Chapter 51: Final Fight
*You’re a fighter. Look at everything you’ve overcome. Don’t give up now. – Olivia Benson*
Jolene had been looking forward to Thanksgiving with her family. It had been weeks, if not months, since she had seen them. The last time that she had seen her family was after Ty got burned last month. Or was it the month before?
It all seemed to blend into one long memory anymore.
She had her suspicions about the triad. Jolene knew her brother better than he thought she did. She also saw the occasional looks and touches between the three of them.
Maybe her mom’s new boyfriend would be there. JD had said that they were talking again but didn’t go into details. But they were all getting the daily pictures of her flowers. Jolene was glad that her mom was finally finding some happiness.
Since JD was insisting on making his now famous apple crisp, she could try the dessert that everyone was raving about. At least she could still text and talk with her family. With that thought, she suddenly feared that would be the next thing she would lose.
Something had to change. Jolene could not continue living like this. And she could not have a sham marriage like her parents.
Even when Helen and Bob were still married, he was never there for the holidays. He would make an appearance in the morning of Christmas and maybe for dessert on Thanksgiving. Now that Jolene knew the truth about her father, she assumed he was with his other family. Or families.
She admitted that in the back of her mind, the question of did Hank also have a second family? Today, she refused to think about that. But she did wonder if she could talk to Bunny. With her work at the Family Advocacy Center, she would know what Jolene could do.
Maybe there was hope for them. Maybe some counseling. Maybe she should just admit defeat and get out while she still could.
As she applied her makeup, her stomach growled, reminding her that she had not eaten since lunch yesterday. She had worked a rare late shift and by the time she got home, Hank didn’t want her cooking. Besides, he had already eaten. She should have eaten at the café.
Honestly, Jolene wasn’t sure if she was more excited about seeing her family. Or having her mom’s cooking. Helen was a wonderful cook and always went all out for the holidays.
Thanksgiving morning Jolene got dressed to go to her mom’s place. Dinner was always midafternoon. But Jolene wanted to go early to help. Last year Bunny had helped also.
Helen had still been in the house and the kitchen was big enough for all three of them then. The galley kitchen in the new apartment could barely fit one person. But somehow Helen would make it work and it would be fun.
Jolene pulled on a light blue long-sleeved sweater and dark blue jeans and slipped on her running shoes. Her hair was twisted up in a messy bun that she thought looked cute. After adding a long black chain necklace with a colorful turkey pendant, she walked out of the bedroom and found Hank sitting on the couch.
“Where are you going?” he sneered. “Especially wearing that.”
He was barefoot in dark blue department sweats and a gray department shirt. The more she saw that outfit, or maybe just the more that she saw him in department clothes, the more she hated the police department.
“My mom’s. It’s Thanksgiving. Remember, we talked about going over there.” She smiled.
“I don’t feel like it. Go take that ugly shirt off.” He waved dismissively. “And that thing on your neck.”
“I haven’t seen my family in more tha-.”
“I don’t care!” he yelled as he slammed his beer down on the end table.
“You can stay, but I’m going!” Jolene said going towards the door.
She was tired of this. It was either over, or he was going to have to get over himself. The Sergeant’s test was done and now they were just waiting for the results.
Previously she wanted him to get it. Now, she wasn’t sure. If he didn’t get it, her life could get worse. If he did get it, Morgan City might not be as safe.
“The hell you are.” Hank yelled as he grabbed her by her hair and threw her against the far wall. She hit with so much force that the wedding picture crashed to the floor.
Unbeknownst to either of them, when she landed hard, it activated her emergency app on her phone in her back pocket. It automatically called her emergency contact. The line remained open, and the front and back cameras began recording.
Jolene scrambled to her feet but there was no way for her to escape. With a moment of desperation, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and dropped it. She was not sure if the app would do what Bunny said it would. But she prayed to any God that was listening that it would save her.
The phone landed on its side with the way it sat; it currently only saw their feet. The audio recording was also activated and marked each voice on the log.
Hank backhanded her across the face knocking her into the back side of the kitchen cabinets. He reached through the pass-through and grabbed the rag off the faucet. Forcing her mouth open, he shoved the dirty dish rag in.
“When are you going to learn that I own you?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as he pulled the shirt up, covering her face and forcing her to hold her arms above her head. Hank pummeled his fists into her already bruised skin. When she started sobbing around the rag, he tossed her into the living room. Unable to see or brace herself, she fell onto the cheap coffee table that splintered.
There was a horrible sound, and she was not sure if it was the table. Or her.
The excruciating pain radiating from her wrist and knee told her it might have been her. There was also a piercing pain on her side.
Soon, she felt a strange liquid on her skin.
The camera on her phone was recording everything with a clear view of her landing on the ground.
“No one is going to save you.” Hank said as he rolled her over and began wailing on her again. “The cops won’t do anything to me. I am one. I’m untouchable, you fucking bitch.”
The sobbing stopped. She quit struggling. Darkness engulfed her. Tempting her to stay in the dark forever.
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