Deviation Read Online Free Page A

his abuse. Is that clear?”
    It was clear, but she still didn't think she could do
it. She nodded, skeptically.
    “Take the knife, Dianne.”
    She reached her hand out and placed her fingers on top
of the knife's handle.
    “Pick it up.”
    She lifted it, held it in her hand. She tested its
weight, which was very insubstantial. And yet there seemed to be
something very substantial about the little knife itself. Could he
really have blessed it? Or was he just insane?
    “How does it feel?”
    It was very comfortable in her hand. Reassuring,
even. “It feels... good.”
    Frank smiled. “Good. I'm glad to hear that.
Now put it away, somewhere safe.”
    She opened her small purse and slipped the knife
inside. She had several just like it at home, but she didn't want
to disappoint Frank by telling him this.
    “When you get home, be sure you have it ready.”
    “I will,” she promised. She felt suddenly
better somehow. It dawned on her then, staring across the table at
him, that she really might do this. If Cliff began to hit her and
beat her again, she might actually pull out this knife and fight
back. The idea of it thrilled her.
    “You know,” Frank said. “I think
you're fully capable of solving this little problem of yours,
Dianne. I have faith in you.”
    She almost wept with gratitude. No one had ever
spoken to her like this before. “Thank you. That... means a
lot to me.”
    “Just make sure you don't stop too soon. He
needs to know you're serious. He needs to be scared for his life.”
    She thought about it. “And if I go to prison?”
    “You won't. You're already on record with the
police as being the victim of domestic abuse. And you've told me
enough so that you've got my trust as well. I'll back you up, if
needed.”
    “You really mean that?”
    “Absolutely.”
    A great weight seemed to lift from her. “Thank
you, Father!”
    “You're very welcome.”
    She already felt like the worst was behind her. “I
can't believe...”
    “What?”
    “I didn't really think coming here would
actually help me. It was more of a desperate fantasy. But now... I
really think this might put an end to my problem.”
    “It will, Dianne. It will indeed.”
    She smiled and guzzled from her can. As she did,
Father Frank removed the cap from the bourbon.
    “Why don't you have a little taste with me? To
celebrate?”
    “Really?”
    “Sure. Why not? At this time tomorrow, your
so-called boyfriend will be nothing but a bad memory.”
    She nodded, feeling better than she had in months.
“Alright.”
    Frank took a mouthful of bourbon directly from the
bottle and swallowed it down, his eyes watering. “Ah, that's
good. Maybe you can help me kill the bottle.”
    Dianne laughed. “I don't know about that. But
maybe one or two swigs.”
    Frank grinned and handed her the bottle. He watched,
pleased, as she tilted it to her mouth.

4.
Frank's Room

    After Dianne left, Frank straightened up the kitchen
and put away what was left of the bourbon. He felt good about
helping her. It wasn't often anyone wandered into the old church
anymore, and on the rare occasion when someone did, he wasn't able
to offer much in the way of assistance. This time it had been
different.
    He liked her. It had been a long time since he'd
spent any real time in the presence of a woman, in any capacity, and
Dianne reminded him of how much he missed it. He hoped that things
would work out for her and that she'd come back and inform him of
her progress. She promised to do just that, before she'd left.
    He thought about grabbing another beer or two and
taking them to his room, but decided against it. He'd had enough to
drink already. It was time for something else.
    Frank lived in the church, and his room was on the
south side of the building. He had to cross through the sanctuary
and pass by the restrooms and two of the classrooms in order to
reach it. As he made his way through the silent hallways, he
wondered briefly where Stevens and McKenzie were. He