Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(113)

Krista ran toward him, tears falling freely, feeling a little sick about the whole thing. “But he was protecting himself and me, officer! It isn’t his fault!” Krista yelled, inching forward toward a newly handcuffed Sean.

“It’s okay, Krista,” Sean panted. “Let the men do their jobs.”

Ben stepped up to Krista, shaking just as hard as she, scared beyond words.

The ex-Marine cop yelled then, and they all turned to see him grappling with Jim. The young cop jumped off of Sean and sprinted to his partner, yelling for backup in the walkie-talkie-black-shoulder-thing.

It took both of them to wrestle Jim to the ground, and another blast with the Taser to keep him there while they cuffed him, panting and blustering with fatigue. Docile Sean looked like a golden child in comparison.

The cops broke up again, each getting identification from Sean and Jim. It turned out there was a warrant out for Jim’s arrest, not that anyone was surprised, for beating a man senseless in a bar fight. Also, with a little help from Krista pointing out Jim’s car, which had Seattle plates, the cops were able to determine the car was stolen.

She knew a car that nice didn’t belong in the hands of a slacker-* like Jim.

Sean checked out flawless, of course, although he was still left face down and handcuffed on the sidewalk while backup arrived with flashing lights and sirens. It didn’t seem to bother him. He was resting and in pain, probably wanting a pain med and some quiet so he could get some shut eye right there on the sidewalk.

The half-block was swarmed with men in uniform holding their belts and looking severe. The heads peeping out of their houses were still doing so, and everyone walking their dogs or kids stopped to look on. The reinforcements helped load Jim up into the police car, kicking and screaming at the cops and yelling threats at Krista. One thing that struck a chord with her was Jim screaming that if he ever found Sean with Krista again, he’d kill Sean. Jim was just crazy enough to do it. Krista did not want Sean in danger because of her.

The policemen, once Jim was safely in the car, although still yelling, deliberated with each other on what happened before backup arrived, and what was left to be done. It was then the cops, men all, milled and flocked and finally decided to get an account of “what transpired” from Ben and Krista. Purely logical, after all—find out what started the ruckus.

“Men are such time wasters when they’re in a group!” Krista spat, looking at Sean lying on the dirty cement. “A couple of guys would have a job well done by the time a group of guys finish talking about what to do first, who has the bigger penis, and who plans on pulling Alpha dog. Meanwhile, Sean is laying there!”

“That’s not helping, Krista,” Ben said quietly as the ex-Marine guy finally started walking over.

“Ma’am,” he started.

She nodded impatiently while Ben rubbed her back.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning.”

With a barely suppressed sigh, Krista told him all about Jim, and what happened when she got home. Next Ben filled in the gaps, explaining his fear of Jim and then calling Sean.

Krista found out that when Ben called Sean asking for advice, Sean was at the door a heartbeat later. He didn’t know Jim, didn’t know what he was capable of, but he did know that she needed help, and he wanted to be there to provide it. The cop nodded to that, making a few notes on his little pad.

When Krista informed the cop, for the second time, that she had a restraining order against Jim, applied for and granted in Seattle, the ex-Marine-looking guy looked at her piercingly for a heartbeat too long, blinked once, then wrote that down.

He asked, “And how did you know him in Seattle?”

“He was my ex-boyfriend. Is my ex-boyfriend. I broke up with him and he tried to come after me.”

“And did he serve time for that infraction?” the cop asked, looking at her closely.

“Yes.”

The man nodded. “And did you know he was coming to visit you in San Francisco?”

Krista was positive they had covered this. “No. I haven’t heard from him since I left Seattle. I didn’t think he would follow me.”

“No communication with him since you moved here? Or any of his friends or family that might have relayed your whereabouts?”

“None. No communication at all. I asked how he found me and he said Internet and phone book.”

The cop nodded and wrote something else down. “Have you had a name change in the past?”

“No. I thought two state lines would end the problem. I didn’t realize he would come after me.” She was starting to lose her patience. What did it matter? She had a restraining order. Which he broke. In doing so, he broke the law. End of discussion. She was sure there was a patrol officer somewhere in the picture who wouldn’t be thrilled to hear Jim left town, broke the law a few times, then got picked up by the cops in San Francisco. So do your f**king job and leave Sean alone!

The man looked up at her, his eyes stern and disbelieving, “But he went after you in Seattle, correct?”

“Yes, right after I broke up with him. Well, about a month after. I had gotten the restraining order a day before. I assumed he was pissed with that--well, he was pissed--but I assumed that was all. Seattle is not all that big. Crossing town is a little different than crossing two states.” Ben put his hand on her shoulder to calm her down. She took a big breath and finished with, “I didn’t realize it would turn into this.”