Warning ⚠️ this chapter entails murder and mentions alcoholic drinks.

Jerome POV
I smiled knowing that I had won. "Come along Desdemona, it's time we were leaving."

"Me am not going with you me is happy hewe wifth me daddy." Desdemona replies.

"He isn't your father Desdemona. You mean nothing to him. I know for a fact, that he was planning on bringing you to an auction house, where you would be sold to a rich family. Isn't that right Unk?" I replied calmly.

Desdemona POV

I noticed something unusual. Daddy didn't respond to Jerome's question. He didn't deny the accusation and He didn't seem upset by the accusation either. "He's lying isn't he Daddy? You wouldn't do that to me, would you?" 

Daddy didn't answer me and I frowned. "If you don't believe me then go ahead and check your daddy' office. The paperwork is there in a vanilla envelope along with five thousand dollars." Jerome replied.

"Don't even think about it young lady. You know what's on my desk is off limits. But go ahead, break the rules. You won't like the consequences." Daddy warned his gaze daring me to disobey.

"Me twust daddy. Him nu do somefthing wike this to me. Me his baby and him lobes me. Wight daddy?" Desdemona asks looking up at our Uncle who did not respond.

At this, Jerome laughed. "He doesn't consider you his daughter, he never has. Your his property nothing more."

"Dat's not twue."

"Fine, I guess I'll have to do it myself." Jerome replied with a sigh. With that he walked into Daddy's office and grabbed the vanilla envelope off his desk and tossed it at me. "Read it."

"Me can't. Me don't know how..."

"You don't know how to read?" Jerome replies skeptically. I shook my head in response. "Fine. I'll read it." Jerome replies irritatedly. "Dear. Mr. Thorten, we thank you for your cooperation in agreeing to give us your daughter for our adoption auction. Here is a five thousand dollar down payment."

"We expect you to bring Deademona to this address by the end of the week and you'll receive the final twenty thousand." My eyes flashed in anger as Jerome finished reading the letter. I look at my Uncle/daddy  with a look of confusion, anger and pain.

"Don't look at me like that. That letter is none of your concern." Uncle Zachary replies with a frown grabbing it from my hands.

"I think it is. Considering the letter is discussing her. Don't you agree Desdemona?" Jerome asks with a smile.

"Me.... Me don't know." I reply with a whisper looking down at the floor.

"Why must I continually have to remind you that you belong to me? I decide what's best for you. You do not get to question me. Now get back in that office and wait for me. I'll deal with your disobedience, after I've dealt with him." Daddy said nodding towards Jerome.

"You seem to have forgotten Unk that I'm the one holding the gun. Tell me what I want to know or I'll shoot her." I said point the gun to my sister's head.

"Alright, I'll tell you. The name of the school was St. Ignatius. Like I said, I didn't keep tabs on your brother, so I have no idea what became of him. Now let her go."

"Naw.  Desdemona comes with me or I wont hesitate to shoot you. No wait, that's no fun, I know, my sister comes with me and I shoot you anyway. Yeah, let's go with that one." I reply with a smile pulling my sister to my side. "What do you think Sis?"

I  glared angrily at my Uncle/daddy then back at Jerome and then back to our Uncle/my daddy. "You were going to sell me to strangers?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"Never again."

"Excuse me young lady? What did you just say?"

"I said that I'm not going to let you hurt me ever again. And I'm not a chid." I replied walking closer to Jerome who pulled me to his side and smiled.

"That's a wise choice sis. A very wise choice in deed." Jerome said patting me on the head.

Jerome POV

"That a girl Sis. Want to do the honors?" I asked holding out the gun but to my disappointment, She shook her head no. "Oh well. I guess it's still funny if I shoot him. Go ahead, give me the gun." I replied but instead of taking it from her hands, I help her point it at dear old Uncle Zachary and pull the trigger. Oh was it satisfying to see the look of shock on his face, as his sweet innocent little girl had killed him.

Desdemona dropped the gun and fell to her knees and sob as she watched the light drain from his eyes. "Aww come now sis, he deserves this and you know it." I replied kicking his dead body and pulling her to a standing position. Then grabbing her by the hand We brush past a still shocked Bruce.

"What are you going to do to me?" I hear my sister ask her voice trembling with fear. I sighed in disappointment. Then again, what had I expected would happen? That she'd be happy that I took her away from our abusive Uncle? No. That's be too easy. I had just shot and killed the only family she'd known for the last fourteen years in cold blood. Of course she was going to be afraid of me.

"Poor little Desdemona. It's not you I'm after. You never betrayed me. No, I've a much bigger fish to catch your just the bait." I reply with a giggle which only resulted in her whimpering in reply. "Aw come on don't take everything so seriously. I'm not going to hurt yah. Like I said, your just a pawn in a much bigger game. Now that I have you, it'll be easier to get my real targets into the open. Everything is going according to plan."

Quinn POV several hours earlier

It had been a long and tiring day and I was looking forward to getting some much needed sleep. As I opened the door to my apartment I was met with a surprise. Standing in the middle of my living room was a woman. "Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment? What do you want?" The woman didn't answer instead she handed me a business card. I turned the card over it said Xander Wilde with an address on it. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

" I don't care. I was just told to give it to you. He said that you were someone very special. That he had to see you. Why he'd want someone like you to visit him I'll never understand. You don't seem to be that special to me." The woman replied a hint of jealousy in her voice.

I ignored her comment and decided to go to the address the following day, since it was my day off. I had a hard time falling asleep that night. My mind was racing with questions. Who was this Mr. Wilde? Why did he want to meet with me? Why did this woman seem so jealous about me invitation to meet him? Whatever the answers were I was ready for anything, or so I thought.

The next morning I awoke to find that same strange woman waiting outside my doorway. "Are you ready to go? The boss doesn't like being kept waiting. By the way, my name is Ecco. Sorry about last night. I found your spare key and let myself in. I didn't mean to scare you."

"It's fine." A little while later we arrived at our destination and Ecco pressed a small button.

"Hay Boss, I brought the girl like you asked." Ecco said into the box.

"Very well. Come on in." Replied a voice who
I could only assume was Mr. Wilde.

As Ecco lead me through the hallways the place seemed oddly familiar, though I couldn't pin
point why. "This maze seems familiar. As if I'd seen it some place before." I muttered to myself as we navigated through many hallways.

After what seemed like forever, we reached our destination. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out ready for whatever was before me. Or so I thought. Standing behind a large desk facing a window stood Mr. Wilde.

I nearly fainted as Mr. Wilde turned to face me. "Hello Quinn it's been a long time." Jeremiah replied.

"Jeremiah?"

"Please have a seat." Jeremiah offered waving at a nearby chair. "I know You must have a lot of questions."

"I don't know where to start."

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Ecco replied rhetorically.

"Your still here Ecco? I am certain I gave you specific instructions to leave after escorting Mrs Young here, did I not?"

"Yes sir. I'm sorry. I'll be going now." Ecco replied giving me an icy glare as she passed by. "Stupid little whore." She muttered under her breath.

"I am truly sorry about her. Despite having told her numerous times that our relationship is purely business related she fancies herself to be my girlfriend." Jeremiah replies with a slight chuckle. "It's been a long time. How have you been? How's your mother?"

At this my gaze went from confused to angry. "You show up out of the blue and you want to have a conversation as if we'd only seen each other yesterday? No, it doesn't work that way. You don't get to disappear overnight and then act as if nothing happened." I replied angrily.

"I'm sorry Quinn, believe me, if I could do things over again I wouldn't have left without telling you how I truly felt about you. I knew if Jerome found out that I had kissed you he'd have killed me right then and there."

"That's ridiculous! The two of you may have butted heads a lot but Jerome would have never tried to kill you."

"You don't know him as well as you think you do. You never did. He always put on a show for you to hide his true self. He was and still is truly evil." Jeremiah replied .

"I don't want to argue with you Jeremiah. This isn't about Jerome and what he did or did not do. This is about you about how you disappeared without a trace. Without so much as a goodbye. No one would tell me what happened. First your baby sister is sold off to your Uncle and then you just disappeared."

"I thought that maybe Lila had sold you too. I knew where your sister would be but I was terrified for her. I didn't know what was going to happen to her after they left the circus. Your Uncle can be a very cruel man especially when he's drunk."

"I know and I'm sorry that there wasn't anything that I could do to stop the situation."

"You left me both hurt and confused and you didn't even look back."

"That's not true. I thought about you often."

"Then why didn't you contact me? To tell me that you were ok? To explain why you left? I deserved to know. Jerome didn't want to talk about you after you left. He became easily agitated when I tried discussing anything to do with all of us. No one would answer my questions. You didn't even send me any holiday or birthday cards."

"I couldn't. Uncle Zachary made it clear that for my own safety that I couldn't contact either one of you. Look, I understand that your upset."

"Upset? Oh No, no, no, I'm way past upset. Livid that would be a more accurate description. Tell me something Mr. Wilde, why now?" I demanded and Jeremiah looked hurt.

"You know, you can call me by name." He replied quietly a look of hurt on his face.

"No. Like I said, You don't get to show up after all these years and expect things to go back to the way they were before. You left without so much as a goodbye or a written explanation you just disappeared."

"I know. I had no choice. I had to leave or Jerome would have killed me."

"That's just.... I don't even know what to say to that except, that it's the worst excuse I've ever heard." Quinn replied.

"Why? Cause he's not capable of murder? Obviously he is capable of it. He's always been manipulative and he's always hated me, your just to Naïve to see it."

"You know what Mr. Wilde go to hell!" With that I turned and headed towards the door but paused just before exiting. "You want to know the truth? Jerome may have acted like he hated you, but he'd have died for you."

"He was always looking out for all of us. Especially you. He took those beatings from your mother and her lovers for your sake. He took the full front of their anger so they wouldn't touch you. So don't you Dare tell me that he didn't love you."

"I can't believe that your defending him. He kidnapped you Quinn. He held you hostage and almost killed you. He has murdered tons of innocent people including my mother." Jeremiah replied with a frown.

"I'm not defending the man he has become. Jerome was once a wonderful friend and brother."

"That's what he wanted you to believe. He always wanted to impress you. To make my life miserable and to take both you and my baby sister away from me."

"No. You don't get to call her your sister after abandoning her. You left her to be raised by your abusive Uncle. I bet you didn't even think twice about her after you left did you?"

"Just because I didn't write to you doesn't mean that I stopped caring about either one of you."

"Yeah well, Jerome was there for us when we needed him. He was there for me when my mother died and David abandoned me. He comforted me and promised that he would one day do whatever it took to rescue your sister from your abusive Uncle."

"What did you do? You changed your name and moved on with your life. You made your choice and now you have to live with the consequences. Goodbye Mr. Wilde!" I replied angrily starting to head out door but Jeremiah grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the office.

"Let me go you big jerk!"

"How many times must I say I'm sorry?" Jeremiah demanded angrily. "I didn't want to leave you or my baby sister. The two of you were all I thought about ever since I left. Quinn please. I'm here now. Let me make things up to you. Stay here where you'll be safe from Jerome's reach."

"I need time to think. Please let me go Mr. Wilde."

At this Jeremiah sighed in disappointment.
"Please promise me you'll at least consider my offer." He begged pleadingly.

"What about your baby sister? Why haven't you done anything to seek her out?" Were you just going to leave her with your abusive Uncle?"

"No. I've already taken steps to rescue her from his clutches." Jeremiah replied with a frown.

"What steps?" I asked cocking an eyebrow at him.

"Oh it's a wonderful plan. I could tell you all about it. Say over over dinner?" Jeremiah replied with a sly smile. I sighed. Something told me that I was going to regret this.

"Alright, but don't think this gets you off the hook. I'm still angry with you." I replied punching him in the arm causing him to laugh. Despite still being upset with him, I had to admit, that being with him felt right.

We went to a fancy Italian restaurant which it turned out he knew the owner. "Hello welcome to Dei Mascalzoni IL Pagliaccio Italian restaurant. My name is Susie and I'll be your host for tonight. If you have any problems or questions please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thanks." I replied with a smile.

"May I offer the pretty lady some complimentary wine?" The waiter asked smiling at me and giving me a wink. Causing me to blush and let out a slight giggle.

At this Jeremiah frowned and let out a low growl. "No thank you."

"I wasn't asking you, I was asking the pretty lady." The waiter replied taking my hand and giving it a kiss causing Jeremiah to let out a deeper growl his eyes flashing in anger.

I giggled, I had to admit it was amusing to see Jeremiah seemingly upset over the waiter's kind actions. Was he really jealous just because a guy kissed my hand? "Your sweet." I replied giving the waiter a wink in reply. Jeremiah glared over at me angrily.

"Don't encourage him!" He hissed at me causing me to giggle again.

"What will the pretty lady have to drink? I'd  recommend the sex on the beach. It's a wonderful drink and a wonderful experience. My shift is over in a few minutes. Why don't we ditch the nerd and I'll show you a real good time." The waiter said with a wink causing me to blush as the insinuation. Then leaning in he gave me a kiss on my hand. When I didn't react the waiter smirked as if daring Jeremiah to say or do something.

Jeremiah cleared his throat to get the waiters attention. "Can I help you something freak?"

At this, Jeremiah's eyes flashed in anger. "You obviously don't know how to act professionally. I believe my date and I already decline your offer." Jeremiah replies putting emphasis on the word date. "Now please leave before I loose my temper."

"Why a beautiful young lady like you, would want to spend time with a nerd like him is beyond me. If you ever want a real man to show you a good time call me." The waiter replied handing me his phone number. I glared angrily at him now he was starting to irritate me.

"Look, I'm not the slightest bit interested in you. So why don't you do yourself a favor and go flirt with some other girl."

"Maybe I like a challenge. Or maybe your one of those type of girls. You are aren't you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I should have known, the only way a guy like him gets a girl like you is if he paid for your company."

"Alright that's it! You can insult me all you want but when you insult my girlfriend that's where I draw the line."

I can't help but blush when he calls me his girlfriend. "Now, do me a favor bus boy, get me new silverware. These ones are dirty." However, instead of leaving the waiter punched Jeremiah in the gut.

Jeremiah makes no attempt to fight back. He just smirks at the waiter. "Is that the best you've got?" He faines a yawn looking rather board. Which I can tell is really starting to frustrate the waiter. Who has now pulled Jeremiah from the booth and is continuing to assault him.

"Stop." I cry hitting him on his back. As he pushes me backwards I stumble and fall twisting my ankle and I cry out in pain. Jeremiah's gaze turns from amusement to pure fury and within an instant Jeremiah punches the guy causing him to fall.

"Are you alright my love?" Jeremiah asks as he helps me to my feet.

"I think so..." I reply but wince slightly as he helps me back into the booth.

"What is going on here?" Susie asked noticing the tension at our table.

"He assaulted me with out provocation." The waiter whined. As he stands to his feet and wipes off his uniform. I frowned. That lying little twit.

"I suggest you take your business elsewhere we can't have you assaulting our staff. Especially without provocation."

"I'm not leaving until I've spoken to a manager. On second thought, make that the restaurant owner."Jeremiah replied his voice cold and almost unrecognizable.

At this, waiter gulped and for the first time tonight he looked genuinely worried. "Now you've done it!" Susie hissed at him as she pushed him towards the back of the restaurant.

"Excuse me ma'am, I hate to interrupt you, but we have a diner requesting to speak directly with the restaurant's owner." Susie replied.

The supervisor frowned that didn't happen very often. "Was there something wrong with their meal?"

"No ma'am. They haven't ordered yet." Susie replied.

"Then What's the problem?"

Susie winced knowing that the supervisor wouldn't like the answer. "Perhaps it's best if I allow the customers to explain the issue themselves. They are at table three and as I said, they are very upset."

"Hello my name is Claire. I'm the supervisor of this fine establishment. What seems to be the problem?"

"I believe I asked specifically for your boss." Jeremiah replied the coldness of his gaze or the ivy tone of his voice never changing.

"I was hoping I could solve the problem without having to disturb the owner. Would you mind telling me what happened?"

"Your waiter insulted my friend and when we politely asked him to leave and send us over a new waiter or waitress he hit him." I replied.

"That's odd. Derik is usually such a good boy. I wonder what's got into him." Claire replied.

"I want him fired!" Jeremiah replied.

"I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid that's quite impossible. You see, Derik is the owner's son."

"What is going on out here? Jeremiah is that you? The last time I saw you, you were knee high to a grasshopper. How are you?" A man covered in grease asked giving Jeremiah a hug. Then turning his attention to me he smiled. "Quinn is that you? My have you grown. Your as beautiful as your mother." The man replied. "I bet you don't remember me do you? I'm Morty. I worked as a snake charmer at haily's circus."

"Jeremiah and I go way back don't we buddy? Sorry to hear about your mom Quinn. Your mom and I may not have always been close, but she was a wonderful woman. The same goes for you Jeremiah. At this I rolled my eyes and let out a sarcastic laugh. He had to be kidding. Lila was anything but wonderful. "Jeremiah my boy however did you come by that black eye?" When Jeremiah didn't reply Morty sighed in disappointment.

"Your waiter attacked him." I replied angrily and Morty began to laugh.

"You still don't know when to walk away from a fight do you boy?"

"Sir, the kid tried to flirt with me. He offered me a free alcoholic drink on the house. When Jeremiah tried politely telling him that we weren't interested he ignored him completely. He then continued to flirt with me recommending a drink called sex on the beach. He then went on to make a rather crude comments which I have no intention of repeating."

"I am sorry, but if you refuse to explain how the waiter's comment was crude I'm afraid there is nothing I can do for you"

I could feel my cheeks heating as I whispered "he offered me a drink he called sex on the beach. He said it was a wonderful way to have some fun. He also suggested that I leave Jeremiah's company and join him for some adult fun after his shift. When I refused he insinuated that I was a girl for hire. That's when he and Jeremiah got into a fight. When we tried to file a complaint, your hostess told us that we should take our business elsewhere."

"She told you to do WHAT?" Morty replied with a growl. "I am so sorry about my staff. I shall deal with this right away. In the meantime, feel free to order whatever you want. It's on the house."

"Thanks Uncle Morty." Jeremiah relied "that's awfully nice of you."

"What can I say? I'm a sentimental old fool. It's the least I can do for old friends. Oh one more thing, do me a favor and point out the staff member who dared to hurt Lila's little boy and slander Miss Young's good name." Morty replied. So I pointed out the boy and Marty groaned and shook his head in disappointment. "Figures he'd be the cause of all the trouble." He grumbled.

A few minutes later, a waitress wearing far too much makeup came over batting her fake eyelashes at Jeremiah. "What can I get for you handsome?" She asked leaning over so that Jeremiah could get a good view of her chest. Jeremiah cleared his throat and tugged at his collar nervously.

"Ummm. I'd like a water please." Jeremiah replied with a slight gulp.

"For you hon, anything. Do you see something that you like?"

"Excuse me, I'd like to order."

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. What do you want?"

"I'll have a Butter beer."

"What are you a baby? No one drinks butter beer anymore." The waitress replied with a smirk.

I frown and just as she goes to turn back to face Jeremiah, I stick my foot out causing her to trip. At this Jeremiah cleared his throat and shakes his head slightly. "Oh I'm so sorry, me and my big clumsy feet. My mother was always telling me to watch when I stretch or I might trip someone. Here let me help you up."

"You did that on purpose you little brat!" The waitress hisses at me but I shrug.

"I don't have the slightest idea what your talking about."

The waitress dusted off her skimpy skirt and then turned her attention back to Jeremiah and smiled at him. "You know, I get off in half an hour. If you the two of you want, I can show you guys a real good time here's my number."

"Yeah, sorry, he doesn't date sluts." I replied coldy.

"I'm not a slut." The hussy mumbles as she slaps me across the face. Jeremiah rose to intervine but I held up my hand.

"I can handle this on my own thank you very much. You heard me slut! He is my date and he isn't interested so get lost!" I hissed as her and I can see the amusement dancing in Jeremiah's eyes. That little brat was enjoying this.

"I'm sure he's perfectly capable of speaking for himself... So what do you say handsome? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Jeremiah smiles and leans closer to her. My eyes flash in anger I can't help but let out a low growl. How dare he encourage her...."Yes actually, there is something that you could help me with. You can go get the drinks we ordered."

The waitress frowns but turns and leaves.
"Now who's jealous?" He whispered and I glared angrily at him.

"I am not jealous." I replied through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry Quinn, I only have eyes for you." Jeremiah whispered in my ear causing me to blush.

The waitress returns a few minutes later with our drinks. "Here we are, a nice cold cup of ice water for the handsome young man. Oh and here's your butter beer. A second later my dress is covered in soda. "Oh I am so sorry, it slipped... Please don't tell my supervisor..." The waitress replies looking very apologetic.

"You really must have a low self esteem for you to behave in such an unprofessional manor. Here you are wearing so much make up you could almost pass for a clown, and showing off your cleavage which I must say, are not that impressive and flirting with a me when it's obvious that I'm on a date with this beautiful woman. Who, by the way sweetheart, is twice the woman you will ever be. You don't hold a candle to her. Unlike you, she has a high self esteem and doesn't resort to acting like a tramp to get attention."

I started to feel a little bad for her as tears began to form in her eyes. Perhaps Jeremiah had gone a bit too far. Yet, he didn't seem the slightest bit moved by her tears. "Here, why don't you take this handkerchief and go wipe that God awful makeup off your face. A real woman doesn't need to hide behind makeup or degrade herself in order to pick up men. Now do me a favor slut and go buy yourself some dignity and self respect." With that he tossed a $5.00 bill at her.

Tears began to form in the waitress's eyes and she held back a sob. "I'm sorry." With that, she  turned and rushed away from the table. Once she was gone, I muttered "good riddance. Even my sister doesn't wear that much makeup."

"Are you alright Sally?"

"Can You deal with the customers at table three? I can't deal with them. The guy and his girlfriend called me a slut and insinuated that I behave like a girl for hire. I only do it because..."

"I know... Your father and fiancé will beat you if you fail to bring them enough money."

Sally nods still crying she rushes to the break room in the back. The other waitress frowned.

"We make quite a pair don't we? I mean we aren't even dating and here we are getting extremely jealous over another member of the opposite sex flirting with us." Jeremiah shrugged.

A few minutes later, another woman who was dressed more professionally approached our table. "Hello sir, ma'am. I just wanted you to know you really hurt Sally's feelings."

"Yeah well, if she didn't behave and dress like a slut then she wouldn't get treated like one." Jeremiah replies.

"For your information, her abusive father and fiancé make her wear all that makeup and dress the way she does. The only reason she flirts with the customers is because if she doesn't bring home enough money in tips they beat her."

"Then she should file a report with the police or  leave them or better yet, leave Gotham."

"You don't think she's tried that? Her father is one of the most influential police officers in the Gotham P D. Lieutenant Bill Cranston. Her fiancé, is one of the most honored men on the narcotics force Detective Arnold Flask. She tried to file a domestic abuse report once, and it conveniently got lost. On her way home, she was attacked & raped by a few of Flask's friends. She was in the hospital for two weeks.

"Another time, she tried leaving Gotham only to be arrested at the boarder on trumpet up charges. Which, her father and fiancé conveniently made go away so long as she promised to never try and run away again. To punish her for running away they beat her and threw her down a flight of stairs causing her to break her leg. She was in the hospital for over a month after that. So you see, there is nowhere in Gotham that she can hide where they won't be able to find her. And there isn't a cop in the GPD that would ever help her. In fact, if anything, they assist in punishing her for trying to run away from her father and fiancé. In an attempt to get on her father and fiancé's good side."

"Neither one of you care do you? I bet your mothers would be ashamed of you. How do you think they'd react knowing you were cruel to an abuse victim?"

"My mother wouldn't have cared at all. I can't say the same for hers. Clare would have given us a lecture. She'd probably find the fiancé and give him a piece of her mind but would probably beat the daylights out of him. I still remember the day that she beat up my mother for giving you a blackeye."

"Good times." Quinn says with a sigh. "I'm going to go powder my nose. I'll be back."

"You stupid good for nothing whore! I told you to bring home more tip money not flirt with every man you see and act like a slut! Now where's what you've earned?" Quinn could hear a man yelling at a woman. He grabs the money away from her and then frowns. "This is all the money you've gotten today?"

"I'm sorry."

"Oh your not sorry yet sweetheart, but you will he be. There will be no food or water for a week if you don't make your quota." The man said taking off his belt. "I' should have seen this coming. You've forgotten your manners little girl. Contradicting me there smarting off here and now this. You've forgotten your lessons sweetheart. It's been too long since last time."

"No. Please... Please give me a second chance... I'll get the money..."

"No. Your coming with me. If you do so willingly then maybe you will be able to leave the house in two days instead of two weeks." The man replies grabbing her by the hair and throwing her up against the wall so her back was to him. He then proceeded to hit her with his belt.

Quinn frowned and clenched her fist in anger. "So the other waitress wasn't lying. This young woman really did have an abusive fiancé.

"Hay!"

The man dressed in a cop's uniform turned and faced her and then turned and forced the waitress to face him. "A friend of yours?" The waitress shook her head no. "Look lady, this isn't your concern. This is between this whore and myself, so do yourself a favor and walk away."

"Yah, Sorry, not going to happen. Your a disgrace to that badge you know that?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. How dare you call yourself a cop. Your no cop. Your nothing but a bully and someone should to teach you a lesson in manors."

Do you want to die?" Detective Flask demanded angrily pulling out his gun and pointing it at Quinn.

To their surprise, it didn't take Quinn long to defeat Flask. "I know someplace you can go where you will be safe. Quinn pauses as she hears the waitress's stomach grumble. "When was the last time you had a decent meal?"

"My fiancé says that I need to lose weight. I'm not allowed to eat anything without his or my father's permission and usually only scraps."

"Are you freaking kidding me? That is it! What time do you get off work? Jeremiah and I are going to get you someplace safe..."

Upon seeing the time on the clock the girl's face when white as a sheet. "Oh no. I've been gone for too long. My boss is going to kill me. I can't afford to lose this job." The girl moaned.

"Susan where have you been? There are tables that need waiting. You know what, it doesn't matter. Go clock out, your fired."

"Excuse me? Where do you get off ordering her around? Just who do you think you are? I don't see a managers tag anywhere on your uniform."

The waiter ignored Quinn and turned his attention back to Susan. "You know Susan, I've always had a bit of a soft spot when it comes to you. Perhaps we can arrange a sort of trade off.. Come with me to the office and show me what lengths your willing to go to in order to keep your job. Who knows, you might even be able to convinced me to give you a raise and let you to pick up extra shifts. What do you say?" The waiter asked as he placed his hand on her behind.

A fresh stream of tears rolled down Susan's eyes. What choice did she have? If her father and fiancé found out that she had been fired they'd kill her. Susan nodded and turned to head towards the office. "Why that slimeball." Quinn said through gritted teeth.

"Quinn, this isn't our fight. And we still have much to discuss." Jeremiah replies. Quinn reluctantly sits back down.

Molly shakes her head and sighs. "That Poor girl. Can I get you something to drink? Soft drinks? Milk? Juice? Coffee, Tea?"

"I'll take a coffee black."

"You know what, I can't do this. I'm not about to sit down and enjoy a meal while that waiter gets away with sexually harassing that young lady."

Molly smiled. "Before you go, what can I get for you sugar?"

"Umm, I know this is an odd request, but could I have a butter beer please?"

The lady smiled "One coffee black and one butter beer for the Harry Potter fan coming right up." She said with a warm smile. "Oh and by the way, my name is Molly. Just give me a holler if you need anything at all."

At the mention of the name Molly I shifted in my seat uncomfortably and bit my lower lip. What was going on here? First the supervisor had the same name name as my mother, and now the waitress has the same name as my sister. They both looked exactly like them too. One might think they were their doppelgängers. I pushed the thought aside. "Get a grip Quinn! The supervisor isn't your mother. She died years ago and the waitress can't possibly be your sister. She moved to metropolis with her husband. She didn't even return home for mom's funeral." I reminded myself.

"Quinn. Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine." I replied biting my lower lip once again.

"Quinn I know when your lying. What's going on?"

"Alright, the supervisor Claire looks a lot like my mother and our waitress Molly reminds me of my older sister. I know that's not possible though. She moved to metropolis with her husband. In fact, she didn't even come home for my mother's funeral. I know it's wrong but sometimes I find myself wishing that either her or my dad had died instead of my mother." I replied with a sigh. Jeremiah didn't reply he just nodded in understanding. "I'll be right back as I said, I'm not about to sit down and enjoy a meal while that waiter gets away with sexually harassing that young lady." With that, I headed straight for the manager's office.

Jeremiah shook his head but couldn't I noticed that he was trying to hold back a smile. I knew exactly what he was thinking, he wouldn't want to be in that waiter's shoes. I arrived just in time to stop the waiter from sexually assaulting the poor waitress. A few minutes later, I returned to the booth with the young woman in tow. Jeremiah looked surprised but he didn't object. No sooner had we both sat down, Molly came over with our drinks.

"So have you decided what you would like? Any appetizers? For starters? I'd recommend the sample plater: it comes with mozzarella sticks, onion rings, chicken tenders, wings and bruchetta's with different toppings. We also have endless chips and salsa and spinach artichoke dip.

"Those sounds great. I'm ready to order how about you Quinn?"

I turned to Susie and smiled at her. "I can't decide could you recommend something for me?"

"Of course. We will have three of your all you can eat buffets. I believe that comes with samples of everything on the menu?"

"Yes sir. I have also been informed to offer you complimentary endless salad, soup and breadsticks as well as garlic knots. For our soups today we have chili, baked potato, New England clam chowder, Italian meatball, tomato, pasta e fagoli, chicken and ginochi, and minestrone. Our salad dressings are ranch, Caesar, Parmesan peppercorn, honey mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, thousand island, blue cheese, Italian, French and katalina."

"Could you bring us samples of all of the dressings? And for the soup pasta e fagoli for both of three of us."

"You don't have to do this, really you don't."

"Nonsense. It's the least we can do after the way we treated you." I replied glancing over at Jeremiah. "Isn't that right Jeremiah?" When Jeremiah didn't answer I kicked him underneath the table.

"Huh? Oh, yes. It's the least we can do." He mumbles.

"Here you go, coffee black, cherry coke and butter beer for the lady. Your appetizers should be out in just a minute. Here are you endless chips and salsa to start you off.

After Molly left I turned my attention back to Jeremiah. "Now let's get down to business. You promised to tell me how you plan on rescuing your baby sister from your Uncle."

At this, Jeremiah groaned "I had hoped that you'd forgotten about that. Can't we discuss this later when we are alone?"

"Why?"

"Because, the truth is Quinn, your not going to like my plan one bit." Jeremiah replied giving me an apologetic look.

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