The woman entered the room on crutches; her right foot in a cast. She struggled for a moment to juggle crutches and purse while taking a seat. She had raccoon eyes that bore witness to a recent beating. With an expression of desperation on her face, she looked across the desk at Titus hoping he could help her.
"Before we begin, there is the matter of payment. The first solution is ten dollars and a favor. We add a zero to the price for each subsequent solution," Titus said.
The woman didn't say a word while she dug through her purse for the money. She pulled out a small change purse and opened it. Inside was a small roll of bills representing her flight money. She pulled out ten ones and handed them across the table to Titus. There were very few bills left in the roll that she returned to the change purse. She waited while he filled out a receipt. She accepted it when he handed it over to her.
Titus asked, "What is your problem?"
"My husband is beating me," the woman said.
"That would be a problem if you didn't like it so much," Titus said.
"Are you crazy? Of course I don't like getting beaten," the woman protested.
Titus lifted up a folder and opened it. He summarized the contents, "January of this year, police were called to the home of Marcus and Julia DeMente for a domestic violence complaint. No charges filed. February of this year, police were called to the Lone Duck on a public disturbance call involving Marcus and Julia DeMente. It appears that Marcus was slapping Julia and some patrons did not appreciate it. No charges filed by Julia. Again in February of this year, police were called to the home of Marcus and Julia DeMente for a public disturbance call. No charges filed by Julia. I could go on and on, but it's all the same. Based on that, I'd say that you liked getting beaten."
"I know it might seem that way," Julia said looking down at the floor.
"Why didn't you file charges against him?" Titus asked.
"I couldn't afford to leave," Julia said. "I still can't afford it."
Titus asked, "Why now?"
Julia answered, "I don't know. I'd like to get away from him, but I don't know how."
Titus said, "You are unemployed, your name is not on any of your bank accounts, you have no friends, and your family lives in another state. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Julia answered. She bit down on her lower lip feeling that it was all hopeless.
"Are you serious about leaving him?" Titus asked.
"Yes," Julia answered.
Titus asked, "Are you willing to file charges against your husband for causing your broken ankle?"
"I'm afraid," Julia answered.
"I asked if you were willing; not if you were afraid," Titus said.
"I'd like to file charges," Julia said.
Titus shouted, "Irene!"
"What?" Irene shouted.
"I need Hagar!"
"Okay!"
Julia was staring at Titus in horror. Her face had paled in response to the shouting. She had tried to sink into her chair. He made a note of her behavior on his pad of paper.
Looking up at her, he said, "Hagar will be joining us in a moment."
"Hagar?" she asked.
"He's my security gorilla," Titus said.
"Oh," she said.
Hagar entered the room and said, "You rang."
"Yes, I did. I need you to get in touch with our instant intimidation firm. We'll need plenty of security goons stationed at the new house twenty-four hours a day. Her husband is a very big man and has a propensity for violence," Titus said.
"Get eight hundred pounds of goons," Hagar said writing it down in a small notepad.
"Take her by the police station to file an assault complaint against her husband. Talk to patrolman Reynolds. He's sweet on her and will expedite the matter," Titus said earning a shocked look from Julia.
"Patrolman Reynolds," Hagar said while writing it down in his notepad.
Titus said, "Once her husband is in custody, take Julia by her house to pick up her possessions. Take a couple of security goons and some movers with you. She has a number of antiques that she'll want to reclaim."
"Movers and goons. Got it," Hagar said.
"Have Thursday arrange for a rental moving truck," Titus said.
"We've already got one. Cathy's moving in with her new boyfriend," Hagar said.
"Wasn't that supposed to happen next week?" Titus asked.
"He proposed this morning after you left the house," Hagar said.
"Nice," Titus said. "I guess I'll have to call in a favor to get a woman in the house."
"Why?" Hagar asked.
Irritated at being questioned, Titus answered, "Julia won't feel comfortable being the only woman in the house with a bunch of large security goons roaming around."
"Sorry," Hagar said.
"I'll give you a few minutes to arrange things. When you're done, come back here for Julia," Titus said.
"Okay," Hagar said while leaving the office.
Turning to Julia, Titus said, "Hagar will be returning shortly. He'll take you by the police station where you will file charges against your husband. After that, he'll take you to the house where you'll be staying. Hagar and I both live there. We'll have security there to protect you. I've got a woman in mind to live with us until the situation with your husband clears up. You'll be employed as our receptionist. Irene will be training you."
"I have a job?" Julia asked wide-eyed.
"Of course. Your problems aren't resolved until you are gainfully employed, in your own home, and managing your life free of fear," Titus answered.
"I've got a job," Julia said in wonder.
"The standard benefits here include insurance, tuition remission, and a place to live," Titus said.
"Insurance?" Julia said.
"Thursday will explain all of that," Titus said.
"Thursday?" Julia asked.
"She takes care of the office and fills out all of the pesky paperwork," Titus answered.
"That's just an odd name for a person," Julia said.
"Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday were already taken. No one wants to be called Monday, so she became Thursday," Titus answered.
Hagar stuck his head in the room and said, "It's all set up, Titus."
"Good. Take Julia and head over to the police station," Titus said. Looking over at Julia, he said, "I'd tell you to scamper along, but that's a little tough to do with crutches."
"Yeah," Julia said staring at him like he had two heads.
With a little effort she got out of the chair. Hobbling her way over to the door, she paused and looked back at Titus. In a soft voice, she said, "I think that may have been the best ten dollars I've ever spent."
"I hope so," Titus said.
Ten minutes passed before Irene shouted, "Titus!"
"What?"
"Magus wants you."
"Okay," Titus shouted.
Titus left his office. He paused in front of Irene's desk looking at the two kids, a young boy and girl, seated in the waiting area. The kids were watching him with wide-eyes and open mouths.
He looked at Irene and asked, "Customers?"
"No," Irene answered.
"Are they yours?" Titus asked.
"No," Irene answered.
"I didn't think so," Titus said. "They aren't mine. At least, I don't think so."
"They aren't," Irene said.
The kids were listening to the exchange. The boy leaned over to the girl and whispered something in her ear. The little girl laughed.
"That's a relief," Titus said. "They are too skinny to be Magus' children. I take it their mother or father is with Magus."
"Nope. She's running an errand to earn ten dollars," Irene said.
"Lunch run?" Titus asked.
"Yep," Irene answered.
"I suppose that I ought to go in there," Titus said.
"I would if I were you," Irene said.
It had been a while since he had been around any kids. Titus asked, "What are their names?"
"Jack and Jill," Irene answered.
"You're kidding?" Titus said that it was kind of odd naming kids after a nursery rhyme.
"Nope."
Magus shouted, "Titus!"
"What?"
"Get in here!"
"Hold your horses!" Titus shouted.
"I don't have any horses!" Magus shouted.
"Well, find some!" Titus shouted.
The two kids were giggling.
"They look hungry," Titus said. "Do we have any milk and cookies?"
"No," Irene answered.
"We've got chips and soda over at Paladin Security," Titus said.
"They'll be going to lunch soon," Irene said.
"I guess we wouldn't want to spoil their appetite," Titus said.
"I'm sure their mother would be upset if we were to do that," Irene said.
"You're probably right," Titus said. Smiling over at the kids, he said, "We wouldn't want her mad at us; particularly if they are going to be living with me."
"Titus!"
"You can find horses under H in the yellow pages!" Titus shouted.
The kids giggled.
Magus shouted, "Get in here!"
"I suppose I ought to go see what the mean old man wants." Titus said winking at the kids. He went into the office and said, "I take it that you've found a housekeeper for the new house."
"You figured that out," Magus said.
"It wasn't too difficult to figure that one out. You've got two hungry looking kids in the waiting area and their mother is running an errand to get the money to pay you," Titus said.
"You're getting too big for your britches," Magus said grumpily.
"I'll go shopping for some new pants," Titus replied with a grin.
"In case you're interested, your housekeeper's name is Jane."
"I'm interested. By the way, I found a receptionist. In case you're interested, her name is Julia," Titus said. "She will be starting tomorrow."
"Good," Magus said.
"Anything else?" Titus asked.
"No," Magus said. "Just tell Irene to have Igor come over when Jane returns so that he can take them to lunch and then over to the house."
Titus said, "Sure."
Titus went out to the reception area. "Irene, call Igor to come over when Jane gets back so that he can take our guests to lunch and then over to the new house. Also, call Hagar and let him know that we've got three new residents at the new house. He'll need to warn the goons."
"I saw her," Irene said. "She reminded me of me when I first came in here."
"It's one of the top thirty problems," Titus said.
"Those days are behind me. I've got a winner with Leland," Irene said.
Titus said, "We're going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss being here," Irene said.
"Julia will come in tomorrow for you to train her to do your job," Titus said.
"What training? I answer phones and bellow," Irene said.
"I think she's going to have problems bellowing," Titus said.
"I can understand that," Irene said softly. It was the one aspect of her job that had been most difficult to learn.
Titus said, "I'm off to class."
"Have fun," Irene said.
Titus waved to the kids and said, "Goodbye Jack and Jill. I'll see you later."
The kids waved back at him.