Chapter 15: Midnight Call
*You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. – Cayla Mills*
Bunny had two phones. Her personal phone and the emergency phone.
There were no names to any of the phone numbers stored in the emergency phone. Initials and an eight digit date followed by special characters. Each entry represented a woman, child or family hiding from an abuser.
No matter where she was, what she was doing, when that phone rang, she answered.
She was sleeping between the two men. Her head rested on Jaxon’s shoulder and Ty was starfished behind her. She and Jaxon were both snugglers. Ty tried, but once he was asleep, he had a tendency to take up as much space as possible. His most common position being the starfish.
The emergency phone started ringing and before she could reach over Ty, he was handing it to her. Jaxon got up and went downstairs to fix her a cup of coffee.
She had her advocacy uniform set aside to pull on in an event like this. Black denim jeans, dark blue sheriff’s department polo and slip on boots. Two pairs of socks, because you never knew how long you might be on your feet.
Holster and magazine clips were already on her plain black leather belt. They would remain under her advocacy center jacket, out of sight and hopefully not needed. She had drawn her weapon more times in the three years she worked for the center than in the six she was full time deputy.
Bunny accepted the coffee and kissed Jaxon goodbye as she rushed out the door.
Both men knew that her job was important. She was frequently the lifeline in an emergency. They each tried to support her as much as they could.
Bunny knew that Jax would take his naked ass back upstairs and go back to bed with Ty. It was not the first time that she had left them. There had even been a few times that she left during the middle of sex.
Luckily, both her men were bi.
She stopped by the office and grabbed a file and two go bags from the security guard. The IGYS guards that worked here knew what was housed in this building and the other buildings that they worked at. They were sworn to secrecy just as the other employees were.
“Hey, Miss Bunny.” The armed guard greeted her as she came inside.
“Hi, Phoebe.” She smiled at the other woman as she placed two duffle bags and a file folder on the counter.
Bunny opened the thin file and scanned it.
“Emergency placement?” Phoebe asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” Bunny replied. “Can you make arrangements for them to go to location four twelve?”
Phoebe nodded and handed over the keys to an unmarked advocacy SUV. Any time something like this was done, it was with utmost security and safety for everyone involved.
The locations had specific contacts and codes. Although Phoebe would make the arrangements, she did not know where that location was. Quickly, she sent a message to the contact listed as Four Twelve.
It did not take long for her computer to chime with a response. “Four twelve is confirmed for one and one. Kitchen and pantry will be stocked within thirty minutes.”
“Thanks.” Bunny smiled as she placed her credentials in her pocket. She handed over her personal phone, car keys and wallet.
Once everything was secured, she tucked the file under her arm and grabbed the bags. Bunny went out the side entrance and into a Sally port garage. Once she was settled in the blacked out SUV, she drove out of the garage, making sure the large door marked maintenance, closed behind her.
From the outside the Family Advocacy Center looked like a typical office. They had offices and therapy rooms on the first two floors. It was the third floor, the one that was never finished and just used for storage, where they did the majority of their work.
Burner phones, emergency go bags, clothes and other necessities were kept here. Around the city, there were hidden apartments where an abuse victim could disappear from an abusive partner. Or the kids could.
Some in places no one would ever think to look. Hotels. Churches. Restaurants.
They had even hidden a runaway at the request of the sheriff’s department. In an apartment tucked away in the back of a night club.
Technically, she worked for the Family Advocacy Center, but was a certified volunteer with the sheriff’s department. After serving as a peace officer for several years, Julius Khun approached her asking if she wanted to really make a difference.
She already had her degree in social services. Now she could put it to use. With Khun's support, she went back to school and had just finished her thesis. Once Ty got his promotion at the fire department, they would be introduced as Lieutenant and Dr. Watts.
Most everyone that knew them, knew that Jaxon was more than just a roommate. Ty's family did not approve and had disowned him. Bunny’s moms were just happy that she was happy. She now knew that Helen approved. But Bob probably would not.
Bunny pulled into the blue parking spot in the emergency room lot. The vehicle she was in had no markings, no badging and the license plate went to a shell corporation. If you ran the plates to get an address, it would take you to a cemetery. Specifically, the cemetery that Anne Khun was buried in.
Julius' daughter who was killed by an abusive partner.
Bunny used her credentials and was admitted to the back. The nurse at the station walked over and opened the secure door. Bunny walked in and smiled at the terrified and bruised woman laying on the hospital bed with her young son asleep next to her.
“Candace?” Bunny said softly and heard a soft Candy. “Candy, I’m Bunny. I’m going to help you start over.”
“I don’t have any where to go.” The woman mumbled.
“The good thing is, I do. I have a safe house with an indoor play area for Braxton.” Bunny whispered as she slowly moved towards the bed and held an open hand out. “This is not going to be easy. New beginnings never are. But I promise, it gets better.”
Tentatively, Candy reached out and took her hand. “I don’t have anything.”
“I do.” She motioned to the bags sitting just inside the door. “What’s in the bags will get you through tonight. Tomorrow we’ll figure out what you’ll need long term. Do you still have your phone?”
“On the counter.” She pointed over to the small counter with a sink.
“I’m going to take it for now. Our security team will get all your pictures and other info. It will be put on a safe drive so you won’t lose anything. We will sit down in a few days and go through your contacts and save the ones you want. Do you have any family that you want to reach out to?”
“I no longer have a phone number for anyone in my family. He… he…”
“It’s a common tactic.” Bunny squeezed her hand. “I’ll get their information and we’ll find them. I’m going to step outside and let you and Braxton, good morning little man,” Bunny smiled at the little boy who was slowly waking up. “There’s clean clothes in the bags for you both. Take your time. When you’re ready, I’ll be outside.”
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