriend."

"I can. I sent the boys in the squad cars a couple of pictures of what had been done to her, especially some of the old marks from way back, like Tuesday. They'll deal with it for me and the woman and, much as I hate to admit it, for you, too."

We punched shoulders like a couple of idiot frat boys and I took the baby home.

Later that evening I curled up in my study and called Julie. She was still up. I filled her in on what had happened and why I'd had to cancel and how sick it made me feel and the rest of it. She commiserated. I guess her asshole ex had done with his tongue what Amber's ex did with his fists.

"See you tomorrow, doll. Love you."

"Love you."

I took the next day off to bring Amber home. Stacey had to go to work, but Barbara promised to come home early to help her settle in. I was pretty sure Amber would be man-shy for a time. Perhaps I shouldn't have worried.

When I showed up at the hospital, Amber was waiting. When I entered, she threw herself at me. She nearly brained me with that bloody cast they'd put on her. I was surprised they let her wander around with her arm so mobile, but then I noticed the sling. It wasn't supposed to be mobile. It was a good hug, though. Amber felt good in my arms, and judging from the strength of her squeeze I must have felt pretty good to her. Probably just a familiar face.

"Go on out to the car, sweetheart," I told her. "Somebody really wants to see her mommy. I'll deal with the paperwork."

to be continued