A Jury of One

Prologue

Knock. Knock. Knock. Three sharp raps on the wooden door. "Yes, come in." A woman peeked her head into his office. "Dr. Franco, Anna is here to see you. She says it's an emergency." Dr. Franco stood up from the grand leather swivel chair behind his desk. "Mary, send her right in. I've just got to find - ah, here it is," Dr. Franco mused to his secretary. He rummaged through a large stack of papers on his desk before finding the one that he was looking for. A few long strides took the dark-haired doctor across the room to a plush couch and chair.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Dr. Franco?" A nervous female voice called out. "Yes, Anna, come in," Dr. Franco said. A small, young woman whose coat and scarf were askew stepped lightly into his office. It looked as if Anna had left the house in a rush. Dr. Franco gestured to the couch comfortingly. "So tell me Anna, what brings you here today?" He flipped to a clean page in his notebook. "He.....he caught me packing my bags. And then he got really mad. He said that no one could ever love me like he does.....and...he snapped. He hit me hard, Dr. Franco. John beat me." She pulled off her jacket and scarf to reveal tons of bruises, all down her arms. There were small choke marks on her neck. Dr. Franco felt his heart drop. "And then, he, he....did it again. He violated me, and then locked me in my room, but I still had my bag and I climbed out the window. And I took his car and I think he's going to kill me if he finds out where I've gone, and I'm scared." Dr. Franco madly scribbled in his notepad, then looked up.

"Anna," his deep, rumbling voice intoned, "you can stay here at the clinic. This is a safe haven. John cannot get you here. I will arrange for some more permanent settlements but in the meantime you are welcome to stay here. Just go see Mary and she will get you set up." Anna trembled with relief. "Thank you very much, Dr. Franco. I didn't think I could ever get out but now here I am. Thank you." The petite brunette was on the verge of tears. Dr. Franco showed Anna out of his office and gently closed the door behind her.

His whole, muscular body shook with rage. That bastard had violated Anna again. Mathias Franco pulled out all the notes he had on Anna and her story. He remembered the first time that she had made an appointment here at the Center for the Help of Abused Persons. Anna had come in, trembling and scared out of her mind. Mathias had asked her what brought her in today, the same as he does every time. But all she did was sit there and shake. So he asked her what her favorite color was, and what was the season she enjoyed the most and to describe her classes in college. Gradually, she opened up to him. She said that his name was John, and then ran out crying.

Dr. Franco saw her again next week, and the week after. She came when she had time in between classes and when John was out working or doing something with his friends. He learned that John was her abusive boyfriend of 4 years. Everyone thought that he was an angel, but he treated Anna horribly. He frequently would take whatever he wanted of Anna's, including the most intimate of things. He hit her and verbally abused her, saying that she was worth nothing and that she would never find a man who would love her. It took all she had to come to the Center, and she wanted out.

Mathias remembered all the times that Anna had come crying into the center, and all the times that he had comforted and guided her. And today, when he saw Anna again, who had finally gotten out, when he saw the fear in her eyes, he knew. Dr. Franco walked over to his desk and dug out some papers carefully concealed in a locked drawer. Handwritten notes and diagrams, timetables and carefully taken images. Elaborate months of planning every single detail. No stone was left unturned. And now, on this very day, Mathias knew what needed to happen. Only one thought was in his head.

This ends now.