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Lance’s eyes got round and he looked shaken. It made me wonder what he had been doing that he didn’t want Smoke to see. Was he doing something he shouldn’t have done? Or maybe sneaking in women? It was hard to tell. More likely he was loafing when he should be working and he was afraid it was on tape.
It was kind of anticlimactic to wait for the officers to come. Dan just sat there mumbling and staring off into space. He must be coming down off whatever shit he was on. When the squad car came driving up, I was wondering if they’d take him to jail or to the hospital. I was hoping they’d take him in for a psychiatric evaluation. If he was deemed a threat to himself or others, they could legally hold him for up to seventy-two hours to evaluate him.
The two sheriffs who got out were ones I knew well. They were Sheriff Jenkins and one of his deputies, Michaelson. Since the compound was outside the town limits, the sheriff’s office had jurisdiction. I walked over to meet them. They shook my hand.
“What the hell do we have here, Jake?” Jenkins asked as he eyed Dan.
I quickly explained the history and his restraining order then told them what had happened today. I also told them I thought he should go to the hospital to be drug tested and evaluated.
“He looks awfully calm right now,” Michaelson said.
“Yeah, but you should’ve seen him earlier,” I told them. As I was talking, Smoke came up and handed off a thumb drive to Jenkins.
“That’s a copy of our security tape. I recorded the whole thing. His ex-wife is in the clubhouse scared. Thank God his kids weren’t here,” Smoke added.
“We’ll need to speak to her. Do you think she’ll come down here or we can go see her there?” Jenkins asked.
I hated having her have to go through anymore, but I knew they had to do their job. I glanced around and spotted Lance. “Go get Tonya and tell her the sheriff needs to speak to her, please.”
“Sure thing, Law. I’ll be right back.” He took off.
“Law? Since when are you a part of the Warriors?” Michaelson asked with a curious look on his face as he checked out my prospect cut.
“I’ve been prospecting for nine months. Terror and the guys have been friends for a while and they finally convinced me to do it.”
“And your chief of police is alright with it? I would think he’d have a problem,” Jenkins said.
“The club is a riding club. They have businesses all over town. They don’t do illegal stuff like one-percenter clubs do. There’s nothing the chief can object to,” I assured them.
By the expressions on their faces, they didn’t seem convinced, but they let it go. I saw Tonya coming with Lance. Even at this distance I could tell she was nervous. I went to meet her and tucked her under my shoulder.
“Baby, there’s nothing to worry about. Sheriff Jenkins just needs you to tell him what you witnessed. They’ll be taking Dan in. Hopefully, he’ll go to the hospital to get checked out and helped.”
“I hope so. He’s not the Dan I know,” she said softly.
We were so focused on getting her to make her statement, none of us thought what the sight of her would do to Dan. In an instant, the docile, mumbling man became a raving lunatic. He jerked away from Michaelson and came charging at us. He was screaming obscenities and threats at her. She shrank behind me.
“You fucking whore, you called the cops! You wait until I get a hold of you. You can’t keep my kids from me. I’m their father. You can hide but it won’t do you any good. You’ll come back to me or else. If I can’t have you, then no one will.”
He lunged for her. That was it. I wasn’t taking any more of his shit or having him terrify her more. I grabbed him mid lunge by the neck and took him to the ground. I pressed my knee into his chest and kept my grip on his throat. I didn’t choke him out, but if he kept it up, I would.
“You will calm the hell down and get up. We’re going to the cruiser and you’re getting in. Do you hear me, Dan? Don’t make me rip your fucking throat out.” I whispered the last part so the cops couldn’t hear me.
He must have seen I was serious because he quieted down. I eased up and let them get him to his feet and into the cruiser. Once he was secured, they came back to speak to Tonya. She filled them in on the call and then his subsequent arrival at the compound. I was furious to hear what he’d said to her both times. Finally, they had enough and assured us they’d take him to the hospital to be evaluated. From there, they’d decide if it was jail or somewhere else.
We all watched as they drove off. As soon as they were out of sight, Tonya burst into tears. I knew she’d hate the others witnessing her breakdown, so I gathered her to me and nodded to the guys before I led her back to the house. I had a woman to calm down and reassure. Also, I had some calls to make. I wasn’t without influence. I’d see if I could get his ass sent somewhere for treatment. If they just put him in jail, he’d be unlikely to get clean. You could easily get drugs in jail. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. I took her straight to our bedroom and made her lie down. She buried her head in the pillow and sobbed. I lay down beside her and rubbed her back.
“Baby, you have to stop crying before you make yourself sick. I promise. I will do everything I can to get Dan help. You’re right. He is on something and it’s making him act this way. I don’t know how long he’s been using, but they’ll check him out at the hospital.”
“I hate to see him like that. I don’t love him anymore, but he is the kids’ father. They should be able to have a relationship with him even if we’re not together. However, as crazy and ugly as he is, I don’t see how that can ever happen.”
“He can’t right now, but don’t give up hope that he can in the future. If he gets clean and works at staying like that, then he can. It’s up to him, not you. All you can do is let them handle him. Teagan and Janessa used to work at the hospital. They know a lot of the docs there. Regan worked the psychiatric floor before they opened the clinic. I’ll get her to call and talk to the doc in charge over there. We’ll get them to do what they can to help. They might not be able to hold him for long, but there’s a chance. Sending him straight to jail won’t do him any good.”
She rolled over and wrapped her arms around my neck. She kissed me. I was more than eager to kiss her back. When she broke away, she gave me a watery smile.
“Thank you, Jake. Thank you for understanding and trying to help. I know you don’t like him and I don’t blame you. I just need to know that I did everything I could to help. I owe him that much for the kids’ sake.”
“I know and that’s why I’m doing it. What I need is for you to remain as calm as you can and to get yourself back together before the kids come home. We don’t want to scare or worry them, do we?” She emphatically shook her head no. Taking her back in my arms, I let her head rest on my chest as she worked to calm herself. As soon as she was, I’d call Regan.
