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you insist, though I think you’re being very, very foolish. And you may run into legal problems because of your age. This is not a time to let your emotions rule your common sense.”
    “I accept responsibility.”
    “Fine, I’ll have the proper paperwork sent down later today. But I’ve got to say, an eighteen year old girl has no business…,”
    “I accept responsibility.”
    “Miss Murphy, would you like to know the extent of your own injuries?” The doctor gave up trying to sway her.
    “I would.”
    “You have two broken ribs, a badly lacerated back, a pretty nasty concussion, and a small wound on your forehead that will eventually need a little cosmetic surgery to conceal completely. You were very, very lucky.”
    “Thank you,” she said. “How long?”
    “How long will you need to be in the hospital?” he asked.
    Sunny nodded.
    “You’ve been here since early yesterday morning. If your concussion shows no sign of impairing you, I’d say you could be released tomorrow.”
    “And Willie?”
    “Your friend was not so lucky, Miss Murphy. We’re doing everything we can to keep her alive long enough to give her baby a fighting chance. I’m afraid her prognosis is bleak at best.”
    A tear gathered in the corner of Sunny’s eye. It finally spilled over and made its slow progress down the length of her face. “I can be with her?”
    “Of course,” he assured her. “As soon as you’ve signed all the forms, you’ll be considered her temporary next-of-kin. You can visit her in the ICU once an hour for fifteen minutes. But I must stress again, your friend is not awake. She’ll not know you’re there. And a hospital waiting room is uncomfortable in the best of circumstance. Your broken ribs will not thank you for the hours, if not days, of sitting in hard uncomfortable chairs.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    The doctor looked over at the waiting deputy. The man merely shrugged. The girl was a legal adult. She could do whatever she wanted, as long as it wasn’t unlawful. Nobody could stop her. Dunn shouldered the doctor out of the way. He stood like a sentinel by the bedside. He began his questioning in a monotone voice totally devoid of emotion.
    “Tell me what happened to you yesterday morning, Miss Murphy.”
    “I got home late. My father began to beat me in the yard. Willie tried to save me.”
    “Your friend is the one who called 911?”
    “Yes.”
    “What about the rest of your family Miss Murphy? What did they do?”
    “They watched my father beat me.”
    “They didn’t try to stop him?”
    “My mother couldn’t. My brother, Lee, had her in some kind of choke hold.”
    “He restrained your mother?”
    “Yes.”
    “How about your friend? What happened to her?”
    “My father threw her to the ground and began kicking her.”
    “That’s when you intervened?”
    “I tried to stop him, if that’s what you mean. It didn’t do much good. Willie was already unconscious.”
    “I need to ask you another question now, Miss Murphy. And I want you to think long and hard before you answer. It’s imperative that you tell me the truth. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.”
    “Had your father ever beaten you before? You were considered a minor until two days ago. Child abuse is not tolerated in the tri-county area. So I need to know if he ever hurt you before.”
    “Yes, he did,” she said. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but she was finished hiding her father’s actions and protecting her mother’s reputation.
    “Were there any witnesses to collaborate this abuse?”
    “My mother and my brother.”
    “Both your mother and your brother saw this abuse?”
    “Yes.”
    “Miss Murphy, your brother has a long history with law enforcement here. I doubt he will testify to anything that will make him an accessory. And your mother cannot be made to testify against her husband. Your father is going to jail for a very long time for what he did to both you and your friend yesterday. But I’m afraid,