by P.J. Lowry
remember what I told you the last time this happened?”
“No.” Stephen sobbed. “Please, no!”
“I told you.” Max said as he pulled out a second gun. “The next time this happened, it would be the last time you ever laid a finger on my sister.”
“I won’t do it again.” Stephen begged, “I swear!”
“I know you won’t.” Max said as he raised one of the guns up to eye level. Before Stephen could say another word, Max fired two shots right into his brother-in-law’s chest. He crashed to the ground with a loud thud. The bullets both hit his heart and he was dead in a matter of minutes.
“Max!” a voice called out from the hallway. Martha came out and saw the body on the floor. “What did you do?”
“I freed you.” Max said as he then raised the other gun and fired it at his sister. The bullet tore into her right shoulder, a wound that was not life threatening but would take a few months to recover from. She fell to the floor, stunned.
“Don’t worry.” Max said. “I have to make it look good.” He took the same gun he just shot his sister with and fired two more shots into the wall from an angle to make it look like his brother-in-law fired in his direction.
“What did you do?” his sister repeated.
Max dropped the gun beside Stephen’s body and then took his gloves off. He pulled up the corner of the rug and fired two more shots into the floor. He then put the rug back down, confident forensics would never find it because there were no holes in the rug. He would also now only have one form of gunpowder on his hands thanks to his gloves, which he would dispose of before the police arrived. He walked up to his sister and comforted her. “I told him if he ever did this again I would end him. I’m a man of my word.”
His sister was in the state of shock. “Max… the police.”
“I’ll handle them.” Max said as he pulled out his phone and dialled a familiar number. “Dispatch, this is Officer Maxwell Davis.”
“What can we do for you Officer Davis?” the dispatch replied.
“I have shots fired at 21 pine road.” Max replied.
“We have units already in route.” Dispatch said.
“Please inform them an off duty officer is present and that the scene is secure.” Max continued. “We’re also going to need EMT for two people. One of them is critical.”
“Are you injured, Officer Davis?” Dispatch asked.
“I am not, but I can’t say the same for the homeowner.” Max answered.
“Where is the perpetrator?”
“Homeowner is the perp.” Max answered. “This is a domestic disturbance.”
“Affirmative.”
Moments later there was a loud knocking at the door. Max paused for a moment and then took a deep breath. “The door’s open!”
The door opened and two uniformed officers walked in. Max didn’t want to put them in a bad situation and raised his hands to let them know he wasn’t a threat. “Hey Bob. Denise.” He called as they walked into the room.
“Max?” Bob said as he walked up. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I’d like you to meet my sister, Martha.” Max said as he pointed to the woman sitting against the wall, bleeding. “I got a towel pressed against her arm, but she needs a hospital, asap.”
“We got medic coming.” Bob said as he walked over and took a look at was left of Stephen. “Who did that?”
“I did.” Max replied. “He pulled a gun and shot my sister right in front of me. I asked him to drop his weapon and he tried to shoot me.” Max pointed to the wall where there were two bullet holes. “I didn’t see any other way out, so I shot him.”
Denise was still taking care of his sister as Bob checked Stephen for a pulse. “He’s deader than Dillenger.”
“What a fucking shame.” Max sarcastically replied.
Bob got back to his feet. “Where’s your piece?”
“It’s behind me.” Max said as he put his hands on his head. “Go ahead. I know the drill and I won’t take it personally. You’re doing your job.”
Bob took the piece from Max and then cuffed his hands behind his back. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney…”
Max waited patiently for over an hour before finally Jones came back into the room. He walked over and took the cuffs off his prisoner. “What’s going on?” Max asked. “Is my lawyer or union rep here?”
“No.” Jones asked. “We’ve been talking to the DA and we’ve decided not to press any charges. We spoke to your sister at the hospital and she’s backed your story. Your brother in law was raving mad, beat her and then pulled a gun. Considering your brother-in-law’s long history of being arrested for domestic assault and that you’re an officer with a clean record, we have no reason to think you’re not telling the truth.”
“Thank you.” Max said as he stood up.
“I would have done the same thing if I was in that situation.” Jones replied. “I’m just glad nothing happened to the kids.”
”Me too.” Max said as he shook the detective’s hand. “When can I go see my sister?”
“Just sign a few release forms and you can go now.” Jones replied.
“Thanks for your help.” Max said as he walked to the open door. “When can I get back on the job?”
“We’re giving you a week off with pay.” Jones answered. “Take care of your nephews until your sister gets home.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Max said as he left the room. He nodded to the captain as he walked through to the hallway and strolled over to the booth he passes by all the time. “Hey Jim.”
“Max.” Jim answered from behind the cage. “What can I do for ya?”
“Just need my stuff.” Max said. “I was locked up for a few hours.”
“No, you?” Jim asked.
“No charges.” Max said with a wink. “It was a clean shooting.”
“Always is with you.” Jim said as he retrieved a small bag with all his possessions. “I’m sorry about all this paper work, we’ve had to beef things up for everyone after we lost a few items.”
“Jesus, Jim.” Max said as he signed the few forms. “What the hell did you lose back there?”
“Some evidence from last month’s big drug raid. A good bit of cash and a gun went missing.” Jim answered. “They just upped and vanished and there’s no we’ll ever find it. The bills and the gun are completely clean, untraceable.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Max said as he took his stuff. “I’m sure they’ll turn up.”
Author’s Note:
The story you read is fiction, but domestic violence is real.
It happens everyday.
If you need help, please contact these people for immediate assistance:
The United States:
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233): Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, this line is a resource for safety information and can connect any caller with shelters and protection advocates in her area.
VINE (VineLink.com): Active in 47 states, VineLink.com allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender has been released or transferred, or has escaped.
Women's Law (WomensLaw.org): This site has state-by-state legal information and resources for victims, as well as advice on how to leave an abusive situation, gather evidence of abuse, and prepare for court.
Canada:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Dialing 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) will connect you with an advocate to speak with confidentially at any time, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Or TTY 1−800−787−3224.
The United Kingdom:
To talk to someone in confidence for support, information or an emergency referral to temporary accommodation, contact the free 24 hour National
Domestic V
iolence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Website: www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk/