Page 73 of Protected By West
Getting a woman and kid out of trouble?
It wasn't something she had a lot of experience with.
She liked the idea of it, but she'd like it better after it was over.
She needed to find out if Jenner was in the back or behind Carly. But she couldn't just ask about it.
"Oh!" She snapped her fingers. "She said you could ask your man for it. She doesn't care how it comes from as long as she gets it."
Jack put her hand on the door above Carly's and put some pressure on it.
She wanted to see the reaction.
Carly's eyes darted toward the back of the house. "You've got to go. Just walk away. This... this isn't the time."
Jack had heard that kind of desperation before. She'd heard it in her work with domestic violence victims. It's the sound a soul makes when it's cornered.
She knew that she might regret the next few moments, but her instinct was telling her that this was a chance worth taking.
Reaching down into her pocket, Jack saw the other woman flinch.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
"Damn it." She heard the voice in her com but didn't recognize it.
"Look down," then she watched as Carly lowered her eyes. Jack pulled out her badge from her pocket. "We're here to help."
The look in Carly's eyes when she raised her eyes was a mix of hope and abject fear.
"He has my son in the bedroom with him."
Jack nodded but leaned to the side to raise her voice. "Look, Carly... just come with me. Explain it to Darlene! I'm sure we can straighten it out."
"What are you doing?" Carly grabbed her arm.
Jack dropped her chin and whispered back. "Getting you and your boy out of here. Just follow what I'm telling you."
"Look, honey. Darlene's drunk, she probably forgot you paid her. Why don't you grab your kid and come with me. We'll straighten it out and then we'll get something to eat."
Carly's grip on her arm tightened noticeably. "I dunno." Her voice was cracking, her eyes wide with fear. "My man's in the room trying to sleep."
"Well, look, girl. If we don't go and see her- Hell! She's likely to call the cops! You know how she is about money!"
Carly let go of her hand and Jack didn't rub her arm to take away the sting.
"Come on, babes! Let's go!"
Carly nodded, but leaned in. "Why did you talk about-"
"Cops?"
Carly nodded.
"I want him to let you go, talking about cops-"
Carly nodded, an almost desperate shake of her head.
"Yeah." Again, she spoke at the same volume that Jack had. "I better go with you."
