Hey everybody! Here is my new chapter... If you find this interesting, please let me know. If you don't like it, let me know too. I'm craving for some interaction. My dear Amélie is busy at school and I already miss her...
Enjoy!
Chapter 11: Why are you doing this?
Jordan and Jeffrey are in the court hallway, discussing something heatedly. Seely is also there, but he is rather quiet. People are coming past them; it's early in the morning.
- Jeffrey, you've got to help those babies, they're defenseless. You already know how abusive Raymond can be. You saw the injuries on Carl… - She's begging; it's not her style, yet this case is worth it.
-Yes Jordan, I'm aware of that, but if we refuse to give Raymond his children, they will be entering foster care services; we'll need much more evidence to establish a good case against him. Between him, who is free, and foster caring, which is expensive, the choice is evident. - Jeffrey answers.
- Maybe you don't need to involve foster care… Katlin Jerkins is already taking a boy; she is Miranda's cousin…-
- What you're suggesting is maybe more difficult. In cases where we have a fight for child custody and the father is abusive, the mother wins. That is, if there is plenty of evidence for the abusive behavior, which is fairly uncommon since the mother is scared and rarely goes to the police or declares at the hospital what is the source of the injuries present on the victim. They usually lie. In this case, we don't have any police statement, nor hospital report that indicates that Raymond did hurt his children. What we have is circumstantial evidence that can relate him with the injuries, and some witnesses. And our strongest witness is Mrs. Jerkins. She can't be both a witness and the demanding party.-
- But we have their siblings, they were there, too… And Mr. Santiago, he could help… He was already fighting for custody because of Raymond…-
- I don't know, Jordan, this is delicate… We would have to work hard… - He is about to give in.
- Come on, Jeffrey, what we have to do is to act fast, you know they are releasing the children today… We can't let Raymond take them. - She knows she is about to win and is on edge.
- Why are you doing this? Is this some kind of crusade for someone you know and care for? - He doesn't want to give up yet.
- If you're trying to imply that I'm doing this for Woody…- She stares at him. - I'm doing this 'cause it is the right thing to do. 'Cause Miranda wouldn't want Raymond to abuse her boys anymore. She can't do that now, but I can, and I will…- She closes her eyes and sighs.- Maybe I'm doing this for Woody, too, so what?-
- Ok, I don't know why I'm doing this… the last time we went to court with a case lacking evidence like this we were in lots of trouble convincing the judge, and I know they could have easily charged you for trespassing then…-
- All right, you said it'd take a lot of work, let's work. - And she pulls Jeffrey and Seely by their arms. "Damn it! I'm a homicide detective. How did I end up here?" Thinks Seely as he walks.
Later that day, Jordan is in her office. She is staring at the phone, thoughtfully. She finally seems to have made a decision and grabs the phone. She dials.
- Cal? Hi…-
- Yes, it's Jordan. - She says
- Not alright… nobody is hurt, I mean physically hurt… but it looks like we have a problem – She closes her eyes and sighs.
- You know, that's why I'm having a baby. But I didn't call you to discuss my sex life… - She is a little annoyed.
- I don't want to know about your sex life, either! – "Only Cal would behave that way."
- I want to ask you something…- She speaks carefully.
- Yes it's about Woody, but he doesn't want to tell me. Or maybe he can't…- She answers.
- Yes, you can. You know the answer too.-
- Stop it, Cal! This is serious! - She turns edgy because of his playful mood.
- You have to promise me you'll tell the truth. - She seems satisfied with his answer and carries on.
- Ok, here it goes. Ready? - A second of suspense…
- Did your father abuse you when you were kids? I mean, I don't know… did he beat you? – A very long silence is what she gets.
- Cal, are you still there? -
At their apartment, Woody and Jordan are sitting on the couch, watching TV. Woody is holding Jordan lovingly with one arm. All of a sudden, she grabs the remote and turns the TV off. Woody doesn't quite notice the change of things.
- What? Didn't you like it? – Finally says as he realizes the TV is off.
- I wasn't paying attention; I've been waiting for the right moment to talk to you. It doesn't seem to come, so any moment is as good as other…
- What, Jordan? I don't want to discuss it yet. - He pulls his arm away from her.
- So when, Woody? We'll have to talk someday, why not now?
- Because. – His response is adamant.
- I can't let you go on like that…- Jordan takes a moment to regroup, and persists. - You know? Katlin, Miranda's cousin, is fighting for custody of Carl and Danny.-
- It seems like the right thing to do.
-Yes, it is. We don't want Raymond anywhere near his kids…- Woody becomes silent. Jordan grabs his hand and as he doesn't free it, she continues.
- I called Cal. - She says in a soft manner.
- Why? What does he have to do with it? – And he is now trying to take his hand away, but she doesn't let him.
- I know Woody, I know everything! - He is puzzled.
-Would you like to enlighten me, I don't know what you're talking about.
- I always thought that you were like a father to Cal, I was wrong. - Says Jordan sorrowfully.
- What do you…?
- You're his mother figure and his father figure as well. - She keeps on talking.
- I don't understand, you're not making sense… - He's still dazed.
- You were only a little boy and you were already taking care of your baby brother.-
- You knew that, you knew my mom died when I was four.-
- What I didn't know was that you were all alone. I thought you went to live with some family, or maybe an aunt was going to take care of you. I didn't imagine you were literally alone. I didn't know that your father wasn't abusive just once, either. It was happening during your entire childhood. - Woody pulls his hand forcefully and stands up.
- I don't know what Cal told you, it wasn't anything like that. My father loved us! - He is finding it difficult to breath.
- Calm down, please…- Jordan approaches him and makes an effort to reassure him.
- That is an infamous lie, Jordan. My dad was a good man…- He is almost begging.
- Woody, Cal told me that your dad used to beat him really hard when he was a child, and that you were always trying to smooth things out. He told me you stood some strikes too. But mostly, you were left to cure his injures, to feed him, to take care of him. It was not your call; I can't imagine… It must have been terrifying for you, all that responsibility on you little shoulders. Maybe your dad did love you, but he was negligent, his own pain over his dead wife was not an excuse for what he did to you, to Cal and you. - Woody became quiet. - Even if you don't want to admit it, it's logical after all, Cal's problems with drugs, alcohol, gambling… and you aiming to be the rescuer. If you couldn't save Cal, you had to save somebody, anybody, me…- She's looking for a reaction and can't see anything. Woody is petrified. - And every time you got close to loving someone, you couldn't deal with it and you'd ran away fast. It only makes sense – how we ended up together: running away, we both met on the other side, earth is round, you know? It was bound to happen…- She attempts to lighten things as Woody appears to be distant, almost not himself. Suddenly, he turns to the door, and as he is leaving, says:
- I'm going for a walk. Don't worry, I'll come back later. I always do.-
Music playing:
You landed in my life
Like a new and brighter light
That made all my past seem in the shadow
I always used to believe
That beauty was skin deep
But I need a new word to describe you
And the time that it took to take down the wall
Was the time that it took for me to fall
Hopelessly weak
No one can take you away from me now
Don't worry if they take me away
No one can take you away from me now
Don't matter how long we have to wait…
Fragment of "No One Can" by Marillion in the album "Made Again"
