I got him. Thanks for the save. I didnt realize the cuff wasnt completely closed around his fat wrist, and I ended up with an elbow in my face. Derek pulled the man to his feet, his bruised ego making him a little rough as he shoved Bismarck toward the front door. Forget the coat. Now we can add assaulting a police officer to your charges. Come on, you lousy son of a...
The door banged shut as Derek muscled Bismarck outside. Gina inhaled several deep breaths, cooling her own adrenaline rush. She watched from the foyer until she saw her partner open the cruiser and unceremoniously dump the perp into the backseat. Only after Derek had closed the door and turned to lean his hip against the fender did she breathe a sigh of relief. The situation was finally secure.
When he pulled out a cigarette and started to light it, Gina muttered a curse beneath her breath. She immediately thumbed the radio clipped to the shoulder of her uniform. Derek, she chided, wanting to warn him it was too soon to let down his guard. Call the sit-rep in to Dispatch, and tell them well be bringing in the suspect. Ill finish getting the victims statement.
Chill, G. Let a man catch his breath. He lit the cigarette and exhaled a puff before answering. Roger that.
Gina shook her head. She supposed that losing control of the perp had not only dinged his ego but also rattled him. Maybe she should have a low-key chat with her partner. Aiming for fifth place wasnt going to get the job done. If he didnt light a fire under his butt and start showing all the ways he could excel at being a cop, Captain Cutler might cut him from the SWAT candidate list altogether.
But she had more pressing responsibilities to attend to right now than to play the bossy big sister role with her partner and nudge Derek toward success. After softly closing the front door on the cold and the visual of Gordon Bismarck spewing vitriol in the backseat of the cruiser while Derek smacked the window and warned him to be quiet, Gina pulled out her phone again and returned to the kitchen. She found Vicki making a token effort to clean up some of the mess.
Is he gone? the woman asked in a tired voice. Although the tears had stopped, her eyes were an unnaturally bright shade of green from all her crying.
Hes locked in the back of the police cruiser, and I sent his friends away. He wont get to you again. Not today. Not while Im here.
Thank you. Vicki dropped a broken plate into the trash. And Dereks okay?
Derek?
Officer Johnson. A blush tinted Vickis pale cheeks. I thought maybe Gordy thought...having another man in the house... She shrugged off the rambling explanation. I remember you two from the last time you were here. So does Gordy.
Im sure Officer Johnson will be fine. May I? Gina held up her phone and, at Vickis nod, snapped a couple of photos of the womans injuries and sent them to her computer at work. Ill need them to file my report.
What if I refuse to press charges? Vicki asked. Gordys friends might come back, even if hes not here. Dennys his big brother. He looks out for him.
Reminding herself that she hadnt lived Vicki Bismarcks life, and that the other woman probably had had the skills and confidence to cope with a situation like this beaten and terrorized out of her by now, Gina took a towel and filled it with some ice from the freezer. I still have to take Mr. Bismarck in because he resisted arrest and assaulted an officer. And hes clearly violated his restraining order. She pressed the ice pack to Vickis elbow and nodded toward the abrasion on her cheek. You should get those injuries checked out by a doctor. Would you like me to call an ambulance?
Vicki shook her head. I cant afford that.
How about I call another officer to take you to the ER? Or I can come back once we get your husband processed.
No. No more cops, please. Vicki sank into a chair and rested her elbow on the table. It just makes Gordy mad.
What set him off this time? Not that it mattered. Violence like this was never acceptable. But if Gina could get the victim talking, she might get some useful information to help get the repeat offender off the street and out of his wifes life. I could smell the alcohol on him.
Hes been sleeping at Dennys house. Gina pulled out her notepad and jotted the name and information. Gordys been out of work for a while. Got laid off at the fertilizer plant. And I havent been working long enough to get paid yet. I asked him if hed picked up his unemployment check. He said hed help me with groceries.
And that set him off?
He doesnt like to talk about money. But no, as soon as I opened the door, he started yelling at me. Denny had said he saw me talking to another man. Vicki shrugged, then winced at the movement. I just started a job at the convenience store a couple blocks from here. Guys come in, you know. I have to talk to them when I ring them up. I guess Denny told Gordy I was flirting.
Gina bit back her opinion of Gordys obsession and maintained a cool facade. When was the last time you ate? If the woman needed money for groceries, Gina guessed it had been a while. She unzipped another pocket in her vest and pulled out an energy bar, pushing it into the womans hand. Here. She pulled out a business card for the local womens shelter as well, and handed it to Vicky. You get hungry again, you go here, not to Gordy. Theyll help you get groceries at the food pantry. Mention my name and theyll even sneak you an extra chocolate bar.
Finally, that coaxed a smile from the frightened woman. I havent eaten real chocolate in months. Sounds heavenly.
After getting a few more details about Vickis relationship with Gordon and her injuries, Gina wrapped up the interview. You need to be checked out by a doctor, she reiterated. Sooner rather than later. Do you have a friend who can take you to the hospital or your regular doctor?
I can call my sister. She keeps nagging me to move in with her and her husband.
Good. Gina handed Vicki her phone. Why dont you go ahead and do that while Im here?
Vicki hesitated. Will Gordy be back when I get home?
I can keep him locked up for up to forty-eight hourslonger if he doesnt make bail. Gina had a feeling Vickis husband would be locked up for considerably longer than that but didnt want to guarantee anything she couldnt back up. We can send a car through the neighborhood periodically to watch if his brother and friends come back. See a doctor. Go to your sisters, and get a good nights sleep. Call the shelter, and get the help you need.
Thank you. Vicki punched in her sisters phone number and smiled again. That was sweet to see you take Gordy downand you arent any bigger than I am. Maybe I should learn some of those moves.
Gina smiled back and pulled out her own business card. Its all about attitude. Here. Call me when youre feeling up to it. A few other officers and I teach free self-defense training sessions.
Although Vicki didnt look entirely convinced that she could learn to stand up for herself, at least she had made arrangements with her sister and brother-in-law to stay with them for a few nights by the time Gina was closing the front door behind her and heading down the front walk toward the street. What passed for sunshine on the wintry day was fading behind the evening clouds that rolled across the sky and promised another dusting of snow. Despite the layers of the sweater, flak vest and long-sleeved uniform she wore, Gina shivered at the prospect of spring feeling so far out of reach.