Breathless

Chapter Two

11:10PM

Craig woke up and noticed that his wife's side of the bed was empty. Sighing he got up, deciding to see what she was up to. Walking past Justin's room, he could make out his son lying on the bed. He could hear a faint moan of pain.

'Next time, he'll do what he's told,' Craig thought as he walked down the stairs.

Seeing his wife sitting on the couch, wringing her hands in nervousness, he knew that something wasn't right. "What are you doing up, Jennifer?" he demanded.

Jennifer had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't heard her husband enter the living room. Hearing his voice caused her to jump in surprise. "I'm uh..."

"Out with it, woman!"

Swallowing in fear, Jennifer stood up and walked to the other side of the room. After a minute, she said, "I called an ambulance, Craig."

"An ambulance? Why?"

"Be...Because Justin needs he-help!"

Craig's eyes darkened in anger as he advanced towards his wife. "*Justin* is just fine! He doesn't need an ambulance. He needs to learn not to DISOBEY ME!" Jennifer looked at her husband in shock. She had been so oblivious for so long and Justin had paid the price. If only she'd had the guts to get them both out of the situation! Then, there was Molly...

Giving her head a slight shake, she refused to let her mind go there. "He's in pain, Craig. His cuts lo-look like they're getting inf-infected!"

Craig had reached her and raised his hand. He was just about to bring his hand down to slap Jennifer when the doorbell rang. Craig growled in fury. He couldn't believe that his wife had called an ambulance. What were the neighbors going to think?! Swinging the door open, Craig tried to act nonchalant.

"We got a call about a boy needing help at this address," said the black-haired male EMT.

Craig shook his head. "No. There was a mistake...."

Before Craig could say anything else, Jennifer butted in. "That's not true. Justin needs help. He's in his room!" Craig clenched his jaw in anger and advanced on Jennifer.

"BITCH!" he roared. He started to hit Jennifer when his arm was grabbed in an iron grip by the male EMT.

"Julie, radio in for the police, then go check on the boy." Julie nodded. After putting in a call for the police, she followed Jennifer up the stairs while her partner stayed with the irate husband.

When Julie reached the boy's room, she flipped on the light switch and had to hold in a gasp that wanted out. The boy's back was covered in cuts. She could tell that they had been made by some kind of whipping object... most likely a belt. Some of the cuts were short and thin, some were long and deep. His back was also covered in blood. Julie knew that the young boy had to be in tremendous pain.

As she swiftly moved towards the boy, she asked, "What happened?"

Deciding to quit covering up for the monster that she was married to, Jennifer answered. "My husband. He... lost his temper."

Julie couldn't hold in her snort. Lost his temper indeed! And, she'd bet good money that it wasn't the first time.

A few minutes later, the male EMT entered the room along with a male police officer. She could see the eyes of both men darken in anger. "I'll go get the stretcher," her partner Don said. She just nodded as she cleaned the blood off of Justin as best she could.

Looking at Jennifer, she said, "We'll need to take him to the hospital. Some of these cuts are deep." Jennifer silently nodded, her eyes filled with tears. What had she let happen?!

The police office introduced himself. "I'm Officer Finlay, Mrs. Taylor. My partner, Officer Donley, has your husband in the back of the squad car. Is he the one that did this to your son?" When Jennifer nodded, he continued, "We'll have to take him down to the station for abuse against a minor. Would you like to charge him with attempted assault against you?" Jennifer knew that the officer was referring to when Craig had tried to hit her in front of the EMTs.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered, "Yes."

By eleven thirty-five, Craig was on his way to jail and an unconscious Justin was on his way to the hospital. Jennifer had been terrified when Justin had passed out, but Jukie had explained to her that it was because of the pain. Justin had lasted as long as he could, then his body couldn't take the pain anymore. As the ambulance sped toward the hospital, Jennifer couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen to her family.

AT THE HOSPITAL

"Mrs. Taylor?" a woman questioned.

Jennifer looked up and saw a woman dressed in a suit with two police officers beside her. "Yes?"

Sticking her hand out, the woman introduced herself. "I'm Elizabeth Abrams. I'm with Child Protective Services." Jennifer shook the woman's hand and stood up. The woman continued. "The hospital called, as is routine with these cases. Your husband beat your son so severely that you called 911, correct?"

Jennifer nodded, tears in her eyes. "How long has this been going on?" Elizabeth asked.

"For years. Craig first st-started hurting Justin when he was th-three. He said that he was punishing Justin. It started out with open-ha-handed slaps to the face. Then it started getting worse. To-tonight Craig beat Justin with a... belt. Justin was in so much pain, I decided that I had to do something."

Elizabeth nodded. "Have you ever tried to help Justin before now? Have you ever tried to get away from Mister Taylor?"

"No," Jennifer sobbed. "You have to understand... Craig has beat me, too. He threatened to kill me if I ever left. As it is, he's probably going to when he's let out of ja-jail!"

"We won't let that happen, Mrs. Taylor," said one of the officers. Jennifer just nodded as she wiped the tears that were streaming down her face.

"Mrs. Taylor. I'm going to have to take Justin into Child Protective Services when he's released. He'll be removed from the home. Do you understand?" Jennifer nodded. "We'll need all of his medical history, his social security card, and his birth certificate."

Jennifer sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. "What is the matter? Are you alright?" Elizabeth asked her.

Jennifer sighed and nodded. 'I'd better tell them. It'll be better than if they find out on their own,' Jennifer silently thought.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke. "Mrs. Abrams, Justin isn't our...biological son." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, waiting for Jennifer to continue. "Our daughter... Molly... had him."

Elizabeth Abrams looked at Jennifer and asked, "Would you care to explain?"

Jennifer sighed. "Molly, Craig's and my daughter, got pregnant and had Justin when she was fifteen. Craig didn't take it well and kicked her
out after Justin was born. I have n-no idea where she is...

"We never officially adopted Justin but we've always told him that we're his parents. But on his birth certificate, Molly is listed as his mother. The father is unknown. Molly would never tell us who he was. Craig got a lawyer and had papers drawn up and Molly signed them, giving us custody of Justin. I figured you should know now."

Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you for telling me. We will have to try and contact Molly, of course. Right now, these officers will escort you back to the house and you will collect some clothes for Justin. Alright?"

Jennifer nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. She knew that she had nobody but herself and Craig to blame for losing Justin. Craig for being an
abusive bastard and herself for not doing anything sooner. She knew that she would never be able to forgive herself or Craig. She just hoped that one day Justin would be able to forgive her.

As she walked away, with Officers Dandy and Hill, Elizabeth spoke into her cell phone. "Harland, I need a favor." Harland Smith was a police officer who moonlighted as a private detective. "I need you to do a search for a Molly Taylor." She gave him all of the information that she had on Molly and hung up.

AN HOUR LATER

Elizabeth was still waiting to be told that Justin had regained consciousness. The doctor had had to give him some strong pain medication and he was asleep. She felt sorry for the boy and hoped that things would work out for him. But from experience, she knew that it would be hard for him.

Hearing her cell ringing, she answered it. "Hello? You found her? Harland you are a life saver and so quick! Thanks." With a smile, she hung up and looked at the number and address that her friend had given her for Molly.

Looking at her watch, she saw that it was late. One in the morning. Deciding to go ahead and call, she dialed the phone number.

After a couple of rings, the phone was answered by a groggy sounding female. "Hello?"

"Is this Molly Taylor?" Elizabeth asked.

"Um, yes. Who's this?"

"Hello Miss Taylor. I'm sorry for calling you so late." Taking a breath, Elizabeth got down to business. "I'm Elizabeth Abrams from Child Protective Services. I'm at Allegheny Hospital with a Justin Taylor." She heard a breath sucked in.

"Is he alright?!" Molly demanded.

"I would prefer that you come down here and I will explain everything. Can you make it down here right now?"

"Yes. I'll be there as soon as I can!" With that, the phone went dead.

Elizabeth hung up and sat down in a chair, waiting for Justin's doctor and for Molly Taylor to arrive.
 

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