Barbara's Plea

by Stacy Eaton

  There was no question. “I’ll sign,” I stated to Ken. There was no way in hell I was leaving that little girl in foster care, no matter what.

  “Grey, are you sure?” Barb’s eyes filled.

  “Barbie, God, you don’t even have to ask that. I love Allie. I’d do anything for her, for you.”

  She was so emotional that she couldn’t even reply, she shook her head and Ken motioned me over to the table. “Sign here, Grey.”

  The door opened as I was signing the last line. “The judge said time is up.”

  Barb stared at me, “Thank you, Grey.” She smiled. “You have no idea what that means to me.”

  Before I could speak, they had whisked her away. I turned back to Ken, “What happens now?”

  “Now, we go before the judge and accept the plea,” Ken brushed past me.

  “Isn’t this all happening fast? Don’t these things usually take months to deal with?”

  Ken turned back to me, “Yes, in most cases they do, but everyone, including the judge, wants this taken care of quickly. I’m pushing as hard as I can to get this moving. I think the judge wants me out of his courtroom since I keep pestering him so much.” He laughed before he left.

  “Mr. Bloodstone, you can follow me.” A uniformed officer led me back out to the hallway, and Gloria stood as I walked toward her.

  “Grey, what happened? You look like you just lost someone. What’s going on?”

  I shook my head and sat down, “No, I didn’t lose anyone. I just became a father again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Barb

  Going through intake at the prison was a mortifying experience even though I had already done it once before in New York. I was stripped naked, again; searched even more thoroughly than before, and that didn’t leave much left to search; and then told to shower with de-licing soap.

  I shared a cell with a woman who didn’t much care who I was, and that was fine. She fell on the bed as soon as we arrived, and I climbed up on the top bunk and lay back myself.

  When I had been planning how I was going to leave, I had never imagined that I could have ended up in this place. The thought had never crossed my mind. I had only wanted to get me and Allie out alive.

  I should have known better.

  I dozed for a little while, although the clanging of the metal doors opening and slamming shut woke me every time.

  It was late afternoon when Ken returned, and I was led to a small room with a table, three chairs, and a double-sided window.

  “You doing alright?” he asked as he took out his ledger pad and a pen.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “I listened to all of those recordings again, and I think I have an idea, but it’s not going to be easy.”

  “I don’t care about easy. I just want to put this behind me and get my daughter back. Is she with Todd?”

  I clenched my hands in front of me—at least the cuffs were off. I guess they trusted you to behave when you were with your lawyer.

  “No, I put an order in to keep him away until the investigation is complete.”

  “What investigation?”

  “The one I started when I filed a complaint that he had abused Allie.”

  “What?” My hands shook.

  “I listened to those recordings; I am bound by law to report child abuse if I believe a child might have or could be harmed. I believe that after listening to those tapes, he would do bodily harm to her, or at least total neglect, so I filed a report with the police that he had abused her.”

  I couldn’t help it, I laughed.

  “Right now, Allie is with a woman named Donna. I believe you know her?” His right eyebrow rose—and he smiled.

  At the mention of her old babysitter’s name I wanted to put my head down on the table and cry. Allie was being loved and cared for. She was safe. I nodded as I wiped away the tears streaking down my face. Ken smiled. Obviously, they didn’t know that Donna had been involved in my escape. I wasn’t going to mention it.

  “So, tell me, how good is your relationship with Grey Bloodstone?”

  I stared at him, confused by the change in conversation. “Why?”

  “Because I have another idea.”

  * * *

  The next morning, Ken, a police officer I didn’t know, Todd, his attorney, and I filed into the judge’s chambers. “This is a little unorthodox, so let’s get this out of the way.” The judge announced as he glanced around the room.

  “Your Honor, I’d like to offer up a plea on behalf of Mrs. Murphy,” Ken began as he sat beside me. I was sitting up so straight I thought my back would snap with the nervous vibration trying to shake through me.

  “You know you are supposed to deal with pleas with the prosecutor, not with me, Mr. Smallwood.”

  “I understand that, Your Honor, but these are unusual circumstances. Mrs. Murphy is ready to plead guilty to Identity Theft charges and wiretapping charges, in exchange for dropping the kidnapping charges.”

  “But the kidnapping charge is the lead charge,” the prosecutor stated quickly.

  “Yes, but there is something else: In return for the plea, Mrs. Murphy wants the divorce papers signed and for Mr. Murphy to terminate his parental rights.”

  I watched the judge’s face, his eyebrows rose and he turned to Todd.

  Todd, being the smug man that he was, flicked his hand my way, “Fine, I didn’t want the brat anyway, but I want her in jail for at least a year.” The prosecutor tried to hush him up. He knew what Todd had just done—and so did Ken.

  “No more than six months,” Ken countered firmly, and the judge eyed the prosecutor.

  “Your Honor, if Mr. Murphy turns over his rights to the child, does Mrs. Murphy understand that the child is going to be put into the foster system while she is incarcerated?”

  The mere mention of that made my toes bounce, and I used my clenched fist to push down on my thighs to stop them.

  “Your Honor, we have a person who is willing to adopt the child, Allie, and he is here in the courthouse right now.”

  The judge looked around the room. “Who is this man?”

  “His name is Grey Bloodstone, Your Honor, and he is a friend of the Withers family. He has no criminal history, Your Honor, I already ran him.”

  The judge stared at me for a moment, “Mrs. Murphy, is this your wish to have Mr. Bloodstone adopt your daughter and have her in his care while you serve out your sentence?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “I assume your client has not changed his mind about ‘the brat’ as he so described the child.”

  I almost laughed, but bit my tongue instead.

  “No, sir. We will accept the terms; drop the kidnapping and move forward with a six-month sentence for the ID theft and wiretapping,” the prosecutor grumbled. I could tell by his voice that he was angry.

  The judge turned his attention back to Ken and me, “You have fifteen minutes to get the necessary forms completed for the adoption. I assume you have them together already.”

  “Yes, Your Honor, we do. I would like to ask that Mrs. Murphy be allowed to speak with Mr. Bloodstone in person about this.”

  “So be it, fifteen minutes. Now get out of my office.” He waved his pudgy hands our way, and we all filed out of the office. Ken took me by the arm, while the police officer followed us.

  “Now to get Grey to sign the papers,” he said as the elevator doors slid closed. “Do you think he will?”

  I felt sick to my stomach. “I can only pray that he feels the way I hope he does.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  When Grey walked into the room, nothing could have held me back from launching myself into his arms. I never wanted to let go, but we had no time. I had to make sure Allie was taken care of. I knew I loved Grey, and I could only hope he cared enough about Allie that he would be willing to adopt her.

  When he said he would sign the papers, I almost wept in relief. Allie was going to be alright. She was going
to go home with Grey and Gigi, and she was going to be alright until I got home. Six months wasn’t that long, I could be home around the time she turned two.

  I was whisked away the minute the papers were signed and then kept waiting outside the judge’s office for an hour. We were told he was preparing for another case.

  When he was done, we weren’t shown back into his chambers; we were directed back to the courtroom. Ken went out in the hallway and retrieved Grey and Gigi. They sat behind the galley wall on my side. I tried to smile at them, but it was strained.

  The judge came into the courtroom and everyone stood.

  “Mr. Smallwood, do you have the signed documents?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” Ken stood and handed them to the clerk who stamped them and passed them to the judge.

  “Mr. Bloodstone, can you stand, please?”

  Grey glanced at me before he stood.

  “Mr. Bloodstone, you signed this document concerning the adoption of,” the judge looked down at the paper, “Allie Marie as your legal daughter?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” I couldn’t believe how strong he was being. “I’m honored to take on the responsibility for her.”

  “Mr. Murphy, did you sign your copies?” the judge asked Todd.

  He stood, “Yes, Your Honor, I did.”

  “And did you sign the other papers?” the judge glared at him from the bench.

  “Yes, Your Honor, I did.”

  “Fine, sit down.”

  The judge turned back to Grey. “Thank you for taking on such an important position, Mr. Bloodstone.” The judge scribbled on the paper, “As of now, her name is Allie Marie Bloodstone. Congratulations on your new daughter. I wish you the best. You can have a seat.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor.” Grey slowly sat down. Gigi grabbed his hand. He smiled at me, and I wiped away a tear, a happy tear. At least something good came out of all of this.

  “Can I please have the copies of the other documents?”

  Todd’s attorney brought forth the documents and handed them to the clerk. The judge scanned over them and signed in a couple of spots.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, as of now, you are officially divorced, due to the complicated situation and criminal charges pending, I hereby authorize this divorce immediate and final.” Just like that, I was single. Ken and I exchanged a glance. “Now for the final matter. Barbara Murphy, I need you to stand please.”

  My legs were shaking so badly that Ken put a hand under my elbow to help me stand. I was about to sign the papers and admit guilt to crimes I had done to protect me and my daughter. It had been worth it.

  “Barbara Murphy, your attorney has explained the plea agreement that you are about to enter, is that correct?”

  “Yes, Your Honor, he has.”

  “And you understand all the facts in this document?”

  “Yes, sir, I do,” my voice cracked, and I bit my lower lip to quell the tears that threatened to overpower me.

  “Do you have any questions about this document?”

  “No, Your Honor, I do not.”

  “Okay, then, on the charges of kidnapping Allie Marie, I understand the charges have been dropped. You are pleading guilty to one count of identity theft, and one count of wiretapping, is that what you understand?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” My heart beat fast, and I felt faint.

  He looked down at the papers in front of him, “In this agreement, you agreed to an incarceration term of six months,” I heard a gasp behind me and wasn’t sure if it was Grey or Gigi, “with a one year probation. Is that correct?”

  I swallowed hard, “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “You are willing to plead guilty and sign these forms that spell that out?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  He tapped his pen and looked around the courtroom. I didn’t dare move for fear I would pass out.

  “I’m changing the terms.” He bent over the workspace of the bench and began to write, I almost collapsed. Oh, my God! Was he going to give me longer? The blood pounded through my head, making my vision swim. “I hereby sentence you to two months of incarceration, and one year of probation.”

  My head spun toward Ken, and his eyebrows went up. Did he just say two months?

  “Your Honor!” Todd’s attorney had stood up. “We had an agreement, and she just agreed to that in this courtroom.”

  “Counselor, are you questioning my right to amend a plea?”

  “Um, no, Your Honor, but,” the attorney stammered and was cut off.

  “I just spent the last hour listening to the evidence that Mrs. Murphy recorded. I believe what I heard justified what she did, so I have changed the agreement.”

  “That’s bullshit!” Todd slammed his hand on the table as he stood up.

  The judge glared at him and I saw several deputies straighten up as if they were prepared to move toward him. “Another outburst from you, Mr. Murphy, and I will find you in contempt.”

  “Your Honor, with all due respect,” Todd began, and his attorney started whispering to him quickly; Todd waved his attorney out of his face, “you can’t use evidence from the crime to lessen her sentence. You listened to the recordings that she made of me illegally; that should have made you want a longer sentence.”

  The judge glared at him, “Are you done, Mr. Murphy?”

  Todd’s attorney hung his head and shook it.

  “I’m done if we go back to the original agreement,” Todd, in his complete arrogance, just had to continue.

  The judge smiled, not very nicely, “I can only assume by your statement that you have not had the chance to hear the recordings, is that correct?”

  “No, I haven’t, but that doesn’t matter,” Todd was going to keep digging himself a hole.

  “That’s enough. My decision is final.”

  Todd opened his mouth, and the judge simply pointed a finger at him. No words were necessary.

  Ken put his arm behind my back as I wavered on my feet. I was going to pass out.

  “Counselor, did you even bother to listen to them?” the judge asked Todd’s attorney.

  “No, I didn’t have a chance,” he murmured quietly.

  “If I had been you, I would have made time.” He finished writing on the papers and handed them to the clerk. “Mrs. Murphy, I will accept your guilty plea and plea bargain based on the changes I have made. I will assume you will accept them.”

  I nodded dramatically, “Yes, sir, Your Honor, sir.”

  “Fine, sign the papers.” The clerk brought them forth, and I had to adjust the pen in my shaking hand three times before I could finally sign my name.

  “I believe you stated that you were going to begin your incarceration immediately, is that correct?”

  I handed the papers back to the clerk, “Yes.”

  “Fine, but before they take you downstairs, I want to see you in my chambers. Bring your attorney.” The judge picked up his gavel and slammed it down, “Ten minute recess.”

  “Barb,” Grey called out to me, and I turned. I wanted to go to him, but an officer was already trying to pull me away.

  Gigi was holding a tissue to her face, and shiny trails lined her cheeks from the tears she had missed.

  “I’ll be alright. I promise, I’ll be alright. I love you, Grey. Go get our daughter, take care of her.”

  I was pulled from the room, but not before I heard him yell over the commotion, “I will. I love you, too, Barbie!”

  In the hallway, I could barely see where I was being led. The tears flowed unchecked down my face. The judge had only given me two months, instead of the agreed-upon six. I couldn’t believe it. I would be out in sixty days.

  The judge was already in his office when we arrived, “Stand outside, officer. I need to speak with Mrs. Murphy privately.”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  The door closed and the judge slid a box of tissues my way. “I’m proud of the way you handled yourself in there, but that is not why I called you in here.”


  “Why did you, sir?” I asked him after I wiped my face.

  “I am going to have an officer come down to the prison this afternoon. I want him to get your statement.”

  I glanced at Ken, perplexed. He was as confused as I was. “My statement?”

  “Yes, I listened to those recordings, Barbara, and I am horrified by what that man did to you. I am encouraging you to file a report on him for attempted homicide or, at the very least, aggravated assault and rape.”

  My jaw fell open.

  “That man should never be allowed to practice law again, and I want to make sure that son of a bitch knows what it feels like to be a prisoner.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Grey

  Six months! She was accepting six months in jail! I would have jumped up and screamed if it wasn’t for Gloria latching on to my arm and holding me still.

  That was why Barb wanted me to adopt Allie.

  I sat in strained silence as the judge continued. When he announced that he was reducing the time, I hung my head and thanked God for the smallest favor.

  I wanted so badly to hold Barb, the few moments in the room weren’t anywhere long enough, but it was obviously going to have to do.

  Barb yelled out as she was pulled backwards, “I’ll be alright. I promise, I’ll be alright. I love you, Grey. Go get our daughter, take care of her.”

  Tears ran down her cheeks. “I will. I love you, too, Barbie!” I yelled back and then she was gone.

  I sank onto the bench and put my hands into my face.

  Gloria sat beside me in stunned silence as people filed out of the room. I heard Todd make a comment as he passed, but I brushed it off. He might have thought he had won by having Barb put in jail, but I had what was important. I had Allie.

  I could go get Allie. “Come on, Gloria,” I helped her to her feet. “We need to go find my daughter.”

  We exited into the hallway and down the steps. At the bottom, I heard a familiar squeal and looked around to see Allie teetering toward me. I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms.