Richard smiled."Hey you. I was just going to call you." Really?" Yeah. I wanted to see how things were going back at school."There was a pause. "Well,...things are happening. But how are you?" I'm good. Busy as hell with recital stuff, but..." Are you giving a recital? I didn't know." I guess it didn't come up. But yeah, April ninth. It's joint, with a couple of friends. We're just doing it for fun, but sometimes I wonder if it was the best decision. It's a lot of work." I bet." So, what's up. I can't be seen with Frankenstein." Thanks."Next to me, Tami shifted but said nothing."Why the hell did you let him hit you if you could beat him up?"That was a damn good question. "I didn't beat him up, I defended myself." The question stands."I let one hand rest on her butt and the other on her thigh. I lowered my voice. "I guess I figured he had a couple of hits coming. Since I'd made him out a liar and everything." Why?" Tami asked quietly, almost whispering.I looked over at her. "I decided. Blood gushed from my father's head, from the crack in his skull. The splintered bone protruding from his broken arm was stained red."Dad! Dad!" I cried out.He didn't move. I touched his shoulder. Still no movement. I rolled him onto his back and stared at his chest. No movement there either. I placed a trembling finger under his nose and waited. Nothing. No air. No breathing. I pressed my fingers against the side of his neck praying for a pulse. Nothing. I moved my fingers to other areas. Maybe. Steele lowered her to the floor and used his hand over her mouth to press her head to his body while he opened the door. She tried to worm out of his grasp, but he was too strong. With the door open, he scooped her up and carried her outside. Her body stiffened. Steele shut the door behind him and leaned down, placing his face right in front of hers, so close he felt his breath on the back of his hand.“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “I’m not going to hurt you.”Steele slid his hand off her mouth..