Page 3 of The Maverick

Officer McKenzie nodded. “We do recognize restraining orders from other states. As I said, it would probably be best if you filed for one here, too. Just to get it into the system.”

“Thank you. I’ll do that.”

“Mom?”

Rachel’s gaze snapped to him as her heart pounded.Did he see any of what happened? Hopefully he was too engrossed in his game in his bedroom upstairs. I’d hoped they would be gone before he found out.“Jake. Come meet the police officers. These are Officers Johnson and McKenzie.

The two police officers stood and walked over to Jake, who’d stopped on the bottom stair to the second story.

The woman held out her hand. “I’m Officer Johnson. Here is my card. If you ever need to, you call me. Okay?”

Jake nodded and took the card from her. He looked at it and then back up at the police officer. “Yes, ma’am.”

The male officer also shook Jake’s hand and gave him a card.

“We’re leaving now,” said Officer McKenzie. “You can share those numbers with your mom.” He smiled at the boy.

Jake put both cards in his jeans back pocket. “Yes, sir, I will.”

The man ruffled Jake’s hair. “You’re a good son, I can tell. Take care of your mom, okay?”

Jake nodded fast. “I will. My dad won’t ever hurt her again.”

Both officers frowned and turned their gaze toward Rachel.

Officer Johnson approached Rachel.

She had hung back to let Jake interact with the police officers. She wanted him to know that they weren’t to be feared.

The woman looked at Rachel with furrowed brows . “Be extra cautious, but then I think you probably know that already.”

Rachel stood with her arms wrapped around her middle. “I do. He’s almost killed me more than once before he stopped himself.”

“Ms. Foster-Bennett, I recommend that you carry pepper spray at all times, even when you’re home. Get some small enough to put in your pocket and carry it just as you do your phone.”

“I’ll do that. He’s getting bolder, and I’m afraid for myself and my son.” She looked around the room for Jake. He was on the sofa with his iPad and, thankfully, wasn’t paying any more attention to her and the police officer.

“I’d say that’s with good reason. My name is Mary, by the way. And don’t hesitate to call if you feel threatened. I’d rather come here and not need to than need to and not be here.” She held out her right hand. “We’ll take our leave now. Be careful and get that locksmith out here as soon as possible.”

Rachel shook her hand. “Thank you so much for coming so quickly. I really appreciate it.”

“Anytime and I mean that. Anytime.”

The officers left.

Rachel locked the doors and walked upstairs to her bedroom and got her gun. She should have told the officers she was licensed to carry and didn’t know why she didn’t. But she would get some pepper spray. Carrying that around the house was safer than the gun. She didn’t want any accidents.

As she walked back down to the living room, she had Siri give her the name of close locksmiths and called the first one.

He said he could come by in about ten minutes.

They were the longest ten minutes of Rachel’s life. She’d sent Jake to his room to play Roblox, while she paced in the living room.

Until this, she’d been very happy with the house. With only two bedrooms, she didn’t have a lot of extra space. The living room, large kitchen with eating space, the laundry room and a small half-bath were on the first floor.

The second floor had two bedrooms. A small one that used the bath in the hall and the master bedroom, which had a large, attached bathroom and a walk-in closet.

The doorbell sounded.