Damon by Kathi S. Barton Page B

several days by then. I didn’t have the money to get it fixed yet and the owner of the shop was letting me make him payments. He’d work on it until the money ran out then I’d pay him more. When I mentioned this to the officer, he took back the ticket and changed the date to the previous week. This went on for several days. I went to the police station and was advised by the guy at the desk to just give Anthony what he w anted. It was easier that way. I should have run then. Four days later, he kidnapped Connor and told me that I was to pack my stuff and move in with him or he’d kill my son. I tried to get help from the police and they si mply turned their backs on me. I moved in. When he left for work two days later, that was the first time we ran.”
    “How many tim es have you left him, Charlie? I’m assuming that this isn’t the second time, is it? And how far did you get?” Cait asked before Damon could.
    “Not far the first time. We got as far as the bus station. H e’d only slapped me that time. Then at night, or when he went to work, he’d tie me to the wall. Connor would be close enough for me to care for, but little else. He hated Conn or right from the beginning. The second time we got on the bus a nd I paid dearly for that one. The third and fourth times, we ne arly made it across the state. The beatings got progressively worse with each failure until he started threatening to hurt Co nnor. When I figured that out, we got away for ten days.”
    “That’s when I met Anthony,” Dane interrupted here. “He was the man I told you all about tha t Markus had kidnapped me for. Markus was terrified of Anthony and he wanted me to find this woman. When Cait brought me the clothing to read, I felt the same signature on them that had been from where he h ad touched me in the basement. I didn’t help him then and wouldn’t have ei ther, but I can track him now. He’s insane to say the least and…well, Charlie isn’t the f irst woman he’s done this too. I don’t know what happened to them, but I have the feeling that they didn’t ‘m easure up’ and he killed them. He feels that he is doing the world a favor by ridding it of the weaker sex. By eliminating them, he is going to breed a stronger male populatio n that will be just like him.”
    Dane moved to sit on James’ lap as she spoke. When Jamie started rubbing her be lly, Damon watched Dane relax. It was a birthing technique and he was glad to see that his baby brother was paying attention in class. Then he realized what was being said.
    “Wait! You all knew about this? You all knew that this man was coming here and you never told any of us?” He started to move toward Charlie and Connor was suddenly there.
    “You stay back . Y ou stay away f rom my momma or I’ll hurt you. I won’t let you hurt her.”
    Damon took a step back. “I woul dn’t hurt your mother, Connor. This is between her and me. Please l et the adults talk about this . Y ou need to—”
    He was suddenly on the floor, the coffee table lying on his lap. He didn’t move. He had seen Connor drop his shoulder and charge him, but he didn’t think Conn or would be able to budge him. He’d underestimated the kid in both his strength and his anger.
    “Connor Joshua Kirkpa trick! You will te ll him you’re sorry right now. We do not use violence to get what we want . Y ou’ll—”
    “It’s all right Charlie. This is between him and me. Connor, I’d like a word with you, please. In private.”
    Hi s brother Jamie helped him up. None of them said anything, though Damon noticed that Nicky was pissed. He wasn’t sure if it was directed at him or Connor , but he would stay out of it. Damon looked down at Connor who stood looking for all the world l ike he was going to the chair. Damon pointed to where Jam ie had told him the study was. Connor led the way. When Charlie started to follow, Damon stopped her.
    “We’ll be fine. This is between us. He’ll be fine with me.” He