by Syndi Powell
The girl sighed. “Okay, I’m eighteen.”
Page looked over at April, who hid her smile. From one of the drawers, she pulled out an IV kit and held it up for Ruby to see. “I’m going to start an IV on you. That means a long needle. So while I’m doing that, I’ll let you think back on when your birthday really is.”
“Why’s it matter how old I am?” Ruby grunted as Page inserted the needle into her vein. “I take care of myself. That’s what matters.”
“I don’t doubt that, but we need to get your parents’ consent after a certain point if you’re under seventeen.” Page taped the needle into place on top of Ruby’s hand then took the saline bag the other nurse handed her. “This is a life-threatening situation, so we can treat you now. But when you’re stabilized, we’re going to need to get that consent.”
Ruby frowned at Page as she hung the saline bag on to the IV stand next to her. “I consent.”
April’s amusement faded. “Do you have any parents?”
Another contraction hit and Ruby doubled over, ending any further questioning. They worked to get the medication injected into the IV so that they could stem labor before it got too far along. Page’s beeper went off and she made a face. “I’ve got to get back upstairs, April. Do you want me to send Dr. Achatz for a consultation?”
“I’ll call her if labor progresses. Thanks for your help.”
“Nursing never really stops.” Page addressed Ruby, “I’ll check on you later. After my shift.”
“Why?”
So much for trying to be nice. “In case you need someone to talk to. That’s why.”
The girl waved her off. “I told you. I take care of myself. I don’t need anybody.”
Page gave a short nod and left the room, but she felt what had just happened would stay with her for the rest of the day.
* * *
THE JUDGE ENTERED the courtroom and Mateo stood, tugging on the shoulder of the young man beside him to do the same. Scotty still refused to name names and the assistant district attorney had refused to make a deal. So here they were, facing a judge.
The Honorable Jeffrey S. Gorges sat, and everyone in the courtroom followed his example. The bailiff called their case, and Judge Gorges opened the file and perused it, even though Mateo knew he’d be prepared already. “Counselors, approach the bench for a moment.”
Well, this was something new. Mateo stood and straightened his suit jacket before walking up to the bench along with ADA Pam Everett. Judge Gorges peered down his long nose at them. “I thought a deal was going to be negotiated in this case.”
Pam glared at Mateo. “Talk to Mr. Lopez. His client won’t divulge the information, so there is no plea bargain, Your Honor.”
“I’ve told my client what he’s facing, but he won’t talk.” Mateo gave a halfhearted shrug. Whether Scotty tried to save his own neck or not, Mateo wouldn’t lose any sleep if the kid did time. Whoa. When had he become so cynical? He cleared his throat. “He wants to go right to sentencing, Your Honor.”
Judge Gorges let out a big sigh. “Third strike, counselor. You know what that means.”
“Yes, sir, and so does my client.” Mateo looked at Scotty, who stared defiantly back at them. “He’s willing to plead guilty and face the consequences.”
“He’s too young to be put in a system that will chew him up and spit him out.” More than a hint of resignation tinged Judge Gorges’s words. “We’ll proceed then.”
Pam smirked at Mateo. He tried to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and walked the few feet to the defendants table. He sat next to Scotty and leaned in to the boy. “Last chance to change your mind about what happens next. The judge is willing to listen if you have some names. Otherwise, we go right to sentencing.”
Scotty faced the judge. “Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.”
“Your friends will forget you while you’re in prison. You know that, right? Once you’re gone, you’re no use to them. They also won’t remember how you kept quiet.” He hoped that the kid would listen to reason and save his own skin, if nothing else.
“But they’ll remember if I squeal. No thanks.”
The judge glared down at them. “Will the defendant please rise?”
Mateo stood and brought Scotty to his feet.
Judge Gorges, his facial features somber, his hands folded before him, spoke with the authority he’d been given. “Scott Arthur Rodriguez, with respect to the six counts of larceny, how do you plead?”
Scotty stared straight ahead, but didn’t say a word. Mateo muttered to him, “It’s either guilty or not guilty, kid.”
The bravado from before seemed to be fading. Scotty took a deep breath, then another. “Guilty.”
“Your Honor.”
“Guilty, Your Honor.”
The kid’s voice cracked on the last word, and Mateo felt his anger and disillusionment melt slightly. Scotty hadn’t even finished going through puberty, yet he faced incarceration for at least a year. It hadn’t been that long ago that Mateo had faced the same pressure of a gang and succumbed to it before getting out. But he had gotten out, while Scotty seemed resigned to a future of courtroom sentences and jail stints.
Judge Gorges closed the file in front of him. “Mr. Rodriguez, you understand that since this is your third conviction and because of your refusal to assist the police that there will be no leniency?”
Scotty nodded until Mateo nudged him. “Yes, Your Honor.”
“Then I see no other choice. Scott Arthur Rodriguez, you are to be remanded to the authorities at the Wayne County jail until a bed is open in the Wayne County juvenile delinquent facility for a term no longer than eighteen months.”
Mrs. Rodriguez shouted and rose to her feet.
Judge Gorges pounded his gavel. “Order, please.” He switched his attention back to Scotty. “You’ll be jailed with the adult male population, men who are hardened criminals. Is that what you want, Mr. Rodriguez?”
Gorges couldn’t be serious about this. Scotty had shoplifted, not hurt or killed anyone. It was a minor crime. Mateo said, “Your Honor, the defendant is only thirteen. There must be another location, another option—”
“With overcrowding in the juvenile facilities, this is our only option. So let me ask again, how do you plead, Scotty?”
The kid seemed on the verge of tears. “Guilty.”
Judge Gorges stood and motioned for the deputy who stood on the edge of the courtroom. “He’s all yours then.”
The deputy approached the defendant’s table with cuffs in his hands. Scotty turned to Mateo, the panic in his eyes evident. “He’s really sending me to the adult jail?”
“He is.”
“I didn’t think...”
Mateo put a hand on Scotty’s shoulder and thrust the kid toward his mother, who wept and clung to her boy.
Eventually the deputy stepped forward to put the cuffs on Scotty’s wrists, even though they hung loosely on him. This wasn’t fair, but the judge was right. There weren’t many options for this to play out.
After Scotty left the courtroom, Mateo tried speaking to Mrs. Rodriguez. “A court officer will contact you with information about his transfer to the jail. You’ll be able to visit him there shortly, and he’s going to need to see you.”
“They’re going to eat him alive.”
Mateo tried to think of something comforting to say, but he had nothing. There wasn’t anything good to say about this entire situation. “I’ll work on getting him transferred to a juvenile facility as quickly as possible.”
She nodded and left the courtroom. The assistant DA gathered her files and walked to the defendants table. “Tough break for the kid.”
Mateo gathered his belongings and placed them in his leather briefcase. “Come over here to gloat?”
“Not at all. If you e
ver get tired of being on that side of the courtroom, let me know. You’re a terrific lawyer, Mateo, even if you do get stuck with guilty clients.”
“Right.” He didn’t look at her as he brushed past her and out of the courtroom. He didn’t stop until he got to his car. He sat inside for a moment, debating where to go. It was Monday, which meant he needed to put in some hours at the office, preparing for his next client’s trial. Another kid caught in the system. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn’t do this anymore. Couldn’t look into a kid’s eyes and wonder how someone so young and innocent could do such horrible things.
He started the car and drove to the office, keeping himself on autopilot so he wouldn’t have to think, to feel. It was hopeless. All of it.
* * *
PAGE PLACED HER dirty scrubs in the bin, took her purse from her locker and punched out. It had been a long day, and her feet ached despite wearing shoes that were made to be comfortable. She slumped onto the nearest bench and debated her options. She felt pretty good, so she supposed that she should do something productive. Her next round of chemo would take the wind out of her sails for a few days, so she could get groceries while she still had an appetite.
Her thoughts turned to Ruby as they had ever since she’d met the girl. Dr. Achatz had been called in to assist with stopping labor, and Page wondered if they had been successful. It wasn’t fair that a girl so young should face this alone, but it seemed like Ruby was determined to do just that.
She pushed off the bench and stood for a moment until the locker room stopped spinning. She should know better than to get up so quickly, but there were times she forgot she had cancer. She caught the elevator to the first floor and found herself at the intake counter. “Hey, Janet, is April around?”
The older woman looked up at her and glanced around the bustling room. “She’s somewhere in this madness.”
“Did they discharge Ruby?”
Janet’s jaw tightened. “You know I can’t disclose that information.”
“C’mon, Jan. We used to be pals when we worked together.”
“Until you left us for upstairs.” She wagged a finger at her. “I don’t think so.”
Page admitted her colleague was right, but still, she needed to know if Ruby was okay. She walked toward the trauma area, but she didn’t find Ruby. She was able to track down April as she left a curtained area. “Your shift over already?”
Page shook off the question. “Where’s Ruby? The girl who came in earlier?”
April gave orders to a nurse, then turned back to Page. “Why are you asking?”
“Because she’s been on my mind all afternoon for some reason. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
April gave a nod. “She was sent upstairs about an hour ago. Dr. Achatz is keeping her overnight just to be safe.” She leaned in close. “I don’t think the girl has anywhere else to go, to be honest. And at least while she’s here, we can monitor her and take care of her and the baby.”
“Good.” Page should have felt relief, but the knowledge left her antsy. “I guess I’ll go home.” The way April watched her made her even more anxious. “What?”
“You should go see her. She was asking about you.”
Really? That didn’t seem possible, since the girl had made it obvious that she wasn’t interested in anything Page had to offer. “What can I do?”
“Talk to her. Maybe get some information that can help her.” April gave a shrug. “Maybe you could reach her where we couldn’t.”
“I don’t see how.”
“Try.” April turned away when another doctor called her name.
After several stops and peeks into patient rooms, she found Ruby sitting up in bed watching a reality court show in the maternity wing. “Hey, Ruby. How are you feeling?”
The girl turned and peered at her. “What are you doing here?”
“I got off work and thought I’d check in on you.” Page entered the room and took a seat, placing her purse in her lap. “So they were able to stop labor for now.”
“Yeah.” Ruby picked up the remote and started to flip through the channels.
Page would need to do more to get the girl to open up. “Are you sure there’s no one we can call for you?” When Ruby didn’t answer, Page stood and walked closer to the bed. “Where’s your mom?”
Ruby paused on a channel. “Dead.”
Oh. “And your dad?”
“Don’t know. My mom told me his name and that he was from Detroit, but I’ve never met him.”
Page watched as the girl scanned more channels, although she didn’t seem interested in any one in particular. “There’s gotta be someone who’s worried about you.”
Ruby turned her attention away from the TV screen and glared at Page. “There’s no one who looks out for me but me. Got it?”
Page sure did. She had been about Ruby’s age when she realized her parents were more concerned with themselves than they were about their only daughter. They may have been living in the same house, but neglect was neglect. She’d been ignored unless it was convenient for them to use her in their continual war against each other. She’d learned to take care of herself because no one else was going to.
“Did you run away?”
Ruby laughed, but the sound was anything but cheerful. “You gotta have a home to run from.” She returned to flipping through the channels. “Are you done with the questions?”
“Nope.” She took a step closer. “Where are you going to go when they release you from here?”
“Why do you care?”
Page gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Because maybe everyone needs someone who worries about them.”
“I don’t need you.”
“Well, it seems I’m the best you’ve got right now.”
Ruby turned off the television and placed the remote on the bedside table. “You serious?”
The strange thing was Page had never been more serious. The idea of taking care of this girl had been planted hours before, as she’d mulled over Ruby’s circumstances, and it had taken root, watered by her worry and concern. This girl claimed to have no family, and the thought of offering her a home had bloomed. Maybe it was because she wished someone had helped her when she was Ruby’s age. That an adult might have seen her circumstances and gotten her out of a bad situation. Who knows what might have happened if someone had stepped in. What pain and loss she might have avoided. “You know I’m a nurse, so who better to take care of you?”
“I told you. I take care of myself.”
Page well remembered what that was like. Making her own meals. Buying her own clothes with what little money she had. Taking care of her own needs because her parents had checked out of her life early on. She took a seat in the chair beside Ruby’s hospital bed. “How long have you been doing that?”
Ruby looked down at her hands. “Almost a year. My mom died, and they put me in this horrible foster home back in Oklahoma. I ran away as soon as I could.” She sat up straighter in the bed. “You’re not going to send me back there, are you?”
“No.” She hoped she wouldn’t have to.
She wilted back into the pillows. “I won’t go. I’ll run away before that happens.”
“What happened after you left the home?”
“I started to make my way here. My mom told me stories about when she met my dad here. It wasn’t like I had anything keeping me in Oklahoma.” She sniffed and seemed to be holding back tears. “My boyfriend took off when I told him about the baby.”
“Have you decided what you want to do about the baby?”
“I don’t know. I keep changing my mind.”
“That’s okay.”
Ruby looked her over. “What happens if I agree to live with you?”
“You take care of the baby you’re carrying, and I’ll watch over you. At
least for now.”
Ruby shrugged. “Maybe that could work.”
Page patted her bald head. “You should know that I’m fighting cancer.”
Ruby glanced up at her head. “Figured that was what it is. So do you get sick a lot?”
“Sometimes. But I’m still able to take care of us. They wouldn’t let me keep working here if I couldn’t.” She moved and sat on the edge of her seat. “So what do you think?”
Ruby nodded. “I guess.”
It wasn’t a lot, but it was better than a refusal.
* * *
WITH THE FILE saved on his office computer, Mateo turned off the machine and prepared to leave. He wasn’t due in court until Wednesday, so he still had plenty of time to prepare his opening argument. His client, a twelve-year-old accused of tagging graffiti on a freeway bridge, was at least willing to work with him on his defense. The memory of Scotty made him stop and reflect, but he shook it off as he picked up his briefcase.
Outside, he pressed the button on the key fob to unlock his car door just as his phone chirped. He brought the phone up to his ear without glancing at the screen. “Mateo Lopez.”
“Do you always answer your phone so professionally?” his sister, Lulu, asked with a giggle. “Or are you always working?”
“More like the second one. What’s up?”
A pause. “I’ve got some news, and I don’t know how you’re going to take it.”
A bunch of alternatives bounced through his brain. “Your husband got a promotion, and you’re moving out of state?”
“Don’t even joke about that.” His sister sighed. “Dad’s dating somebody.”
Mateo missed the step down from the curb and almost fell onto his car. “Dad is what?”
“Dating. Some lady from church. Tia Laurie called and asked me if I knew, but I swear I didn’t. He hasn’t said a word to me. You?”
He’d had dinner with his dad last night, but he hadn’t mentioned anything like dating someone. Hadn’t said anything about forgetting his wife and Mateo’s mother. “No. Is Tia Laurie sure about this? That doesn’t sound like something Dad would do. He still loves Mom.”