Page 71 (2/2)

"You do, don’t you?"

"Yes," Debbie answered weakly

"Even though he hurts you?"

Debbie’s hand leapt to her throat "He doesn’t," she said

"Sure he does He beats you What else does he do? Does he embarrass you? Humiliate you? When you make love, is it fun? Fun for you, I mean I bet it’s fun for hi of tears formed at the corners of her eyes I was sure they were more from tension than sorrow

"Yet you still love hio to prison for hi to happen if you keep lying for hi," Debbie protested There wasn’t y in her words

I turned in the chair so I could look the woman directly in the eyes "Debbie," I said "There is no Leeann Chin at Northtown"

Debbie’s mouth fell open for a brief moment, and I half expected her to call me a liar Truth was, I didn’t know if the popular chain of Chinese restaurants had a store in themy bluff, Debbie closed her mouth and shook her head

"Tell ain; with her lips pressed tightly together, she looked like like an errant child afraid to speak

"Are you lying because you love Nye or because you’re afraid of him? Because if you’re afraid of him--" I rested my hand on top of hers She tried to pull it away, but I held on tight "If you’re afraid of hi I can take care of"

"You?"

"It would be my pleasure"

Debbie shook her head

"You don’t know him He’sHe doesn’t feel"

He’d feel it if I put my hands around his throat and squeezed like he obviously did to you, my inner voice said, but I kept it to myself

"I can protect you," I said "You have my word" I removed a business card from my pocket and thrust it into Debbie’s hand "That has my home and cell number"

Debbie took the card but refused to look at me

"Listen," I said "Listen to me, please Will you listen?"

Debbie didn’t respond

"You’re ood, and he’s going to hurt you Hurt you worse than he already has It’s just a --you can get away from him Free yourself I can help The lawyer I work for can help, too"

"It’s not that easy"

"It would be a lot easier noith us than if you tried to do it alone later"

I thought I saw Debbie’s head nod

"Think about what I said," I told her "Keep the card If you need help or if you just need somebody to talk to, you can call me You can call me anytime you want Anytime Okay? Will you do that? I want to help you"