#3 The Red, White and Chicago Blue

Chapter 18 "Witness Protection"

After Molly's that night, after much resistance, Hannah went to her father's house.

"Dad, why do I have to stay here? I'm pretty sure I'm a grown adult."

"I'm not telling you again. You know why you're here."

"So I can't go over my own boyfriend's house?"

"It's late and I set a curfew for you. You're not allowed out of the house after ten."

"I'm a grown woman and I can do what ever I want!"

"Hannah, don't you dare walk out that door."

"Try and stop me." She placed her hand on the door.

"Get over here right now."

"No."

"If you walk out that door, you're losing your job. I can fire you in a split second."

"I was just going out to check the mail. Calm down old man."

"Fine. But if you don't come back in that door within thirty seconds, you're in trouble."

She rolled her eyes and then walked down the driveway. A piece of paper was sticking outside of it and she opened it up.

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day." It read.

She bit her lip when she found a letter addressed to her mother. When she made sure no one was looking, she ripped it open.

"He's gone and in jail. It's safe."

The note was ripped up into tiny pieces and she threw them back into the mailbox.

"That was more than thirty seconds." He said when he saw her coming in the door.

"There was a letter for me and I looked at it. Alright? That was it."

Noise could be heard on the stairs and they both looked up to see Ashley. It looked like she had been up all night and her hair was a mess.

"Hey kid, want something to eat? You didn't come down for dinner."

She shook her head no and then walked into the kitchen. Hannah followed her.

"Come on Ashley. I haven't heard you say more than two words since mom died."

Ashley ignored her and went on starting the dishes.

"I'm done with the silent treatment. I'm your sister and I'm only trying to help you."

She slammed the dish down that she was holding, nearly shattering it. "You wanna know why I haven't talked?"

"Yeah, that's something I'd like to know."

"Mom was going to help me fill out forms so I could get into the academy. When she died, I dropped that and decided to keep living at home with dad. I couldn't just up and leave him after that."

"So what? You're saying dad is dragging you down? Like he's holding you back?"

"I just felt no purpose continuing down that path. He's had enough heartbreak in his life. My question is are you and Brayden crazy? You know how dangerous that job is and you know what could happen."

"We've wanted to go into that field since before you were born. Yeah we know the risks and yes, we know it's dangerous. But helping people is what we know best. Mom and dad put us down that path when we were little. I've been shot and look, I'm still here. I'm standing right in front of you."

"What if Jamie hadn't been there? What if no one had been keeping watch on that house?"

"Ashley, you can try scaring me all you want. Nothing is going to get me to leave this job."