by Barbara Ebel
She threw her arms around his neck. “Bye, Daddy.”
“I love you, pumpkin,” he said putting her down.
Danny smiled at his sister who was still clad in floppy pajamas. “Thanks again, Mary. I’m out of here.”
As soon as he left, Mary went to change into sporty clothes and Casey took a bowl over to Julia.
“Here you go, sweetheart. Why don’t you finish your breakfast?” He scraped the bottom with a spoon and airplaned the rest of the boiled egg into her mouth. “What do you say?”
“Thank you.”
“Good girl.”
Dakota eyed the bowl and then Casey. “Okay, but don’t tell anybody.” He lowered it, letting the dog lick the last yellow and white left at the bottom.
Casey put the cooler off to the side and brought over cold cuts, bread and mayonnaise and began assembling sandwiches. As he glanced up, Julia ran circles around the room and finally bulldozed into Dakota lying on the floor. She extended her arms over him as he kept still. “Mommy’s dog,” she said.
Casey tilted his head, wondering about the strange comment. He ran his hand over his crew cut; he was sure he had heard correctly … but what a curious thing for her to say.
-----
Taking a southern exit off of I-40, Casey and Mary enjoyed the hilly terrain dropping them further down the mountain and over the high bridge giving a full view of the lake that, today, had a vivid green color. With a fall coolness to the air, they had the windows partially rolled down which made Dakota ecstatic - there was nothing better than being in a car and having the wind whip in and hit his face. The dog had his front paws on the back seat craning forward towards the open window; despite the small book in her hands, Julia looked at him with glee.
In another five minutes Casey came to the familiar driveway from the main road where he made a left turn. As the car crawled down the pebbly entrance, the cabin and lake loomed ahead and they felt like they were entering a different time zone – like that of an uninhabited Pacific island.
As they neared, Casey became wary. “What the heck?” He looked at Mary. “Is there supposed to be someone here?”
“No, not that I know of,” she said, looking at a small blue sedan sat in front.
“I’ll roll the windows all the way down for the three of you and go investigate.”
“Be careful. If you don’t find the key above the front door, then you know someone is in there. Do you have the spare key Danny gave you?”
“In my pocket,” he said and turned to leave.
“Casey? Please take Dakota with you.”
He nodded in agreement, opened the back door, and let the dog out. Standing on the porch, Casey ran his finger along the top ledge and found nothing so he tried opening the door. Realizing it was locked, he used the key he had on him.
As he turned the handle, Dakota nudged the door fully open and trotted in. Casey followed silently and saw empty dishes and glasses on the counter. The dog still plowed forward, running ahead and up the stairs to the balcony. Casey spun around to look up … and saw Annabel.
His niece’s mouth dropped and her eyes widened. She was wearing a long, athletic school T-shirt and underwear. Casey had the situation figured out even before a young man walked across the hallway behind her clad in a likewise fashion.
As Casey and Annabel stared at each other, Dakota was beside her, licking her leg. The young man said, “Oh, what a cool dog! Where’d he come from?” He walked over but stopped in his tracks. “Uh, oh,” he mumbled when he saw Casey.
“Yeah … busted,” Casey said. “And I’m assuming you both spent the night.”
-----
Casey went back out to the car and opened the door for Mary. “It’s Annabel and a male visitor,” he said.
As her toed-in right foot hit the ground, she shook her head.
“I told them we’d be in shortly,” Casey said, “and to put more clothes on.” He stepped to the back seat, unbuckled Julia and helped her scramble down to the ground.
Casey leaned his elbow on the top of the car and stared into Mary’s dark blue eyes. “So, what do you think? Have a heart-to-heart talk with her?”
“Yes. And then the question is, do we tell Danny and Sara?”
“Let’s think about this so we’re a united front.” He took a deep breath, letting his head rest in the palm of his hand.
“She’s seventeen,” Mary said, “and off at college. She’s not the tomboy any more with the braces on her teeth and she’s obviously being intimate with members of the opposite sex. We just happened to stumble upon it. What we have to hope is that she’s not engaging in casual sex but I think we know her better than that. And what’s the likelihood she’s protecting herself from pregnancy and STDs?”
“One way to look at it is - if they didn’t stay on campus – at least, they came to a safe place. But what do we do? It’s not like we can condone her activity?”
Mary stared into the distance. “Even though we aren’t parents, it isn’t easy, is it? We’ll figure it out. Let’s talk to her.”
Casey sprinted over to Julia who had found a clam shell almost as big as her hand. He rustled her hair. “Your sister, Annabel, is inside. Let’s go see her.”
Annabel and her friend were sitting on the couch, but Annabel popped up quickly when they came in.
“Aunt Mary and Uncle Casey, this is David.”
He rose and said, “Nice to meet you.”
“I know I should have asked about coming,” Annabel said. “Dad did say any of us could use the place. But, well, I guess not like this … I’m sorry.”
Mary could see why Annabel would be attracted to the young man in front of her. The dimple in his chin and wavy brown hair were enough but she also detected a respectable and mature teen … other than the stunt they had just pulled.
“We’ll talk about it,” Mary said. “David, do you go to Vanderbilt”
“Yes, ma’am. And we’re both in the same biology lab.”
“I can tell,” she said. That broke the tension and everyone tried with difficulty to suppress a smile.
“David,” Casey said, “why don’t you help me unpack the car? We’ll leave Annabel and Mary alone for a bit. Then I’m going to take Julia and Dakota down to the water where the dog is going to show us what his breed is made of.”
The men left as Mary opened the sliding door to the back porch where she felt Julia could be more entertained by Dakota. Taking a seat in the rocking chairs, Annabel’s face soured.
“You’re not a youngster anymore,” Mary said, “but this is an uncomfortable situation. We sure don’t approve of you going off to college and seemingly having sex as soon as you get there. Besides the fact we’re concerned over your health and safety. I’m sure your dad and mom would feel the same way.”
“We shouldn’t have come.”
“But you realize that’s not only what we’re talking about?”
“I’m old enough.”
Mary swayed in her chair, then stopped and stared at Annabel.
“Aunt Mary, I know all about birth control and not getting chlamydia and all the other stuff. But I don’t sleep around. There are some students like that and that’s just crazy. David and I like each other and we’ll be sticking with each other for a while … as far as we can tell.” Her auburn eyes darted towards Julia and Dakota, afraid to look at Mary. “Are you going to tell my mom and dad?”
“That would be like tattling on a child. No, you take responsibility and talk to them about it. Give it some consideration. I don’t expect you to tell them immediately, especially since you may not see your dad today since he’s on call. What do you think about that idea?”
“We have to get back to school today in any case,” she said softly. “But you’re right. I can’t expect you and Casey to soften the blow ahead of time.”
Mary detected a hint of pouting. “Then that’s a ‘yes?’”
“Yes. I’ll do it. And thanks.”
-----
Within an hour, all of them sat on the dock and Casey found a thick ten-inch stick. As he aligned himself at the foot of the lapping shoreline, the dog stood quivering, anticipating the throw. A nearby heron took off noisily, flapping past them and the water flickered with light, the greenish tinge disappearing with the early afternoon. Casey gave a long throw and the dog galloped forward until his powerful legs turned amphibious. Grabbing the stick, Dakota turned around and swam back their way; he dropped the stick at Casey’s feet and shook furiously.
Julia shouted, “Da-Ka!” while Dakota fixed his eyes on Casey. His tail wiggled with anticipation and he pleaded for more. Before the end of the hour, Casey tired first; the only way they got to leave and go inside to eat a very late lunch was because he hid the stick.
-----
Rachel had had personal court experience both before and after having Julia. Since her daughter’s birth and her deliberate seeking of monetary awards from Danny, she had always gone to court with her attorney, Phil Beckett, and sometimes he represented her without her being there. But for this Monday’s appearance in Knoxville - even though it only entailed the questioning of her as a witness in the Leo Ramsey trail - Rachel thought it a good idea to have Phil there.
She arrived before him, sat on a bench in the hallway, and contemplated the morning. Luckily, Varg had been understanding. She told him she couldn’t help out with Blue Bridge until later in the day and gave sparse details about the nature of her needed legal presence.
Phil Beckett finally hurried down the tiled floor, the heels of his shoes announcing his arrival. Although he had recently hit middle age, he tried to hold onto a younger look by combing his thinning hair forward and waxing it.
“I brought us coffee,” he said, handing her a warm paper cup with a lid.
“Glad you could fit this in,” Rachel said. “What’s the word with your attorney friends? How’s this case going?”
“The coroner’s results came up with the same drugs in the mayor’s daughter as what was found at the scene at Leo Ramsey’s house. There were even traces of it in the DNA-matched wine glass she was drinking from. And there are a few women who have come forth who were also apparently drugged by him. It’s a tough case for the defense team.”
Rachel nodded. “As I told you on the phone, I don’t think I have much to add.”
“That’s fine, then. Just tell the truth and you’ll be on your way back to Nashville in a jiffy. Unless, of course, you’ll be wanting lunch before you go. I can put the tab indirectly on my client’s bill.” He smiled and tried to sip coffee out of the tiny round hole in the lid.
“My bill, I presume. It’ll be cheaper if I get my own lunch, thanks.” She put her cup down on the bench, realizing this would be a snap for her but her ex-boyfriend may end up as burnt toast.
Down the hallway, the door to another courtroom opened and someone yelled out, “Rachel Hendersen.”
She jumped up along with Phil and they hurried over. The man held the wooden door open and she was escorted to the front of the room while Phil took a back seat.
Before she had a chance to look around, a woman confirmed her identity and she listened to the commitment to sworn testimony. Rachel caught a glimpse of the furry-eyebrowed judge while listening to the last words of “and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
As everyone waited for the prosecutor - Kirk Thompson - to approach her, she had the opportunity to study Leo. His height seemed to have diminished and he must have been counseled to go light on the thick-hair lubricant. Rachel wondered how he’d survive hours at that table without a cigarette.
Kirk asked her several preliminary questions, probably meant to calm a witness’s nerves, but she was ready for whatever the court needed to hear.
“Miss Hendersen, where, when and under what circumstance did you meet Leo Ramsey?”
“About a year and a half or two years ago, I filled a prescription at the hospital where I was working here in Knoxville. He happened to be the pharmacist on duty. He seemed to go out of his way to give me my meds when I returned later to pick them up.”
“So you did not meet him at a bar?”
“No.”
“Where did you go on a first date?”
“His favorite lounge and restaurant, Maxine’s.”
“Did you drink alcohol?”
“I don’t recall and, if I did, it wasn’t much. I’m not a big drinker, especially when it comes to a first date.”
“Did you go back to his place afterwards?”
“Why, yes I did.”
“Do you recall if you felt drowsy at the restaurant or later on at his place?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Did the evening end up in a more than casual relationship? Were you physically intimate with him?”
Rachel pondered whether or not to tell the truth, but didn’t see how it would hurt her by stating what happened. “Yes.”
“Please remember that you are not on trial here. Do you think that you and Leo Ramsey had enough of a spark going from the restaurant on? In other words - since he may have assumed you and he were going to go to bed - he was thinking he wouldn’t have to slip you a date rape drug to have some fun with you.”
The defense lawyer shot up. “I object, your Honor…”
“Delete that last sentence,” the judge said. “Mr. Thompson, watch your step.”
Kirk nodded respectfully. “Miss Hendersen, again, did you feel like you and he had a spark going? Enough that the two of you would probably have sex?”
“There is some truth to that. We were getting chummy fast.”
“Okay. And what developed over the ensuing weeks with the relationship?”
“My infant daughter and I ended up living with him.”
“At his place?”
“Yes.”
“Why did that come to an end?”
Rachel gulped; Kirk threw the questions at her faster than she liked. But he had a New York accent and a quick tongue so she didn’t think he’d wait too long for an answer. She looked down at her lap, her hands were wringing around each other.
“Miss Hendersen, what was Leo Ramsey doing to your infant daughter while you lived with him?”
Rachel held her breath. No doubt establishing the defendant’s crime-like behavior would weigh well for the prosecution and that must have been the reason for the question. She felt backed into a corner.
“There were some instances … when I found Julia had been hurt.”
“How old was Julia?”
“She was less than a year old.” Rachel looked over at Leo who huddled near his attorney’s ear telling her something. “A baby,” she added.
“What kind of marks did you find?”
“Objection!” Vicki Holt shouted. “This has nothing to do with my client’s charges.
“Your honor, clearly it is important to the nature of the defendant’s dating habits and what he’s capable of … and his character.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Thompson,” the judge responded.
“Miss Hendersen, what were the marks like on your daughter?”
Rachel darted another glance at Leo who again was talking to his attorney in a subdued yet annoyed manner.
“They appeared to be cigarette burns. Leo smoked like crazy so I’m sure they were. She also had bruises … as if her arm had been pulled and squeezed.”
After more questioning, Rachel let out a sigh of relief when Kirk Thompson finally sat down.
Vicki Holt finally peeled away from her client who had enlightened her with information to discredit the witness. She headed towards Rachel and many noticed the long, neat braid hanging down her back and her tear-shaped earrings as she rubbed her temple in thought.
Rachel answered the attorney’s questions - which were clearly meant to illuminate her client as a saint – and, as far as she could testify, she had no reason to think he had ever given her drugs. However, she didn’t get the opportunity to slip in the testimony that t
heir sex had occasionally gotten a little too rough for her liking. She also didn’t expect what came next.
“Miss Hendersen, you testified that physical damage was inflicted on your daughter by Leo Ramsey. So why did you move out of his house?”
“Because I believed he was abusing her.”
“If what you say is true, that a very serious offense. When did you report this to the police?”
“Uh…I didn’t.”
“What kind of medical treatment did they give her when you took her to the doctor?”
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Well, I’m not a doctor so I wasn’t sure if I needed to take her.”
“That’s lame. As a matter of fact, you should know better. You work in the medical field.”
Rachel’s eyes darted at Kirk Thompson and she rose slightly from her chair. “I thought you said I was not on trial here!”
“Miss Hendersen, please, no more outbursts,” said the judge, raising his eyebrows.
Vicki Holt walked a few steps in front of the judge’s podium and then back to Rachel. Then she looked at the jury for a moment.
“The reason you kept quiet about your daughter is because you are a blackmailer. Isn’t that so, Miss Rachel? Didn’t you receive ten thousand dollars from my client to keep your mouth shut?”
Rachel felt color rushing to her cheeks. Her pulse quickened and her blood coursed through her body like she was running away from a fire.
“Answer yes or no, please.”
“Yes,” she said. “At least I got her away as soon as possible and that money assured some good care and a place for us to live.”
Holt waved her hand through the air. “Miss Hendersen, what you did is a crime and punishable by law.” She looked over at the prosecutor. “I’m sure this won’t be the end of this for you.”
She stepped in front of the judge. “No more questions, your Honor.”
Chapter 28
As Rachel headed back to Nashville, she worried over what had transpired in the court room. Even though Leo was the one in the hot seat, and even though Kirk Thompson said she wasn’t the one on trial, the whole mess had made her uncomfortable and she didn’t have an appetite for the little box of chicken fingers she’d picked up at a drive-through window.