Law and Author (16 page)

“I'll be there as soon as I can.”

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN—
HALLIE EPHRON

L
izzie could hear her phone ringing as she got out of her car in her driveway. She'd decided to go home for a quick bite to eat before heading to the community center for sorting duties. She also wanted to check with Molly if Darla had said yes to helping out. She made a mad dash into her house and picked it up just before it went to message. She was glad, because Stephanie sounded upset.

“What's wrong?”

“Oh boy. I don't really think I should be calling you about this. I think Darla's going to be really mad at me but I'm so upset by it all and something has to be done.”

“Stephanie, take a deep breath and then tell me what's happened.”

“Darla just called me, all upset and crying. Wade got mad
about something or other and beat her up then drove off. He didn't tell her where he was going or anything.”

“How badly hurt is she? Does she need to go to the hospital?”

“She said no but I think she'd say that regardless of how bad she was. He's got her scared and she's not going to admit to anyone what he does to her.”

“I'll go over and see how she is.”

“Would you, Lizzie? I know she'll be real mad. She might not even let you in. But something's got to be done and if she's really badly hurt and not doing anything about it . . . I can't bear to think about that.”

“You calm down now, Stephanie. I'll leave right away and call you as soon as I know something. Don't you worry about it. You did the right thing phoning me.”

“Okay. Just hurry before he gets back there. And you be careful, you hear?”

Lizzie smiled. “I will.”

She grabbed her car keys then paused, wondering if she should ask Molly to go along. That would really make Darla mad, but it might be the only way to get in and see her. She gave Molly a quick call and explained the situation as she headed for her car.

Molly was ready and waiting when Lizzie pulled into her driveway. She got into the passenger seat and reached out to touch Lizzie's arm. “Do you think it's serious?”

Lizzie could see the worry in Molly's face.

“I don't know but I'm pretty sure it's happened before. I stopped by to see her a couple of days ago and she seemed really cowed by Wade when he appeared.”

“Well, let's hope we can talk some sense into her then and get her to move back to my place.”

Lizzie nodded and steered toward the motel. She didn't see Wade's pickup in the parking lot, much to her relief. She parked in front of the unit and led the way to the door.

After knocking and identifying herself, they waited a couple of minutes. When nothing happened, Molly tried. “Honey, it's Molly and I know you're in there. And I also know what happened. Now, I want you to stop this foolishness and open this door. We're here to help you.”

It took several seconds before they heard the chain being removed and slowly, the door opened.

Lizzie gasped when she saw Darla in tears. Molly reached out and pulled Darla into her arms.

“Oh, honey. This is not right. Not right, at all.” She held her back at arm's length and took a close look. Red welts peeked out from under the short sleeves of her T-shirt. On her left arm it looked like the outline of a hand had wrapped around and squeezed tightly until bruising occurred. A discolored patch peeked out from the neckline, at the base of her throat.

“That man is a brute and his behavior will not be tolerated. Now, you'll be safe with me. You just quickly pack up your things. Lizzie will help you. And we'll get out of here before he comes back.”

“I can't leave him.”

“Don't be silly. You can and you will. You are not something to be batted around. Now, hurry and we'll discuss it all later.” She gave Darla a small shove toward the suitcase on the floor under the window.

Lizzie opened the closet door and pulled out what were obviously Darla's clothes. She didn't bother to fold them but rather stuffed some into the duffel bag she'd seen Darla using at Molly's. When Darla had finished packing her small suitcase, she took a quick look around, nodded to Molly, and they left the room.

Outside, Lizzie scanned the parking lot. No sign of Wade. They piled into her car and Lizzie tore out of there.

No one spoke on the ride back to Molly's. When they were inside, Molly told Darla to take her things upstairs while she made some hot tea. Lizzie followed her out to the kitchen.

“What about Bob? Will you tell him?”

“Oh my, yes. He needs to know this for sure. In fact, I'm going to call him to come over right now. If that Wade shows up here, and I'm certain he'll think this is where she'd come, I want a man present.”

“Why don't I call Mark, also?”

“Hmm. Actually that might be a good idea, honey. But maybe he could just hover outside at first, at least until we get her feeling comfortable and maybe starting to talk about it all. Mark could be a deterrent to Wade, if he appears.”

“Gotcha.” Lizzie went outside to make the call to Mark, not wanting Darla to wander down and hear. Once she'd explained the situation to him, he agreed to come over as soon as he could get away. That done, she went back into the kitchen and caught the tail end of Molly's call to Bob.

“See you shortly, Bob. And don't drive like a maniac. We'll take good care of her.”

Molly put the receiver down and turned to face Lizzie. “Oh my goodness, what situations we get ourselves into. That dear child has had a really rough time of late.”

“I know you're worried about her, Molly, but I think she's pretty resilient. I'm just hoping she'll talk to us.”

They heard some noise on the stairs and got busy getting the tea ready. Molly pointed to the pecan squares she'd taken out of the fridge and Lizzie was slicing them as Darla appeared.

“Now, you just sit down at the banquette, Darla, and we'll have this all ready in just a second. I think we'll stay indoors
to have our tea.” She glanced meaningfully at Lizzie as she put the teacups and pot on a tray.

Lizzie carried the plate of squares to the table and sat down across from Darla. “We want to help you, Darla.”

Darla grabbed a piece and bit off half and chewed it quickly, but seemed to have trouble swallowing. Molly joined them and poured them each a cup of tea before talking.

“Lizzie is right. We're concerned about you, honey. No one should be treated in this way.”

“He loves me.” Darla's voice was devoid of emotion. She finished off the sweet in her hand.

“That's not love and if you think it is, we need to convince you otherwise.”

They heard a car door slam. Lizzie held her breath, wondering which of the men had reached them first. They waited for the doorbell to ring but Bob came rushing around the side of the house, up to the back door. Lizzie jumped up and unlocked it to let him in. He took one look at Darla and his face looked like a thundercloud. Darla actually whimpered. He went to her.

“I'm not mad at you, Darla. I do want to throttle that Wade Morris, though.” He bent over and gave her a hug. “I'm your granddaddy and it's my duty to protect you from such things.”

Darla glanced at Molly, a stricken look on her face.

Molly stood. “Sit down, Bob, and I'll get you some tea. We were just having a talk and you should join in. But calmly.” She put a hand on his arm and he roused himself and sat down next to Darla.

No one said anything until Molly had rejoined them. Bob shot her a look of thanks.

Molly said quietly, “Tell us what happened, honey.”

Darla looked from one to the other but didn't speak. Bob
reached out to touch her hand and she flinched. Lizzie noticed the forlorn look on his face.

After a few minutes, Darla said, her voice soft, “He was mad when he came home. He'd gone out early to meet someone in town, and I guess it went wrong because when I asked, he told me to keep quiet. I should have. I know he has a bad temper but I'd been cooped up all morning. He'd told me not to go anywhere, so I demanded to know what was going on. That's when he started punching me.” She started crying. “But he loves me. I know he does. He's just got a bad temper.”

Bob stood abruptly and started pacing. Molly glanced quickly at him, then back at Darla. “It doesn't matter why someone does something like this, Darla. It's not allowed. And, I'm sorry to say, but if he did love you, he'd find some other way to deal with his temper.”

“It's criminal action, that's what it is,” Bob spat out.

“No,” Darla almost shouted. “Don't tell the cops. I won't tell them what I told you. You can't make me. I don't want him to go to jail.”

“Shh, shh. It's all right, Darla. That's not going to happen.” Molly took hold of both her hands and waited until Darla looked at her. “But if you want us to not report him you have to do something for me.”

“What?”

“You have to stay here and keep away from Wade while you're living under my roof. Is that understood?”

“Wade won't like it. I'll have to explain it to him.”

“No, you won't,” Bob said. “I'll tell him. And Molly's right. You are not to be alone with him while you're here in town. I'd love to be able to say you have to stay away from him in Atlanta, too, but I guess I don't have any right. I'll bet your mama knew though, didn't she? You said she didn't like him.”

Darla nodded and sniffed. “She told me not to see him again. So I left town. That's when I came here.”

Someone started pounding on the front door. “I'll bet I know who that is,” Bob said, and headed toward it. Darla was right behind him. “You better stay in the kitchen,” he told her.

“No. It's Wade. I gotta see him.”

Lizzie and Molly followed close behind. Lizzie looked through the side window, searching for Mark's Jeep, as Bob opened the door.

“I know Darla's in there and I want her to come with me. Now,” Wade bellowed.

Bob blocked the door. “Darla is indeed here and she's not going nowhere with you, young man. Do you know how badly you beat her? You're lucky you're not locked up behind bars right now.”

Darla whimpered.

“I hear you, baby,” Wade said, his voice a bit softer. He tried to peer around Bob. “Look, I never meant to hurt you. I love you and I want you to come with me.”

“No,” Bob spoke before Darla could say anything. “It doesn't matter what you say now. You beat her and there aren't any more chances where I come from.”

“Look, old man, you're nothing in her life. You've never been there for her. You've got no right to stop me from seeing her.”

Bob bristled. “I am her granddaddy even if I've not been around when she was growing up. And you, punk, better leave right now before I throw you off the property.”

“Oh yeah? You and who else. A house full of women? Nobody takes care of Darla like me. Not that grandmamma of hers, not since her old man died. She didn't even give Darla the money she's needing. And her mama don't care. So it's just me and her. Now, get out of my way.”

Bob didn't notice the arm that shot out and pushed him backward, until he stumbled and almost went down. Wade leaned in and grabbed Darla's arm.

“Hold it right there!” Molly stepped out from behind the door, holding one of her dead husband's antique revolvers in her hands. She had it pointed straight at Wade, although Lizzie noticed her hands shaking a little.

“Molly's a crack shot so I would do as she says,” Lizzie said, stepping in front of Bob before he could rush out at Wade.

Wade hesitated a moment. “That's just an old thing. Bet it won't even fire.”

“That could be a dangerous bet,” Molly said evenly.

Wade looked from Molly to Darla. “I'm leaving now but you'd better give it a lot of thought, Darla. I came here to help you and I'm not leaving town without you.”

“Go,” Molly said, her voice low and threatening.

Wade backed away and then turned and stomped back to his pickup. He glared at them as he backed up and drove off.

Molly's hands were shaking so badly at this point that Bob eased the gun out of her hand. “What in tarnation were you doing, woman?”

“I was using persuasion.”

Bob checked the gun. “It's not even loaded.”

“Of course not. But it had been the weapon of choice before when Frank Telford was killed outside here, so I thought it might do the trick.”

Darla burst into tears and ran up the stairs to her room. They heard the door slam.

“Oh boy,” Bob said.

“Amen.”

Lizzie peered out the door, wondering where Mark could be.

*   *   *

H
e arrived twenty minutes later. The three of them were sitting out on the back patio. Molly and Lizzie sipped red wine while Bob was on his second beer.