Keeping the Tarnished

by Bradon Nave

  “What a faggot, what do you think I am? Some sick fuck?” the man smirked, as he tossed the belt to the floor. “I really hope I got my message across to you, you little girly bitch. You’re just like your mother, but her balls were bigger. Do you hear me, boy!” The man yelled at the top of his lungs. His face was bright red, and his nose was only about an inch from Johnny’s.

  “I think I need to throw up. I’m going to throw up.”

  “Okay, I’m going to grab you a trash can, Johnny,” Brian said as Johnny jumped from his bed, falling to the floor in a complete state of confusion. The boy looked wildly around the room from the floor as Brian seemed to remain completely calm and unaffected. Johnny began grabbing the backs of his legs, he was completely certain that he had just been beaten.

  “Johnny, do you understand where you are?” Brian asked calmly as Johnny noticed the man observing him. “You are in your room, you just woke from a deep sleep, and you are completely safe. Do you understand that, Johnny?” Brian continued as Johnny watched him, breathing sporadically through his flared nostrils.

  Johnny had a slight recollection of the events that had transpired the night before; however, he had no idea how Brian got in his room, or where his father was.

  “Johnny, I stayed in your room to sleep this morning on the floor. Do you remember that?” Johnny looked at the blankets and pillow on the floor as everything began to come back to him. He didn’t even ask, he knew his father wasn’t there, he hadn’t been beaten, and Brian had stayed in his room in case anything strange happened. He felt his gym shorts, and was relieved to find they were dry.

  “What time is it, Brian?” Johnny asked as he used his bed to lift himself up off the floor. He then felt his watch snagging the bedsheets and looked for himself.

  “It’s nearly eleven thirty, Johnny. Our private appointment with Dr. Evans is at three o’clock, sharp.”

  One thing that hadn’t come back to him quite yet was the appointment that Johnny had agreed to go to.

  “Are you okay, Johnny?”

  “Yea, I think so.”

  “Johnny, there will be an investigating officer there as well, and he will be compiling a report. It will be a slow process, but their job will be to obtain information about what happened, would you like to attempt to discuss what happened with me, prior to talking to Dr. Evans or the officer?”

  “What if…what if he finds out where I am?” Johnny asked Brian with fear in his voice.

  “Johnny, your case will more than likely result in criminal charges brought against all involved in your abuse. You needn’t worry about your father hurting you in any way, now is the time to heal. Focus on healing, Johnny.”

  “I gotta talk to them today? What if I’m not ready to talk to them today? I’m not ready,” Johnny said as he sat down on his bed.

  “Johnny, I am unfamiliar with your case, so I’m unsure of a timeline regarding events. I can tell you that there is a limited amount of time that the authorities have to file charges for certain crimes. We need to start this ball rolling if there is to be justice for what has taken place. I need you to understand that you will never be alone in this process because there is always going to be someone there with you.” Brian’s words seemed genuine as the man calmly sat back down on the floor, looking up at Johnny.

  “I was outta line when my father got on to me, but Uncle Doug. I hate that dude.” As Johnny said this, he folded his hands and looked at the floor. He felt belittled even thinking about the atrocities that took place. He understood that he needed to discuss what had happened, but he literally didn’t understand how to. “He had a fun box. He brought it over all the time until he stopped coming. Then one day outta nowhere he just showed up to meet Jacob. He hurt Jake pretty bad. Mom left with him the next day.” Johnny’s words tasted like vile poison as they left his mouth. Hearing himself talk about such business out loud was something he wasn’t quite ready for.

  “Johnny, if your father is the person responsible for the extensive abuse you have obviously suffered, then he is to be held accountable as well. Disciplinary action and abuse are two entirely different things. Now, let me ask you, when was the last time you remember Uncle Doug visiting you specifically at your father’s residence?”

  “It feels like it was only a few nights ago, maybe the night before last, but I know that ain’t right. I think the last time he came to see only me I was in fifth grade, I think I was twelve,” Johnny said as he choked on the confusion stemming from his attempted recollection. Johnny looked at Brian, wondering what he would say. He didn’t understand why Doug did what he did, he only knew how it made him feel. He had hated the man for years, and that hate had long been festering in his heart.

  “If you were twelve, then there still might be time to file charges and pursue justice. Johnny, what do you mean it seems like only a night or two ago?” As Brian asked, Johnny had a great sense of urgency to acquire at least some insight into why his mind was playing tricks on him, he wanted answers.

  “Sometimes it seems like I can’t tell if what just happened, just happened, or if it happened before, like a long time before. It happens a lot when I wake up, but sometimes it just happens at any time, I think.” Johnny tried his best to explain what he felt was going on, although his description made little sense to him, he hoped Brian could decipher what he meant.

  “Johnny, do you ever feel as if you were just recently with your father, even though you know that can’t physically be possible?” Johnny looked at Brian, trying to find the right words to offer an effective description.

  “Yes.”

  “Johnny, I believe, from what I have witnessed, that you are suffering from a condition that several people in your position have suffered. The human mind can only handle so much, and then it seems to take its own path. Understand this may not be normal, but it is common in this situation, and it can be treated.”

  Brian’s words were like music to Johnny’s ears, even though he didn’t seem to understand completely what the man was saying exactly. In Johnny’s mind, past and present seemed like a radical mixture that not only overlapped, but intertwined into a mass of absolute confusion.

  “Now, Johnny, how about you get showered and dressed, and I will talk with Graye about getting you a healthy breakfast to start your day,” Brian said kindly as Johnny continued to sit on his bed. The boy was obviously nervous by the idea of being examined by a doctor, and not understanding completely what the process entailed was unsettling as well.

  “I know you’re nervous, Johnny, but in order to heal properly the human body and mind must first address the underlying issues; otherwise, it’s as if we are placing a band-aid over a broken bone. Make sense?” Brian placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder in a comforting manner.

  “You’ll be there the whole time, won’t ya?” Johnny asked in a nervous and anxious voice.

  “I will not be in the examination room itself, but I will be right outside with both Jackson and Graye. We will all be there. With your permission, the physician will discuss her findings, her medical opinion, and treatment options, if needed. We will also be present when you speak with the investigating officer; you needn’t worry about doing this alone. We will all be there to whatever degree you want us to be.”

  Johnny knew this was only one of many steps he would have to take to understand what was going on with his head. The night before only proved to Johnny how much the Everett family actually loved and cared for him. He knew that if he wanted a shot at maintaining this unity, and becoming a permanent part of the family, he would need to address several painful and traumatizing factors.

  “I think I can do it,” the boy said as he looked at Brian with a new sense of determination.

  “Well, now that’s the spirit! And I absolutely know you can do this, Johnny, I have witnessed several clients in my practice overcome despicable obstacles and blossom into productive and healthy individuals, and we are going to make sure yours is a story of success as well, okay
?”

  Brian’s words were certainly motivating, and they resulted in a small smile and a simple nod from the boy.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Answers

  Graye

  The office was beautifully crafted with rich, dark wood, a large bookshelf, and gray marble flooring. Graye and Jackson were with Brian in the waiting area of the empty office. Dr. Evans had performed the examination after hours, which was at noon on Saturday, as a courtesy to Johnny and everyone else involved. Officer Brad Stevenson was present as well, however he had informed Graye that some special agent would be joining them shortly, yet offered no details or further information. The woman imagined it was standard procedure in a case like this.

  Graye had been skimming through magazines the entire time they had been there, yet hadn’t read a single article as she was completely nervous and terrified to learn what the doctor had to say. Jackson seemed to be staring at the same section of the wall for the past ten minutes, chewing his gum nervously.

  The time seemed to be dragging by slowly, and no one seemed to want to discuss anything or even attempt to engage in casual conversation. As Brian stood from his chair and began walking in the direction of the facilities, the door to Dr. Evan’s exam room opened, and the woman exited.

  Graye had heard of Dr. Barbara Evans, but had never met the woman prior to this. She wasn’t expecting a beautiful Cajun woman with a heavy French accent. She appeared young, fit, and had blonde hair and green eyes.

  “Dr. Mulberry, I’m pleased you’re still here,” the woman said as she approached the four with a halfhearted smile. “I have been given permission to discuss my findings with you from my patient, Mr. Johnny Tregalis,” the woman said as she sat down in an empty chair next to Officer Stevenson and directly across from Graye, Jackson, and Brian.

  Graye instantaneously developed the lump in her throat. Part of her wanted to exit the scene rather than hear of the forthcoming list of atrocities.

  The woman opened the manila file and began reading in a robotic tone. “Radiology reveals healed fractures of the—” Dr. Evans stopped midsentence and turned her head from the file, away from the onlooking group of adults. She drew in several deep breaths and closed the file.

  “The boy has several healed fractures. His right wrist, his right ulna, four rib fractures on the left side, two on the right, four metacarpal bones have healed incorrectly, three on the right and one on the left. He has significant scarring to the surface of his entire back, which is consistent with years of traumatic abuse. Significant scarring associated with healed anal fissures is present, which is most certainly consistent with trauma to the area. There are sixty-six noticeable circular scars on the boy’s trunk, and legs. The patient confirmed the injuries were inflicted with lit tobacco products. There was a significant scar on the boy’s chest consistent with a blade injury, which the patient confirmed. When I instructed the patient remove his gown, he began trembling in a fearful manner. The examination itself was, in my opinion, traumatic for this young man. Officer Stevenson, I will have my report to your office electronically this evening and in a hardcopy by close of business day, Monday. In my professional opinion, I feel it would be in the patient’s best interest if you conducted questioning at another time.”

  “Yes, Doctor, of course,” Officer Stevenson said as the look of shock was slowly dissolving from his face as the doctor left the waiting room.

  “I’ll kill him. I’ll fu—I’ll kill the bastard,” Graye heard Jackson say in a low, distressed voice as his face displayed a look of pure rage.

  Graye’s attention turned to a gray-haired, clean-shaven, tall and slender man who had appeared in front of the four adults dressed in blue jeans, and a navy blue blazer. “I assume you’re referring to Thomas Tregalis?” the man said as he approached the group. “Are you Jackson and Graye Everett?” the man asked as he shook Officer Stevenson’s hand. “I’m Special Agent Terrence Boudreaux. I’ve been looking for Mr. Johnny Tregalis, and I am beyond pleased to learn the young man is in fact breathing,” the man said before anyone could answer. “As for wishing death on Thomas Tregalis, that won’t be necessary, the sick fuck is already dead.”

  Graye was beyond shocked as she stared at the Agent in disbelief, she found herself almost incapable of speech, as if he had just informed her that he was from another planet.

  “So, his father is dead? How? How is he, how did he die?” the woman blurted out to the best of her ability.

  “His neighbor, Bill Clementine, found the man dead in his house upstate just four days after Bill allegedly gave Johnny a ride to a bus station in Shreveport. The man’s blood alcohol level was a point four nine, but that isn’t accurate because the man had been dead so long before they found him. But the examiner concluded natural causes,” the agent as Graye continued to stare at him, her ears felt as though they were on fire. “I’m gonna need you two and Mr. Tregalis to come to the local precinct with me to answer some questions, and you can plan on being there a while,” agent Boudreaux continued.

  “Is Johnny in some sort of trouble? Are we?” Graye asked in an irritated and concerned voice as she leaned forward in her seat.

  “Mrs. Everett, there was substantial amount of evidence recovered from the Tregalis residence that has led to at least one arrest. We found some of the most disgusting evidence depicting child abuse that I’ve ever seen in my career, and Johnny’s assistance is going to be needed to put the sick fuck away. We also need to question his knowledge regarding the murder of his mother, and the unidentified child found with her.”

  “What!” Graye shrieked as she began to breathe deeply in disbelief. “That’s not right, his mother left when Johnny was, when he was sixteen. She took Jacob—”

  “Jacob? Who is Jacob?” Boudreaux asked with a puzzled look on his face.

  “Jacob is Johnny’s little brother. Are you telling us his mother and little brother are dead as well?” Jackson asked as he stood from his chair.

  “We have no record of Irene Tregalis giving birth to a second child. Unless she never sought medical assistance…” he paused and rubbed his chin. “The remains of Irene and a male toddler were found preserved in a padlocked deep freezer inside the old barn on the Tregalis property. The medical examiner confirmed the cause of death for both victims was blunt force trauma to the head, and that the female had been thawed out at least once, and sexually violated postmortem.” The agent appeared to have a difficult time even relaying the information as Graye remained silent and disgusted.

  “Are you telling me you believe Johnny doesn’t know Irene Tregalis is deceased?” the agent asked as he looked at Graye with a desperate look on his face.

  “No. He absolutely has no idea, and it’s going to be perhaps more than the boy’s fragile psychological well-being can handle at this point,” Brian chimed in as he appeared just as overwhelmed as the Everetts.

  “Are you the boy’s doctor?” Boudreaux asked as he looked at Brian.

  “I’m his psychologist, Dr. Evan’s is in her office toward the back,” Brian replied as he pointed toward the back of the office building.

  “Well, it might be best if you came along with us. I imagine it to be a long night,” Boudreaux said as he turned from the stunned group, shaking his head.

  Chapter Forty

  The News

  Johnny

  “Do these photographs look familiar, Johnny? Do you remember these?” Boudreaux asked the silent young man as he sat across from him with several pictures scattered on the table. The room was dark, pale blue, and as cold as the hearts of some of the violators that had been interrogated in it. Johnny glimpsed at the Polaroids, but quickly looked away. The boy looked at his reflection in the large mirror on the wall, he had no idea how to admit to himself that the kid being violated in the pictures was him, and he certainly had no clue how to tell the agent this.

  “Johnny, Doug Davenport is in custody. He’s gonna pay for what he did to you, but you’ve got to help me ou
t here. There may be other boys out there that this man has hurt, and I need your help.” Boudreaux’s words appeared genuine to Johnny. The thought of other boys suffering the way Johnny had made the young man realize he had to respond somehow, someway.

  “That’s me,” the boy said as he tapped one of the many pictures, “all of ’em.” Johnny then turned from the agent and looked at his reflection again. He was surprised that he didn’t feel more emotion than he did as he was neither regretful nor relieved that he disclosed his identity in the atrocious photographs.

  “You’re a brave man, Johnny. I know without a doubt you’re gonna get past this and do something absolutely fantastic, but right now we’ve gotta focus on putting this son of a bitch behind bars for as long as we can. Do you think you would be willing to talk to a jury in a courtroom?”

  Johnny looked at Boudreaux with a frightened look on his face. “I can’t. If he found out it would be real bad,” the boy said as he briefly looked at the pictures again and then looked back at the mirror.

  “Johnny, I got to tell you something, and it ain’t gonna be easy for you to hear, but you need to hear it just the same. Johnny, your daddy is dead; he was found dead July 22 by a neighbor, a Mr. Bill Clementine.”

  As Johnny heard these words, he stared at Boudreaux in disbelief as an uncontrollable smile fell across the boy’s face.

  “You know that for sure? No lie?” the boy asked as he continued to smile, feeling as though years of oppression were being lifted from his psychology.

  “Medical examiner confirmed the identity, he’s on a slab as we speak, young man,” Boudreaux replied happily as Johnny seemed absolutely thrilled by the news.

  “He…he gave my dad money almost every week, and sometimes twice a week, just depending. Sometimes he took the pictures, but if he wanted to be…if he wanted to be in the picture too, then my dad would take it,” Johnny explained as he watched Boudreaux’s face develop a heavy scowl and a look of disgust. The agent gathered the pictures and placed them back in the folder file.