by Terri Marie
“Did you go to school, Brian?”
“I wasn’t allowed out.” Brian shook his head.
“Your parents claim that you were homeschooled. Is that true?” Chase seemed like he already knew the answer.
“No, not at all. After I ran away, in the evenings, I’d spend time at libraries. There was this homeless man who taught me a lot.” Brian briefly looked at Tyler. “When I moved in with Tyler and Renee, I had to catch up to my grade level.”
Tyler didn’t realize that tears were dripping off his chin. The wet faces and clenched fists of his brothers let him know he wasn’t alone. Emma and Elissa were both crying and holding hands. Renee, however, still hadn’t removed her eyes from the Waters.
“Tell me about the day you got free. Did your father let you out of the basement?” Chase’s fist was wrapped tightly around the side of the podium.
“Eventually, my dad took the chain off of me. Maybe he liked more of a challenge, but I know he definitely liked throwing me farther, making me hit the wall. I was so afraid of defending myself, but one day I just lost it. When he walked into the bathroom the last time, I hit him in the face with all of my might. Then I ran like hell.” Brian grinned.
“What pushed you to the point of standing up to a man much bigger, much stronger than you?” A silence fell in the courtroom, but Chase let Brian take his time.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Brian looked back down at his lap. Tyler could see his eyes watering.
“Brian, I know this is very hard for you, but it’s important that you tell us everything you remember.” Chase walked closer to Brian again.
“There’s nothing more to tell, I’m done.” Brian stood up and walked back to the prosecutor’s table and sat down, putting his face on his folded arms. Tyler wanted to scream.
The judge wrote something down, and then looked over at Simmons. “Do you have anything to add?”
“A few things, Your Honor. There’s no evidence anywhere on that property, that Brian was abused or neglected. None. The basement isn’t even in the condition that’s been alleged. The police report…” Simmons laughed, causing him to get a stern look from the judge. “It was all made up by Tyler Montclair and Brian Waters. He wants to adopt this boy, so he had to lie in order for that to happen. Brian’s a runaway who didn’t like to follow rules, plain and simple. Money talks, Your Honor, and the Montclairs have plenty. I’m sure the boy has been given lots of expensive gifts while he was with them. My clients, Hank and Shirley Waters, are loving parents. Shirley homeschooled Brian, and you have copies of his paperwork, to prove it. To even suggest that they’d be capable of emotionally or physically abusing Brian, is ludicrous. There’s absolutely no proof! Not to mention, if Hank Waters was abusing his son, where was his mother? Certainly, she loves Brian, and she’d never tolerate it. So please, Your Honor, ask Brian Waters where his mother was when all of this abuse was supposedly going on?” Simmons held his hands out to drive his point home. Tyler wanted to break the man’s arms.
“Brian, was your mother home during these times you’ve described?” asked Uldum.
“Yes,” Brian answered in a quiet voice. He lifted up his eyes and looked at the judge.
“Why didn’t you tell her?” The judge looked at the kid as if he was full of doubt.
“Tell my mother? She was there.” Brian started to laugh. He stood up and looked right at his parents. “My mother was there, because she was filming it!” His entire body started to crumble.
The courtroom fell silent.
Renee tried to get up, not to comfort Brian, but to attack the Waters. As Tyler held her down, he looked over at his brothers. Jacob and Sean were holding Elissa and Emma, who were also fiercely fighting to get at the Waters. He watched Vincent look at Carrie with concern, when she rose to her feet and hurried out of the courtroom.
“Please stay seated,” interrupted the judge. “Brian’s statements were very moving, but there’s still no evidence that any crime was ever committed against him. This case has been thoroughly investigated by Child Protective Services, as well as by law enforcement. I’m releasing Shirley Waters from custody, effective immediately, and dropping all abuse charges against both her and Hank Waters. Because Brian is still a minor, he’s going to be returned to the care of his mother today. Mr. Chase, did you ask Tyler Montclair to pack a suitcase for Brian?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Vincent looked at Tyler, and he smiled and nodded, but he had no intentions of sending him on that trip to Ohio.
“Very well. Case dismissed.” The judge got up and walked out of the courtroom. Hank and Shirley were thanking Simmons. She hugged her husband goodbye, and then she started walking towards Brian with a smile and outstretched arms. Tyler hurried over to his son.
“Goodbye, Brian. Take care of yourself.” He hugged him with one arm, shoved an envelope into his hands, and whispered.
“Run…”
To be continued in:
The Montclair Brothers
Book 4
Coming in the summer of 2014
Contact Terri Marie
I love to chat with my readers!
Find me on twitter:
@authrTerriMarie
Email:
[email protected]
Come join me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/terri.marie.50
https://www.facebook.com/authorterrimarie
My Website:
http://www.authorterrimarie.com/