You Can Run
but
 You Can’t Hide
 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2007 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I opened the front door and was face to face with a drunken jerk. He staggered two steps then grabbed on to the door frame. “Excoose me Lt. Jennings, I’m Calvin Bates. I’ve come to pick up my schoon.”

Chapter 20

His breath was enough to get me drunk. He smelled like a brewery and there was no way I was letting Sonny go with him. “Mr. Bates, have you been drinking?”

He tried to come in but damn near fell on his face. I reached out and held him to keep him from falling. “I’m sorry shur (that’s drunk for sir). Yeah, I’ve had a couple beers.”

It wasn’t 6 yet and he was more than a little plastered. “Sir, in your present condition, I can’t allow you to drive and I’m definitely not allowing a child in then car with you. Where do you live sir?”

“I live on the next street.”

I thought for a moment. I had no reason to keep them apart once he was sober. If there were signs of abuse on Sonny, that would be something different but right now, there was no evidence. “I’ll tell you what. Leave me the keys to your car and you walk home and sober up. You’re in no condition to care for yourself much less a child.”

I was hoping this would buy me some time. I could see him thinking so maybe he would leave without incident. “Alright shur, I’ll come back in a few hours. Just let me know if he gives you any problems. If he does, I’ll straighten his ass out.”

He handed me his keys then staggered down the steps and headed home. I closed the door then went to the staircase. “OK boys, you can come down.”

The boys came down stairs and Sonny came over to me. “Where’s my Dad?”

“I talked him into going home and sobering up. Now, what’s he done to you?”

He wouldn’t look at me then Kevin went over to him. Sonny wouldn’t say a word. “Dad, his Dad has whipped him.”

I knelt down in front of Sonny. “Son, are there marks on your body?”

The tears were falling down his face as he nodded his head. “Yes sir.”

I took the boy into my arms and held him as he cried. “Sonny, where is your Mom?”

He shook his head. “Mom and Dad are divorced. Mom lives here and I see her every other weekend.”

This was hopeful. “Does your Mom know about what’s going on?”

Sonny shook his head. “No sir. My dad said if I ever told her he’d never let me see her again.”

I lifted his chin up. “Sonny, can I look at your body? I need to see if there are marks on you. I promise I’m going to help you.”

He turned around and lifted his shirt. Jamie gasped when he saw it and Sonny quickly pulled his shirt back down. “Sonny, let Pop Lee look. He will help you.”

“Jamie, bring me the digital camera,” I said. “Sonny, I need these pictures as evidence. After I get the photos, I’ll call your Mom.”

Sonny started lifting his shirt. “Promise?”

“I’ll even let you talk to her first.”

Sonny took his shirt off and I was sickened by what I saw. I took pictures of his back then he lowered his trousers and underpants. His butt was worse than his back. I took about 4 photos then had him get dressed. “Jamie, take Sonny to the phone and let him call his mother. Sonny, I’m going to want to talk with her after you’re done.”

Just then, there was another knock on the door. I opened it and there was a man with the boy who got the bloody nose. “Can I help you?”

He brought his son around. “I’m Hank Lefler. Your son broke my boy’s nose.”

I let the man and his boy come in. “Mr. Lefler, did your son tell you exactly what happened?”

“Yeah,” Hank Sr. said. “Your boy hit mine for no good reason.”

I looked at the boy. “Is that what he told you?”

Hank nodded his head. “Tell him son. Tell him what you told me.”

“Your faggot son . .”

Just then Hank slapped his son on the butt. “I’ve told you not to talk like that.”

“Mr. Lefler, this incident was captured on video tape and your son started the whole thing.”

He took his son by the ear. “You’ve lied to me?”

Hank Jr. was in a world of trouble. Mr. Lefler led him out of the house and to his car. “Sir, I’m terribly sorry. I hope your boy is OK.”

I nodded my head then closed the door. I turned around and Sonny was standing there holding the phone. “My Mom wants to talk to you.”

I took the phone from Sonny. “This is Lt. Jennings.”

I waited a second then a woman’s voice spoke. “This is Gloria Flowers, I’m Sonny’s Mother. Is it true what he said? Did my ex husband really hurt him?”

I saw Sonny standing there. “Yes ma’am, I’m afraid so. I’ll need you to come and be with him. Your husband right now is home sleeping off a drunk. He’s made a number of statements about using force to keep Sonny in line. He’s going to need to go to the hospital so he can be seen by a doctor. I’ll let you know now he’s pretty badly bruised. I don’t want you going off on him even though you’re going to want to.”

I could hear her weeping in the background. “God I’ll kill the bastard.”

“No don’t do that ma’am,” I said in a calm voice. “Your son needs you now. Come on over and pick him up. I’m going to call my office and secure a warrant for his arrest.”

I hung up with Ms. Flowers then called and spoke to Capt. Blair. “Damn Lee, you’re with my Division a few hours and you’re already making arrests. I’ll have the warrant in about 30 minutes then you can arrest him. I’ll have 2 other detectives meet you at your house.”

“Sounds good Captain,” I said hoping they’d get the warrant before this jerk showed back up. “You’re going to be sick when you see these photos.”

About 20 minutes later, there was a knock on the door and it was Sonny’s Mom. “Sonny, come down here please.”

I saw 3 pairs of feet slowly coming down the stairs. I walked over and Sonny froze in his tracks. Just then his Mom came into view and he was down like a shot. “Mom!”

Ms. Flowers held her son as he cried on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry baby. I wish you’d told me.”

Sonny managed to get his emotions under control. “I couldn’t Mom. He said he’d kill you if you ever tried to take me away.”

The two were talking for a few minutes and then was yet another knock on the door. Poor Hans was lost until Jamie and Kevin went over to him. “Maybe we should put a revolving door on the house?”

I laughed at his statement as I want to answer the door. “Are you Lt. Jennings?”

I nodded my head. “Come on into the mad house. Do you have the warrant?”

“I’m Det. Daniels sir,” the young man said. “Here’s the warrant.”

We were about ready to go when another person showed up. I knew who this was. “Sonny, take your Mom upstairs to the boys room. Jake, Kevin, I want you to go there too. Don’t come down until I call you.”

Everyone disappeared. The detectives went into the kitchen and I opened the front door. “Hi Lt. Jennings, I apologise for my behavior earlier. Was my son any problem?”

I shook my head. “He was no problem at all. He and the boys got along super.”

“I’m going to bust his ass for taking my camera without my permission,” he said in a rather forceful voice. “Sonny, come now, we’re going home.”

He took a couple steps towards the stairs then the 2 Detectives came out of the kitchen. I had my cuffs out and I reached for his right hand with my right. “Don’t move sir, we have a warrant for your arrest.”

We had him surrounded and cuffed before he really knew what had happened. “What I’m I being charged with?”

I walked to the stairs. “It’s alright guys, you can come down now.”

The boys came downstairs followed by Sonny who went over to his Dad. “What’s this all about son?”

This time, Sonny wasn’t afraid. He pulled his shirt off and turned around. “This is what it’s all about DAD. Do these look pretty? Well Dad, do they?”

Just then Ms. Flowers came down stairs. I quickly got in between her and her ex husband. She didn’t look at Sonny’s bruises. I guess while they were upstairs, he’d already done that. “How could you? He’s just child.”

I saw her draw back as if she was going to hit him but I couldn’t allow that, even if he deserved it. “He needs discipline and the only thing a boy understands is the end of a strap.”

Sonny jumped in at that point. “I need what? I do everything asked of me yet it’s never good enough. I being home all A’s but it’s not good enough. You know something DAD? I HATE YOU!!! I hope you rot in jail. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

The 2 detectives let him out of the house as one of them was reading him his rights. Jamie and Kevin came over to Sonny and wrapped him in a loving hug. Sonny winced a little as Kevin gasped. “I’m sorry man.”

Sonny smiled hugging Kevin. “It’s ok guys. I’m really sorry about earlier. Jamie, I’ll never make you mad dude, you have a mean right.”

Jamie giggled. “I’ll never get mad at you and there’s nothing to forgive. Can you come back over?”

Ms. Flowers heard Jamie’s question as Sonny looked at her. “I don’t see why not but Sonny needs to be checked out and get settled in his new home.”

As sonny and his Mom were leaving, Sonny stopped and came over. “Lt. Jennings, how can I thank you. I was scared to show you what had happened. Jamie and Kevin said I could trust you and I’m really glad I did. Thanks so much. Could I come back over some time?”

He leaned in and gave me a huge hug then went over to Hans. “You feel free to come back any time you want Sonny.”

I saw the boy give Hans a quick peck on the cheek. “I will sir. You’ve all made me feel very welcome here.”

I watched as Gloria and Sonny left the house then drove off. Kevin came over and wanted to be picked up. “Oh Daddy, how could someone do that to him?

Jamie ran over and jumped on Hans’ lap as both boys were crying. “I don’t know son. Only a sick person could ever hurt a child.”

I held my boy until he managed to stop crying. I set him on his feet then took the camera and downloaded the photos to a memory stick. Hans came in and saw the photos. “Oh my god Lee, that bastard really did a number on him.”

I put the memory stick in my pocket then hugged him. “I hope the judge throws the book at him. Love, I know dinner is pretty much ruined and I still have work to do. Why don’t you take the boys out to dinner and I’ll grab something later. I have to go to the hospital then head to the office to fill out my report. I’m going to take my laptop and see if there is a way I can get tied into the Division’s computer so I can do my reports from home if something like this happens again.”

I kissed him then headed upstairs so I could get into a suit. “I had your suit cleaned love and it’s hanging your the closet.”

“Thanks love,” I said as I quickly stripped. “I don’t know how long I’ll be but hopefully I’ll be home by 10.”

I put my pistol on my belt the put my jacket on. Before I could get near the door, both boys were trying to get into my arms. I knelt down and gave each of them a hug and a kiss then left to head over to the hospital.

I walked into the Emergency Room and checked with the nurse in triage as to where Sonny and his mother were. “The boy is in a treatment room and the mother is being talked to by one of the social workers.”

Now what the hell is going on here, I wondered. “Lady, why is a social worker talking to Ms. Flowers?”

The woman looked at me and glared. “Because, I for one, do not believe the boy’s story. I firmly believe he’s protecting her. I’ve seen it time and time again.”

“Have you lost your mind?” I said restraining myself from shouting at her. “The father is under arrest and is being processed into the city jail as we speak.”

“Well you have the wrong person in jail.”

I bit my tongue. “Where is Sonny Bates?”

She looked at me with a scowl on her face. “He’s being examined by a social worker.”

Now I lost it. “A SOCIAL WORKER? Where is the doctor?”

I left the triage area and went into the back looking for Sonny. I didn’t get far when I heard a child crying. “STOP, I’m not taking my clothes off for you. You’re not a doctor.”

I was about to enter when I heard a male’s voice. “Now listed kid, you’ll do what I say or else.”

Just then I heard a loud smack then Sonny screamed. I kicked the door open. “Hold it right there.”

“Get out of here buddy if you know what’s good for you.”

He raised his hand again but I was too far away to jump him so I did the only thing I could do and that was to draw my weapon. “I SAID FREEZE!”

The man looked and saw my gun aimed right at him. “Just who the hell are you?”

“Lt. Jennings, San Antonio Police. Now, step back and put your hands behind your back.”

The man did as he was told then another man came into the room. “Just what the hell is going on in here?”

I cuffed the suspect then looked at the man in the white coat. “Why was this child left unattended? Why was this man allowed to be in here trying to strip him and then assaulting him?”

The doctor looked flustered. “I just found his chart buried.”

“I think you need to have a talk with your triage nurse.”

I happened to see a uniformed officer pass the room so I stuck my head out the door. “You there, come here please.”

The officer turned around and saw my shield. “Yes Lieutenant, what can I do for you?”

“I want you to guard this door. No one but me or this doctor gets in to see this patient.”

“Yes sir.”

I turned around and went over to Sonny. “Where’d he hit you son?”

Sonny was curled up into a tight ball and I couldn’t see much. He sat up and looked at me as the tears were streaming down his face. As soon as I saw him I grabbed him and held him tightly. “He’s a friend of my father’s. So was that nurse we first saw.”

I looked around in the room and found a chemical ice pack. I squeezed the bottom of it the shook the bag, mixing the contents together. I felt it getting cold so I wrapped it in a towel then put it on the red welt. “There is a police officer standing right outside the door. If you need anything at all, call him and he’ll help you. I have a couple of things to do son but I’ll be right back with your mother.”

The doctor and I left the treatment room to go and find these other “people.”

To be continued...

Posted: 05/30/08