Summary

In Chapter 1, Josie Gamble was still awake when her boyfriend, Stuart Kofer, arrived home after midnight. She feared he was drunk again and was wearing a racy negligee, hoping he would decide to be romantic instead of violent. She had hidden an aluminum baseball bat close by in case he tried to hurt her children.

Stuart, who was a sloppy drunk, accused Josie of having a boyfriend and lying to him. He slapped her and put his arm around her neck. She elbowed him in the ribs trying to get out of his grasp. Stuart, infuriated, grabbed her around the throat. Josie kicked at him, afraid he was going to kill her. Stuart punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Upstairs, Drew, 16, and his younger sister Kiera, 14, were listening. They had both begged their mother to leave Stuart, but they knew they...