Hunting Accident continued

Two weeks later Jess was working the night shift patrolling a remote speed trap. The radio shouted into his dark patrol car waking him from his late night stupor.

"We have a 10-23 in progress, report of domestic assault at 1224 W Hightop Road. Need two units to respond."

"Unit 12 responding to the 10-23. ETA three minutes." Jess could feel himself tensing as he drove. He hated going out on domestic violence calls. As he pulled up to the address a sadistic thought passed through his mind. Owning a green Ford must be a requirement for being a wife beater, Evan owned one too. He could see the other deputy coming up over the hill as he approached the door. The crying of a baby drifted from the house.

He knocked, there was no answer. "Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Ma'am I need you to open the door." Jess glanced at Deputy Anderson who had joined him on the porch.

"Knock one more time and then we're goin' in, that kid is an exigent circumstance."

Jess knocked again, harder this time, but there was still no answer. He eased the knob and Anderson stepped into the house. "Riverside County Sheriffs Department, anyone here?" There was no reply. "You find the kid Jess and I'll start clearing rooms."

Jess found a high-chair in the kitchen tipped on its side with the baby still strapped in. He rushed to the chair and then stopped. The baby was his nephew Brandon. Jess grabbed him and then hurried toward the back of the house. As he stepped into one of the bedrooms his stomach threatened to empty. Andi was lying on the floor motionless, covered in blood, and Evan was passed out on the bed.

"Go call an ambulance Jess."

"Is she ok Anderson?" Jess stood, unable to pull his eyes from Andi's body.

"I don't know, just go call the damn paramedics!"

Jess ran for his patrol car, Brandon still in his arms screaming. "This is Unit 12. Request paramedics to the 10-23, victim unconscious. Also request Child Protection be contacted, infant in the home also possibly injured."

"Ambulance en route, ETA fifteen minutes. I'll get a child protection worker as soon as I can."

Hunting Accident

Jess sat at the kitchen table lacing his boots while Sam fried him some eggs. He could tell there was something on her mind and he was sure it had something to do with Andi.

"How was work last night hun?"

"Not to bad, it was a fairly quiet night."

"Did you and Corri have a good visit yesterday?

Sam brought Jess's eggs to the table and sat down across from him. "Corri and Rance have an idea to save Andi but they need our help."

Jess finished half his breakfast before looking up. "What's the plan they have?"

"A hunting accident, or at least that's what it will look like." Sam shifted in her seat and avoided Jess's gaze. She knew that what they were planning was wrong but she couldn't get passed the thought that Andi's black eyes and bruises would finally stop.

Jess sat, staring at the fridge. "That's a big risk Sam. Not to mention it's illegal and morally wrong. If we got caught Sage and Justin would grow up with out us. It's my job to stop things like this Sam."

"I told Corri it was a bad idea, but somehow, part of me really wanted to do it. My sister's life almost seemed worth taking someone else's."

"It's ok Sam, a part of me sees reason in it too. It's hard to watch Andi suffer. But it's not in me to actually kill, it's not in any of us." Jess stood up and put his hands on Sam's shoulders. "We'll figure something out. I love you hun." Jess put his coat and hat on and walked to the door. "Get some sleep. I'll see you tonight."

Sam walked slowly to the bedroom and slipped out of her scrubs. She laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. She was ashamed that she had even considered Corri's plan, and then again she wasn't.