Chapter Thirteen

Ben wished he could've been there when they handed Andrew a letter stating he was to show up at the trial the following day at eight am. As it was, both he and Riley had struggled to get up in a quick fashion. Emily had mostly hurried through the house yelling at both of them to get up before they were late for their own hearing.

Now Ben sat in the driver's seat as he, Emily and Riley headed to the DC courthouse for Domestic Affairs. Riley sat in the back, in his little suit, Ben up front in a similar suit. Both had even worked to make their hair look decent. "How long will it last?" Riley questioned.

"Most adoption cases are less than a half hour. But I'm willing to bet this one could last at least one day, maybe longer." Ben explained, as he pulled into the city and headed towards the courthouse.

"What happens if he wins?" Riley whispered softly as he looked up at the surroundings buildings.

Ben glanced in the rear view mirror, "Hey," He spoke, "Listen to me, Riley. Because I'm not going to repeat myself," He waited until the boy's eyes were dead on him. "This government was founded on what is right and what is wrong. People risked their lives, so our government would put boys like you in homes where you're safe and happy. I know it's not always a good government, and I know it has its faults. But there is no way that you aren't going to be my son. Don't even consider it, because when this is over you have to go back to school, you're going to start the Robotics and Technology club, and for Christmas we're going to buy you a bike. Got it."

Riley glanced at the man as Ben turned to look at him, "Got it," He smiled firmly, appreciating Ben be honest.

"Right then, let's take this place by storm," Ben parked the car and got out, he watched Riley shuffle out, and reached his hand out. The child reached up and gripped Ben's hand. Together the three made their way into the courthouse.

Riley was busy looking around animatedly, having never been in these buildings before. "Riley, come on," Ben said, having to pull the kid forward more than a couple times. Seeing that Riley was too enamored by the elegance of the building, Ben hefted the boy into his arms, resting him against his hip, "There now you can look and we can still be on time."

They arrived with a few minutes to spare before the judge would enter. Amber smiled as she reached out to Riley, who instantly went to her. "You get to come with me kiddo."

"Where we goin'?"

"We're going to go hang out where the jury usually sits, doesn't that sound cool?"

He grinned and looked up at Ben, waving to him. Ben chuckled softly as he looked at his mom, "Okay, well this is it." He gave her a peck on the cheek before they took their respective seats.

A few moments later the door to the back room opened, "Judge Cooper residing over the courtroom."

She looked out over the group, eying what she assumed was the former father, and the future father. She glanced over to the juror seats where Riley was watching with Amber, his caseworker.

"Right then, Poole vs. Gates, custody. Mr. Gates, it says you're filing for adoption, while the biological father is still alive?"

Ben stood, "Yes ma'am."

"You are aware that in ninety percent of these cases, if the biological parent is still alive, the child goes to them."

"Yes ma'am."

"Right then, let's begin, Mr. Gates, Mr. Jones, you have the floor first."

Jacob Jones stood, thanking the judge briefly and opened a file, "I'd like to bring Office Frank Smith to the floor."

Frank took the standard oath then took a seat; he looked over at Riley who smiled warmly at him. Frank knew he was doing the right thing. "Officer Smith, when was your first encounter with Riley Poole?"

"When he was four years old, his mother died, and Riley's school teacher contacted social services because she believed he was being abused."

"And what was the situation upon your arrival at Andrew Poole's home?"

"The place was a dump, beer cans and whiskey bottles everywhere, it was amazing nobody had come earlier. The child was cowering in a corner crying, there wasn't an inch of him that wasn't bruised or bleeding."

"The evidence proving the father did it?"

Frank nodded, "Aside from the three year old begging us not to let his daddy touch him…there were belts, bottles, all of which had the finger prints of Mr. Poole, and the blood of Riley Poole on them."

"Thank you Officer Smith. Mr. Poole, if you'd take the stand?"

The burly man took a seat on the witness stand, glaring at Ben and the brat. Jacob took a deep breath and looked at the man, "Mr. Poole, how did your wife die?"

"She drowned in the bathtub."

Jacob nodded, "Was your wife…drinking at the time-"

"Objection your honor, this is about the care of a child, not the death of his wife. Mr. Poole has already been tried for his wife's death and found innocent."

Jacob looked over at the judge. "Sustained, Jacob, try and keep it to the child."

Jacob nodded, "Right then, but let me make it clear, how odd it is that a man who's already been put on trial for murder, is a person we're allowing handle a ten year old boy."

"Object-"

"Overruled, Andrews if you're going to argue about everything, I'll kick you out of the courtroom. Jones has a valid point. Continue."

"Thank you, your honor." Jacob looked at Andrew, trying desperately not to completely hate the man. "Mr. Poole, when you took your son home earlier this week, he was a completely healthy ten year old boy, no bruises, broken bones or anything. Upon leaving your house four days later, he had a mild concussion, bruises, contusions, a hairline fracture-"

"So the kid is clumsy," muttered Andrew. "Ain't every ten year old."

Jacob nodded, "So, what he just accidentally got raped by a forty year old man?"

Judge Cooper's eyes went wide, but she let Jacob continue. "And this wasn't the first time you've taken your anger out on him is it-or other people? Here I have the records of one Riley Poole, age five, "Show's definite signs of sexual abuse and rape, including bruising around the scrotum and tears in the anal wall." A man your size could kill a child like that. But that's not it, I pulled your history, you're a known sexual predator in two other states."

Andrews looked at Andrew, as though realizing there was no way he could win this case. Riley glanced at the man he called father and felt himself squirm under the stare of utter hatred. "I'm finished, if anyone else would like to continue."

TBC