There’s never anything good behind a door that knocks at 3:00 am. My insomnia had me up watching the Magic Bullet infomercial, and looking for my credit card. I needed that blender like I needed more debt, but when you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks the rational side of your brain is known to depart to places unknown. The loud pounding on my door made me drop my pint of ice cream on the floor. I grabbed the baseball bat I kept behind the couch and tip-toed my way to the door. A quick look in the peep-hole revealed Lucy standing there looking anxiously over her shoulder. My fear turned to annoyance as I flung open the door.

“Gotdamn, Lucy. It’s 3:00 am in the morning. Why are you pounding on my door almost giving me a heart attack?” My voice was louder than I meant it to be, but she knew how much sudden noises got to me.

“Pack a bag quickly, sis. I have to get out of here now and need you to come with me.” Lucy pushed her way into my apartment while still looking over her shoulder. She didn’t acknowledge that she was paying attention to my words.

“What’s going on? Mom okay?” Her frantic speech and body language put me back on edge.

“Yeah, yeah. She’s alright I guess. Just pack the bag and let's get going. Can’t waste time.”

“You just come in and expect me to pack a bag and go with you without any explanation. What is really going on?”

Lucy walked over to the window and looked out. “For once in your life, Kat, can you not be so difficult?”

I just stared at her without saying anything.

She sighed. “Ok, well remember that guy Robert I’ve been seeing. Well, he…uh well…he um hit me tonight. And it wasn’t the first time. I just snapped this time I guess. I don’t know what came over me. But uh…I’m in big trouble Kat. There was so much blood…” She looked at me with wide, glassy eyes. I couldn’t control the chill that zig-zagged down my spine.

“Lucy is he dead?” I whispered.

“I don’t know. I didn’t stick around to see.”

“So what’s your plan? We just go on the run. Are we becoming the Black Thelma and Louise?”

“Well, yeah. It sounded sensible in my head on my way over here.”

“You know we can’t do that don’t you?”

“Why not?” Lucy screamed. “Do you want me to go to jail for murder? I never filed a police report all those times he hit me. The police won’t believe my battered woman story.”

“How do you know they won’t? I’m sure they see situations like this all of the time. If we just explain we can get through this. Right?”

“Are you really that that naïve?” I opened my mouth to respond, but Lucy held up her hand to silence me before I could get a word out. “We grew up in the same house and went through the same crap so I know you really aren’t this naïve,” she said.

“Fine so the only option is to leave town? You know they will come after you. Track you down. How are we supposed to live? Can’t use credit cards or debit cards. Can’t leave a trail.”

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out.”

“Now who’s being naïve? You’re not going to want to hear this, but we need to call Dad.”

“No! So that’s why you’re so fixated on going to the police. You just want me to talk to Dad.”

“Yes! It’s the only way. He knows people. The man is overflowing with connections. He can help get you out of this.”

“You know I haven’t spoken to him since he dropped that bombshell on us and Mom. And I want to keep it that way.”

“What he did pales in comparison to murder.”

“Damn it, Kat! It was self-defense.”

I walked over to her and gently grabbed her face between both of my hands. “Luce, I know. I believe you. You need to think clearly. Dad can get his connections to make sure the police come to the same conclusion.”

“So I’m screwed. I either spend the rest of my life in jail or grovel to a man I hate in order to get help.”

“I don’t see how this is a hard decision, big sis. Dad most likely holds your get out of jail free card in his hands. Use it.” Lucy just shook her head and sighed knowing I was right. I grabbed her hand, and lead her to the couch.

She followed like an obedient child, suddenly drained as the night’s events settled on her. I wrapped a blanket around her. “Just lay here and rest. I’ll call Dad. Trust me everything will be fine.” I walked into the kitchen to get my cell phone. As I dialed Dad’s number I barely heard Lucy’s whisper.

“That’s exactly what Mom said before Dad left us.”