idioms...sayings understood by native speakers part fifty one

John turned a deaf ear to his brother's ranting. He pulled out his cell phone and sent a text message priority one to the Sheriff. Smiling as he wrote, "AJ off deep end, wife on way to hospital, need to spin this. Crazed retarded kid forced way in with a blond accomplice. Beat up A.J. Kidnapped A.J.'s wife and son. Now traveling in a stolen SUV.

He smiled at the reply.

"A.J. you need to call 911." He arched his eyebrow. "You have to call in a home invasion and that your son and wife have been kidnapped. You were beaten and knocked unconscious."

---

Carl shook his head. He had to focus.

"Jenny?" He asked in a weak voice. "Where are we going?"

"To Charity. Where else?"

"No. We need to go to Lansing County.Memorial."

"Carl, that is at least forty five minutes away."

"Trust me, go there." He looked at the back seat at his mom. "Charlie, is she okay?"

"Carl, she is breathing funny."

"Okay." He awkwardly reached for his mom's hand, she squeezed back. "Mom. We need to go to Lansing County Memorial, okay? If we go to Charity we will be sitting ducks."

She squeezed his hand again.

:"Jenny, take the interstate with flashers on and go as fast as you can."

"The cops will pull us over."

"Well, we need to find the right cops."

Jenny nodded and headed for the interstate. She saw Carl reach for his cell phone.

"Hello. I need to speak with Deputy Commander Gomez. Tell him, Carl Matthews is on the line."

Carl closed his eyes feeling a little nauseated. What was only minutes seemed to be like hours, a voice came on the line.

"This is Carl Matthews. I am not sure how to go about this, but listen to me. I found my mother beaten and ..." not wanting to admit the truth, he hedged, "sexually assaulted tonight by my father. There was an altercation. Um, if we stay here, the police will sweep this under the rug. We just got on interstate 65 heading to Lansing County Memorial. But my mom, she may need an ambulance. Can you help us?"

"Stay on the interstate. We will have two state troopers on the way." He paused. "Mr. Matthews?"

"Yes."

"What ever you do, do not pull over for the locals. Understand?"

Carl swallowed down the bile that was rising up. "Commander, please hurry. I am not sure I can stay awake much longer."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes."

"Son, stay on the line, keep talking to me and read off the mile markers, okay?"

"We just passed 36."

"Keep that up."

Jenny noticed lights and sirens behind her. "Carl,, is it the state police?"

"Commander, we have lights and sirens behind us, we just passed exit 39. Are they your guys?"

"No, son. Don't stop. We should be at exit 40, and will intervene. I have already contacted the locals who are screaming it was a home invasion and kidnapping. Do you have a mentally challenged man with you."

"Yes. But he is innocent. He helped me find my mom. He helped us carry her out.  Just a second, Commander."  He told Jenny, "Don't stop.  Floor it.  The cops behind us are local."

"Commander?  You heard me right."  Carl blinked hard trying to concentrate.  "Charlie is innocent."

"Fine. I will appraise my troopers, One will pull in front of you and one in back of you. You are in a stolen tan SUV. right?"

"Stolen? It is my company car. I am sitting in it. Nothing was stolen."

"I understand. Stay with me. How did you get hurt?"

"My dad knocked me down. I did hit him first after I saw my mom."

"It's okay, son. It will be okay, Stay with me. Keep talking. Who is driving?"

"My fiance."

Jenny looked at the man beside her. She pushed the pedal down and hit ninety. She was weaving in and out of traffic, because their very lives depended upon it. The flashers blinked and she gripped the wheel. Then she saw the plain tan cruisers coming off the 40 exit. One pulled in front of her and the other now sandwiched itself between her and local police.

"Son, are you there?"

"Yeah."

"You are now in our custody. Pull off at the next exit. Two ambulances will meet you there with Paramedics."

"Thank you."

Carl passed out.

---

John took his brother to their private doctor at Charity. While A.J. was being x rayed, he got the text message. "The suspects are in custody." He sighed, but then narrowed his eyes at the rest of it. "Unfortunately, they are in the hands of the state police."

"Damn." was all he muttered.

---

Rick and Lynn were back at home. Rick was furiously going over his power point.

"Rick, with all that is going on, how can you focus?"

He looked at her. Taking his index finger he wiggled it at her and then placed it to his lips and patted a seat beside him on the couch.

"Come here and sit. I need to ask you opinion about this."

Lynn sat down beside Rick and then he whispered in her ear.

"Lynn, I don't want to frighten you. But there is a listening device in the kitchen. I don't know if there are any in here. We have got to keep this quiet. We will be safe as long as they don't think we know anything. I have to keep up the appearance of making them think that I think this is important." He paused as he checked his words over. "Do you understand?"

"I see." She said loudly. "You forgot the word "that." Right here."

"Thanks." He closed the laptop and looked at the clock. It was after six.

Lynn grabbed his hand. "You are all done?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's get out of here. You never take me out anywhere. One would think you might be ashamed of me."

He laughed. "Never."

Getting up he grabbed his keys and picked up his cell, as it vibrated. He picked it up.

"Hello."

"Rick?"

"Jenny is that you?"

"Yeah, we are Lansing County Memorial. Could you come? Carl is hurt and so is his mom. I can explain when I see you."

"No problem. Are you and Charlie okay?"

"Yeah. But please come quick. I am afraid."

"Sure. Here. Talk to Lynn." He handed the phone to her and grabbed her elbow as they headed to the car.

---

Rick and Lynn arrived to the ER. They found Jenny in a chair holding Charlie's hand.

"What happened?"

"Carl is getting a head CT right now. HIs mother has internal injuries and is going to the OR. This is just awful."  She paused as tears started to flow.  "We found Carl's mom beaten and..."  she paused looking at Charlie.  "Um, really hurt badly.  Carl hit his dad, and then he hit Carl, and kept hitting him until I kicked him."  The memory of Carl being knocked out cold hit her. "And, well, then this guy showed up and we got out of there."

"What guy?" Rick asked.

"I don't know.  One of your Uncles... I think."

"Jenny, what made A.J. go off the deep end?"  Rick asked quickly.

"I am not sure. I just know that Sara was going to file for divorce tomorrow. I don't know if your uncle knew that."

Rick sat down beside Charlie. He looked lost and frightened.

"Charlie?"

"shush."

"Charlie?" He paused, "Are you okay?"

Charlie, held his finger to his lips. "God will help Carl and his mommy. He will. Charlie is praying now."

"Can I join you?"

Charlie looked at Rick. "Um, sure. Wick?"

"What Charlie?"

"How come  Carl's papa wanted  to hurt his mama like that?"

Rick sighed. "I don't know."

"Charlie needs to pray for Carl's papa, then."

"How come?"

"Because, Carl's papa must not know either. God needs to show him how come."

Rick looked at the boy and started to tear up.

---

Commander Gomez read the statements his officers had gotten from the fiance and the mentally challenged man. Unfortunately, Carl Matthews had not regained consciousness, while the mother was in emergency surgery to repair a lacerated liver, a broken tibia, and a facial fracture. He glanced at the photos of the victims. How the hell could a man do that to a woman? or his son, was beyond him. It never ceased to amaze him how violent domestic violence really was.  He hit his speed dial to the Attorney General.

---

Sal entered through the ER doors and found Jenny with her friends.

"Sal?'

Jenny came up and hugged him as he whispered, "Are they okay?'

"It is all my fault. Sara is really hurt, Sal.  And Carl, if only I had moved sooner, realized what that old man was doing sooner."

"Honey, it is not your fault."

"I goaded her. I scolded her. I was down right mean to her."

"Jenny. Stop this. Sara chose to meet with me. I just wish I had taken her with me when I fled the place." He pulled her away and looked her in the eye. "So if anyone is at fault here, it is me."

He put his arm around Jenny and sat her back down.

A doctor with a long white coat and blue scrubs came into the waiting room.

"The Matthews family." He called.

The group raised their hands. He approached and said, "You are family of Carl Matthews."

"I am his fiance. Rick is his cousin. The rest are good friends."

Charlie spoke up. "Carl is my Uncle."

The man gave a gentle smile to the special man.

"Carl has suffered from facial fractures, particularly to his right orbit. His CT did not show any bleeding. He is actually very lucky. He is awake right now. So if you want to see him, you can.. Then we will move him to the ICU for observation and watch for any change in mental or airway status."

---

"Martin, it's me, John."

The Chairman raised an eyebrow.

"So you got back in town. How did things go?"

"Quite well. I see you got my specs and placed the orders."

"Yes. Business is good."

"it sure is, but right now, we have a problem."

"Aren't problems your department, John?"

"Sure, when it comes to business. But A.J. has raised quite a ruckus this time and the state police are involved."

"What?!"

"Don't get your boxers in bunch, Martin. I need to meet with you. See you at the house."

John hung up. What to do ...what to do...he thought.  He sighed as another text message came in.  "Damn." 

A.J. emerged from the doctor's office, slowly walking towards him.

Two state troopers approached the man.

"Are you Mr. Albert James Matthews?" One asked.

"Um, yes. Why?"

"You are being placed under arrest for assault of your wife and son." The officer produced hand cuffs, as he proceeded to read the man his rights.

'You can't arrest me. I am the victim here."

John got up and whispered to his brother. "Go with them. I will have the lawyers get you out within an hour."

A.J. sighed. "Fine. Let's go. But I will have both of your jobs."

to be continued.