The Summer Of 1993 (Book 1)

Lee's House

Chester’s POV
When we arrived at my dad’s house I pulled my car up in the
driveway and turned the engine off. There was no sign of my dad’s
car in the driveway, but if he was home for a while it might be in the
garage. I walked up to the door and used my key to go inside. I
hollered for my dad as I walked in the house, but got no response. I
decided to walk up to his bedroom. I cracked the door peeking my
head inside to see if he was sleeping. Thank goodness he was. I felt
bad waking him up, if he was sleeping in the afternoon like this he
must have just got done pulling another double I thought. I walked to
the edge of his bed and gently put my hand on his shoulder saying
his name. I got a mumble and then his eyes slowly started to open.
What’s going on Chester? He asked. What did you get yourself
into this time son? As he said this he surprisingly sounded more
concerned than upset that I just woke him up.
Dad it isn’t me this time I promise, but it is very important. I
really hate waking you, but I really need your help. Before you freak
out on me, let me explain a little bit. I have a 16 year old girl
downstairs in my car. He looked at me with wide eyes, giving me a
what the hell look. No dad it isn’t like that she is just a friend of mine
nothing more. I know she is too young for me, I’m not that stupid I
stated. Anyhow she is in some serious trouble, and no before you ask
she doesn’t do drugs. She lives at home with her mom and her little
brother. Her dad is away in the military and he refuses to believe
what is going on at home while he is away. I will let her explain the
details to you but I wanted to give you a heads up before you freaked
on me.
Well if it is that serious I suggest you go get her out of the car
and bring her inside he said. He started to move from the bed and
grab his clothes off the floor, getting dressed. I will put a pot of coffee
on and we will all sit down and talk, he continued. Thanks dad I
replied to him I went outside to the car and opened the door for Roxie. I
explained to her that he was home and willing to sit down and listen
to her story. She smiled at me giving me a silent thank you. She
didn’t have to actually speak for me to know what she was saying.
We walked into the house and took a seat on my dad’s couch. Within
a couple minutes dad came into the living room with three cups of
hot coffee and a warm smile. Roxie this is Detective Lee Bennington
my father, dad this is Roxie a very good friend of mine I stated
introducing them to each other.
So my son tells me you’re in some sort of trouble? Lee spoke
while sitting down on the chair across from Roxie.
Yes sir she replied to him.
Please sweetheart no need to call me sir, call me Lee or Mr.
Bennington he spoke softly.
Yes sir, I mean Mr.Bennington. I apologize I am used to calling
my father sir, you see he is in the military and he demands yes sir
and yes ma’am in our household she said.
That’s quite all right dear, now if I may ask what kind of trouble
are you in exactly? I see that you have a bit of a black eye and your
nose is a little swollen. Would you mind telling me who did this to you
sweetheart? He asked
Well actually it was my mother that did this to me, she stated.
We got into a bit of an argument yesterday evening, she said some
really terrible things to me. I started saying some terrible things back
and she attacked me, we continued to argue and then she hit me
again giving me the black eye she continued. This kind of thing
happens all the time at my house. Every time my father is away for
work anyway. When he is home she can keep it together for the most
part, but when he leaves it’s like she just goes totally crazy. She has
this “friend” as she calls him but really it is her dealer. She goes off
with him for a day or so and then comes home all kinds of messed
up. When she is messed up like that, she tends to be very cruel
towards me and my brother Jessie. She is treats me worse than she
does Jessie, but I worry about him more than myself. That’s why I decided to grab Jessie and run. After she hit me twice, I went and
packed some of mine and Jessie’s things and we took off. I was going
to stay at my friend Angela’s house but I couldn’t get ahold of her.
That’s when Chester found me and Jessie and the library and said he
was taking us to David and Erica’s house with him. That is where we
stayed last night. This afternoon after I woke up I received these
messages from my father. Roxie continued talking to my dad, and
handed him her phone so that he could read the messages as well.
I see dear, dad said to her. So your mother does this while your
father is away, and he doesn’t believe that it is happening?
Unfortunately we see this quite often down at the department. Kids
claiming that a parent is abusing them and the other parent is in
denial. I Wish I could give you a promise that I could help you, but I’m
not sure how much I can, dad spoke softly with a frown on his face.
The best thing I can think to do is call a friend of mine, His name is
Rick and he works on child abuse cases much like yours. He will
come over here and take a statement, take some photographs of
your injuries, and create a police report. He will also alert children
protective services, so they can intervene and try to help you out of
the situation. Unfortunately other than that there is not much more I
can offer you, being that this is not my unit. I will make sure Rick
makes this a number one priority, and builds a good case he added.
Stay here with Chester while I go make a couple calls.