Chapter 2 - The Man Hannah Chose
Jack had disliked Dustin the first time they met.
He had also worked hard not to show it.
Hannah introduced them at a barbecue eleven months earlier.
Dustin arrived forty minutes late wearing sunglasses despite the cloudy afternoon.
He brought no food.
No apology.
He kissed Hannah in front of everyone as though staking a claim.
Jack noticed little things.
Dustin answered questions directed at Hannah.
He corrected her stories.
He decided when they would leave.
When Hannah went inside to help with dessert, Dustin leaned toward Jack.
"I know what you're thinking."
Jack looked at him.
"What am I thinking?"
"That I'm not good enough for her."
Jack took a drink.
"I was actually thinking you haven't asked me a single question about her."
Dustin laughed.
"I know her."
"Then why are you talking about yourself?"
The smile vanished.
Hannah returned before Dustin answered.
Jack never told her about the exchange.
She was an adult.
He respected that.
But during the following months he noticed changes.
Hannah stopped running in the mornings.
She stopped visiting friends.
She declined invitations because Dustin had training.
Then because Dustin had fights.
Then because Dustin did not like her being around men he did not know.
Jack asked once.
She became defensive.
"Dad, he's protective."
"There's a difference between protective and controlling."
"You don't know him."
"You're right."
That ended the conversation.
Jack backed away.
He would later regret it.
At the hospital, he sat beside Hannah after her scans.
Three broken ribs.
Fractured wrist.
Concussion.
Deep cut above the eyebrow.
The doctor recommended observation overnight.
Hannah stared at the ceiling.
Jack sat quietly.
Finally she whispered:
"It started six months ago."
Jack did not interrupt.
"The first time he grabbed me."
Her voice shook.
"He apologized."
Jack's hands tightened.
"He cried."
"Men can cry and still be dangerous."
"I know that now."
"What happened tonight?"
Hannah closed her eyes.
"I went to the gym after closing."
"Why?"
"To get my things."
"Why were they there?"
"I kept clothes in Dustin's locker."
Jack waited.
"I told him yesterday I was moving out."
"Where were you going?"
"Sarah's."
Her college friend.
Jack nodded.
"He found out."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"What happened at the gym?"
Hannah took a breath.
"Dustin was there with Coach Dalton."
Jack remembered the truck owner.
"What was Dalton doing?"
"Talking."
"About?"
"Money."
"What kind of money?"
"I don't know."
"Dustin's fight purse?"
She shook her head.
"They stopped when they saw me."
Jack leaned closer.
"What happened?"
"I went to the locker."
"Dustin followed?"
"Yes."
"He grabbed you."
She nodded.
"What did Dalton do?"
Hannah stared at him.
"Nothing."
Jack's jaw tightened.
"Dustin pushed me."
"Where?"
"Into the lockers."
"Then?"
"I slapped him."
Jack almost smiled.
"Good."
She cried harder.
"That made him crazy."
Jack's face hardened.
"He hit you."
"Once."
She paused.
"Then again."
Jack looked away.
He needed one second.
One second not to be a father.
One second to become the disciplined man he had spent his life training himself to be.
He breathed.
Then looked back.
"Dalton still did nothing?"
"He closed the gym door."
Jack became completely still.
"What?"
"He locked it."
"Why?"
Hannah shook her head.
"Dustin kept asking what I heard."
"About the money?"
"Maybe."
"What did you hear?"
She thought.
"Something about women."
Jack leaned forward.
"What exactly?"
"Dustin said one of them was threatening to talk."
"One of who?"
"I don't know."
"And Dalton?"
"He said she'd already signed the waiver."
Jack stared at her.
"Waiver?"
"They run private fights sometimes."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
"Legal?"
She shook her head.
"I don't think so."
Jack felt the situation changing.
This was no longer only domestic violence.
"What happened after Dustin hit you?"
"I fell."
"Did you lose consciousness?"
"Maybe for a minute."
"When you woke up?"
"Coach Dalton was yelling at Dustin."
Jack was surprised.
"What was he saying?"
"Not because Dustin hurt me."
"What then?"
"He said there were cameras."
Jack leaned closer.
"Cameras where?"
"In the gym."
"Did Dalton delete the footage?"
"I think he tried."
"Why think?"
"Because Dustin told him to wipe everything."
Jack looked toward the door.
"Did they?"
"I don't know."
She began trembling.
Jack covered her hand.
"You're safe."
Hannah looked at him.
"No, Dad."
"What?"
"They weren't afraid because Dustin hit me."
Jack waited.
"They were afraid because I saw what was on Dalton's desk."
"What did you see?"
Hannah whispered:
"Pictures of women."
Jack's stomach tightened.
"What kind of pictures?"
"Injured women."
He felt cold.
"How many?"
"At least eight."
Jack stared.
"And under the photos there were envelopes."
"What envelopes?"
"Cash."
"Anything else?"
Hannah nodded.
"A list."
"What list?"
She looked toward the hospital room door before answering.
"Names."
"Did you recognize any?"
"One."
"Whose?"
May you like
Hannah looked at him.
"Mine."
