Rattling Around: The Baxter Boys #5 (The Baxter Boys ~ Rattled)

by Charles, Jane

  “The defense says they’ll let us know when they are going to call you guys so you don’t have to sit out here all day.”

  Noelle narrows her eyes. “So that was his game. That asswipe just wanted to keep us from being in there when Kaden testified.”

  The prosecutor shrugs. “That’s my guess, but after they meet today and go over a strategy they may decide they want you back first thing in the morning.”

  Noelle blows out a sigh.

  “All we can do is wait,” I tell her. “Let’s get out of here, get some ice cream and wait for them to figure out what they are going to do.” That is really the only thing any of us can do, but if what the prosecutor is saying is true, Kaden’s dad should think about making a deal, if it’s possible to make one at this point.

  “Hey, Grams, Gramps,” I say as Kaden and I come in from the back.

  “Hello, dear, how was school today?”

  I glance a Gramps and he gives me a sad smile. He knows where I’ve been but my grandmother has forgotten, or she thinks I’m still in school, which I haven’t been for a year. “It went well and Kaden did really well too.”

  My grandfather blows out a sigh and his shoulders drop as if he’s relieved. He’s known step by step what has been going on and if it wasn’t for Grams needing someone here constantly, he would have been at the courthouse with me.

  This can’t be easy for him. Between Grams’ state of mind, losing his daughter, and the trial, he’s been struggling too. On top of all of that, he’s living in pain.

  I haven’t spent much time thinking about how much he must be suffering. I’ve been too busy thinking about my brother, but my grandfather has been left with nobody to talk to.

  Of course, he has Uncle Tink, his son, who he doesn’t call apparently. Then again, my Gramps is of an age and from a time when people took care of themselves and soldiered on. Except, he has no problem calling Sean when he needs help.

  “Do you guys need anything?”

  “We are fine, Noelle,” my grandfather says, sympathy in his eyes. “Why don’t you rest? I know you haven’t been sleeping.”

  I grimace. “Did I wake you?”

  “No, I was already awake when you snuck into the kitchen these past few days. I just didn’t want to get out of bed yet.”

  It is so hard to move around this house and be stealthy in the morning because I have to literally walk through my grandparents’ bedroom to get to the kitchen and they’re sleeping just on the other side of the wall while I make coffee.

  “Actually, I need to unpack.” Since we brought the boxes in, all I’ve been doing is living out of them. I haven’t put a thing away and any dirty clothes I have are in a pile in the corner. “I think I’ll get the rooms cleaned up, set up Kaden’s, then tackle my own.”

  “Don’t forget homework,” Grams says.

  “It’s summer.” That’s better than trying to explain.

  “Still, read a book and keep your mind sharp.”

  Will it really? My Grams always had a stack of books she was reading from as long as I can remember. She got me my first library card. She read like nobody I knew but her mind is far from sharp.

  Shaking my head, I rub my temples. Who knows why some minds go and others stay clear, but hopefully one day an answer and cure will be found.

  Oh, to read a book. It’s been so long. Months, and I’d like nothing better than to get lost in another time, place and world. Maybe when the trial is over, I’ll go to the closest bookstore and find the biggest fiction novel out there and shut myself away.

  With a sigh, I head up the stairs. Getting lost in a book, better yet, an awesome series, is a dream. Not an impossible one, but a dream nonetheless at this time in my life since the first thing I need to do after the trial is over is to find a job.

  My phone goes off as I’m headed into my room. The smile is immediate when I see Sean’s name. We just left them. After getting ice cream and sitting in the park, we all headed back home with the girls going off to wherever they needed to be.

  “Hello.”

  There is a pause before he speaks. “Hey. I was wondering, do you want to go get a drink or something. Maybe dinner?”

  Yes! Not that I yell that or anything.

  Kaden steps out into the hall and I’m reminded that I have responsibilities.

  “I can’t,” I finally say. “I’ve let things go and Kaden isn’t even unpacked. That’s what I’m tackling tonight.”

  “Need help?”

  If I invited Sean over to my bedroom, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t get anything done. I look at Kaden again.

  On second thought I would, but Sean doesn’t need to hang around while I’m being all motherly and domestic. “I’ve got it.”

  “You sure. I’m really good at hauling boxes.”

  I’m pretty sure he’s good at everything. “That’s okay. We’ve taken up a lot of your time these past few days and Kaden needs me here and some normalcy I think.” Maybe once his room is set up, things will start to settle and we can focus on the next step of our life.

  “Okay, but if you change your mind, about the drink or the help, just give me a call.”

  I find myself smiling. “Will do.”

  10

  “Did she shut you down?” Ryan asks with a smirk.

  “It was just a drink. A chance for her to get away for a little bit.” The timing sucked and I should have waited but I really wanted to spend more time with Noelle.

  Hell, I think about her all the time. There is something about her.

  Beautiful? Yep.

  Strong? Yep.

  Admirable? Definitely.

  Noelle Dubois is the full package, even during the worst time in her life, and I just have to give it time. Things have been promising so far and if her life wasn’t in such turmoil, we probably would be going out tonight. At least, I’d like to think she’d want to go out.

  “Heading down,” I tell Ryan. “Basement apartment isn’t going to get built on its own.”

  All of the framing is done. We decided to go with two bedrooms instead of one, which leaves a smaller living room, but easier to rent. The kitchen is directly beneath our kitchen, but on a smaller scale, so all we had to do is gut it for the new design.

  I’m really pleased with what’s been accomplished but there is so much more to do.

  The guys follow me since they cleared their day for the trial. We didn’t know that Kaden would be on the stand so quick because sometimes things don’t always go as they should during a trial, nor did we think we’d be out of there in under two hours. At least it’s over and that is all that matters, and I think the kid is going to be okay. Or, as okay as you can be after going through what he has. Plus, he’s in therapy and is playing the piano.

  Which reminds me, and even though I shouldn’t call Noelle again, I’m going to anyway.

  “Hey,” I say after she answers. “I just wanted you to know that anytime Kaden wants or needs to play the piano, he is welcome to come over. We don’t mind, and we get it.”

  “Really? That’s so sweet.”

  Do I hear a smile in her voice?

  I leave the guys behind and go back upstairs. They don’t need to hear my side of the conversation because I don’t want to listen to their shit. Sometimes they can revert back to fourteen.

  “You and I have outlets so I’m assuming playing is Kaden’s.”

  “It is,” she sighs. “You have no idea how good it was to hear him play again.”

  “Well, anytime he wants, seriously.”

  “He has a piano.” Sadness bleeds into her voice. “It was Mom’s.”

  “Where is it?” I hope they didn’t sell it or something.

  “Storage. I’d love to get it out, but where would we put it?” She gives a little laugh. “It’s too heavy to get up the stairs and with Grams and Gramps living on the first level, there isn’t an inch of space.”

  “Let me think on it. There may be a way.”

  “I’m
pretty sure there isn’t any place we can squeeze it unless we get rid of some furniture.”

  “We’ll, there’s that.” I laugh. There’s an abundance of furniture in that house for four people.

  “Maybe,” she says. “But, thanks for the offer. If I think Kaden needs to play, I’ll let you know.”

  “Okay. Call if you need anything else.”

  “I will.

  There is a pause and I really should say goodbye but I don’t want to.

  “Sean?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Thanks for everything. You don’t even know me but you’ve already done so much.”

  “If knowing someone was a requirement to helping them out then we’d all be screwed. Call anytime.”

  “Thanks. Talk to you later.”

  For the first time since I got back to the States, I slept like the dead. Eight hours of nothingness. I didn’t even dream and it feels wonderful. Of course, I’ve been exhausted so it was bound to catch up to me sooner or later.

  I knew I was worried about Kaden testifying but I had no idea that once it was over I’d sleep like the dead. One hurdle is over and the next will soon be jumped—the trial, then I can focus on the next one—getting a job. It shouldn’t be that hard. At least I hope it isn’t since there are a ton of restaurants and bakeries in New York. Someone has got to want to hire me, I hope.

  After rolling out of bed, I stick my head in Kaden’s room but he’s already up. He even made his bed. If I hadn’t tucked him in last night I’d worry that he hadn’t even slept there. He was always neater than I have ever been. I think he started picking up his toys when he learned to walk, whereas you couldn’t even see the floor of my room until I moved out. Living in a dorm and then small apartment certainly motivates organization and neatness.

  Gramps and Grams are watching the morning news and Kaden is in the corner of the couch again. Except, he isn’t hiding under a blanket and he’s eating a bowl of cereal.

  I really need to convince Grams to let me clean off the kitchen table so we have someplace to eat.

  This place is so crowded with furniture, knickknacks, old photos, paper, books and all kinds of other things she won’t part with that it’s almost claustrophobic. But, I shouldn’t complain. They are giving me and Kaden a place to live and not charging us anything. Plus, I know the school district is good. Mom went there and I did too and we turned out okay.

  It would be nice to get my brother into a conservatory so that he could realize his potential, but we don’t have that kind of money and, short of winning the lottery, we never will. And, since I can’t afford to play the lottery, we’ll never win.

  Oh well, there are worse things in life than being poor and once I’m working, things will start to look up.

  The old grandfather clock chimes and I glance at it. Crap, it’s almost nine.

  Rushing back upstairs I check my phone to make sure I didn’t miss a call from Mrs. Croft. She still wasn’t certain if I’d be called this morning and I would hate to be late for court if Gary’s attorney was serious about wanting me as a witness.

  It’s ringing just as I start down the hall.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit!” I hope she isn’t wondering where I’m at.

  As I grab the phone to answer, I open the closet door and start pulling out an outfit to wear today.

  “Hello.”

  “Noelle, its Jennifer Croft.”

  I knew that from her caller ID but maybe lawyers think they need to introduce themselves.

  “I’ve got good news and bad news.”

  Shit! I sink down on the bed.

  “Gary has agreed to accept a deal.”

  “Deal, what kind of deal? He’s going to prison, isn’t he?” If not, then the first thing I’m doing as soon as I’m dressed is getting my brother a passport and I will take him to Paris with me.

  “I didn’t realize until this morning, because it was kept hush hush, but Gary was also being investigated for fraud and embezzlement,” she explains.

  Holy crap! Well, that explains where all of his money came from.

  “The brokerage firm that he works for is up to their necks in theft and all kinds of other legal activities and Mr. Norris has agreed to testify against all of them for a reduced sentence.”

  “Can’t they just reduce his sentence for the fraud?”

  “It doesn’t carry the same amount of weight when you’re already facing first degree murder charges.”

  I guess she has a point. “How much time will he serve?”

  “Fifteen years and in a federal penitentiary.”

  “So, a nicer place than where I wanted to send him.” Which is actually hell, but I’m pretty sure he’ll end up there eventually.

  “He’s got information on some important people, bigger fish, so to speak. This group is responsible for ruining the lives of a number of people, manipulating banking, skimming off pension funds, and I’m sure it goes deeper than they’ve even told me. They’d been under investigation for a few months and their break came when your step-father was arrested. So, they sat back and waited to see how the trial was going and after yesterday, they knew they had him and could make a deal, if the District Attorney went along with it.”

  “What was he facing?” I had been hoping it was life.

  “Twenty years to life for first degree murder. The DA has agreed to let him plead down to second degree with a fifteen year max in exchange for testifying for the feds.”

  “He kills my mom and gets to spend the next fifteen years in federal country club, maybe less?” I nearly scream.

  “They aren’t that nice, trust me, I’ve been to a few of them. But, he’ll lose his freedom and not get out until he’s sixty.”

  “That’s still not long enough.” Kaden will only be twenty-two when his dad is free, if he spends the whole fifteen in there. My brother will only be a year younger than I am now.

  “I know.” She sighs. “Could be worse though.”

  “How?” I don’t even see how that’s possible, except they drop the murder charges.

  “Feds wanted to offer him witness protection for his testimony. We wouldn’t go for that.”

  “He’s that important to them. Since when do money crimes require witness protection?” It isn’t like it’s a violent crime.

  “Mob links, possibly, though that has been neither confirmed nor denied.”

  My stomach tightens. What the hell was Gary into and does it put Kaden in danger too? “Is Kaden safe? Will they try to use my brother to get to Gary?” Maybe moving to Paris will be a necessity.

  “No. Everything will be done in secret. By the time anyone knows, the testimony and depositions will already be of record.”

  I still don’t like it.

  “We agreed to the fifteen and they agreed to send him to a Federal Penitentiary far away from New York, and he’ll be under an assumed name for his protection.”

  At least he’s still going to prison. I would have been so be pissed if after all of this Gary was let out to live under an assumed name. I’d always be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to show back up and get Kaden or maybe want to make him pay. “So, witness protection in prison.” I find myself smiling. “I kind of like that. Gary was all about having power, his name, connections and being important. Can they give him the most common name out there so he is stripped of everything? ”

  She chuckles.

  “Or, give him a really bad and embarrassing name. You know the kind of name that when you hear it you wonder if the parents wanted the kid to be beat up in school?”

  “I’ll put the request into the feds,” she laughs.

  The trial is over. It is slowly sinking in that this is past us now. No more testifying, no more trips to the courthouse, no more waiting to find out what a jury decides, and no more waiting for sentencing. “It’s truly over, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “And now I can move forward with trying to put the pieces of Kaden’s life
back together, what pieces that still remain at least.”

  “There’s more.”

  What more could there possibly be?”

  “Your step-father’s bank accounts are now frozen.”

  “So.” I don’t get what that has to do with me or Kaden.

  “We had planned on asking for a portion of it to go in to a trust fund for Kaden as a form of restitution.”

  She never mentioned that to me. It would have helped a lot.

  “But because of how the money was made, it’s no longer his. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I didn’t even know getting any of Gary’s money was a possibility, and I’m not sure Kaden would have wanted it anyway.”

  “It would have paid for college and helped support him, help you support him, until he’s an adult.”

  “We’ll be fine.” Though some money would have been nice.

  “It’s over, isn’t it?” I know she told me it is but I need to hear it again, and then maybe pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

  “It is. “

  “Thanks Mrs. Croft, for everything.”

  “You’re welcome, and give my best to Kaden.”

  I sit there for the longest time, not moving and not really thinking. Maybe I’m just in shock. Maybe it’s because with just one phone call all of that is behind us. I’m not sure if I’m elated or let down.

  Can I trust that it’s really behind us? What if they are wrong and someone does come after Kaden to get to Gary? I can’t protect him from scary guys with guns. Can anyone?

  Right now my brother is safe and I need to keep it that way.

  Instead of heading downstairs, I call Uncle Tink. He’ll know what to do.