Chapter 28:
Judge Discovery
AN: So, here's Chapter 28! I hope you like it! And be sure to check out my Wind at my Back story! I'd just like to thank everyone who reviewed, and reviewer Emilie for her well wishes! To be honest, when I started this story, I thought everyone would hate it. I'm so glad you all like it! Oh, and I'd just like to say that for those of you who are reading this and live in countries that speak Spanish, German, and Italian (which I'm sure only Italy speaks, but I could be wrong,) if you'd like, you can review. I speak all three languages pretty well. And for others, I'll just enter it into my translator. And I speak Chinese, so you can review in that language, too. Yeah, my friends think I'm weird that I speak those, yet I still have horrible English grammar. But foreign languages have always fascinated me. :) Have a great day! God Bless You, fellow writers! :)
Ravi tossed and caught the small bottle of chocolate milk in his hands. Toss, catch. Toss, catch. Toss, thump. The bottle fell to the floor. Ravi sighed, bending down and picking it up.
"Why do we have to stay down here?" Zuri complained, resting her chin in her hand. The three Ross children were sitting in the cafeteria, which, the way they were going, was becoming their new home.
"Because Mom and dad said so," Emma explained.
"I do not see why," Ravi countered, taking his feet off the chair next to him and facing his sisters. "Luke and Mary are still technically our siblings. We should be there for them."
Emma sighed. "Mom said she didn't want us to worry."
"Cause we're totally not worrying right now," Zuri scoffed. But her sarcasm was quickly replaced by concern. "Emma...they are gonna wake up...right?"
Emma put her arm around her little sister. "Of course they are. Don't worry."
"But it's been five days, Emma. What if-"
"Shut it, Jack! Somebody might hear us!" The gruff voice of Thomas cut her off. The kids looked at each other questioningly. Ravi put his finger to his lips and motioned for the girls to stay at the cafeteria table.
Stepping quietly, he made his way to the cafeteria doors. Thomas was standing not five yards away, his cellphone pressed against his ear, even though he had put it on speaker.
"If you don't want people to hear me, then take the stinkin' phone off speaker, you moron!" Shouted a male voice through the phone.
Despite Ravi's order, Emma and Zuri were crouching by his side in a second.
"Jack, shut it, alright! I called you because I need you out here. Now."
"Who's Jack?" Emma mouthed.
Ravi shook his head. Then he pulled out his phone, tapped the voice recorder app, and hit record.
Emma's jaw dropped. "Ravi, you can't record someone without their permission! That's illegal!"
"What do you want?" Jack continued.
"Listen. I think they know. The twins, I mean. I think they're onto us."
"What? About the whole me being the judge thing?"
"Yeah."
"So, what? Who they gonna tell?"
"Listen, that's not why I called. I'll pay you double. I need you to do it again."
"Thomas, I don't know. It seems a little risky to me. I mean, what if the Ross's catch on?"
"They're stupid, Jack. They won't know. Please. I can't lose my kids."
"Woah, woah, woah. I'm not hearing this. Thomas, you can't stand those two. You told me yourself."
"I know. It's just...well, they're my kids. I don't hate 'em."
"Can it, Olsen. Look, I'll be there in three days."
"Okay. Thanks, Jack."
With that, Thomas flipped the phone shut, and stalked off towards the elevators. The kids ducked from view. When he was gone, they stood.
"We have to tell mom and dad," Zuri started.
"No!" Emma exclaimed. "We don't even know who this guy is. We need to talk to Luke and Mary."
"Well, that is clearly not exactly possible right now," Ravi said.
"Maybe. But they might know something we don't."
"So, what? We just wait for them to wake up?" Zuri asked.
Emma nodded. "That's all we can do."
"And once we speak to them, then what will we do?" Ravi questioned.
"We gather evidence."
"Luke."
Luke groaned. His head was pounding, and his eyes burned. The last thing he wanted to do was open them.
"Luke."
Go away, Voice.
"Luke, wake up."
Reluctantly, Luke opened his eyes, and when they focused, he found himself staring into the eyes of none other than Morgan Ross.
"Hey, kiddo," Morgan said softly, greeting Luke with a smile. Something Luke hadn't seen in a long time. At least from an adult. "How ya feelin'?"
Luke chuckled softly. "You really want to know?"
Morgan laughed slightly. For a while, neither spoke. Luke didn't have the strength, and Morgan didn't know what to say. When he finally did talk, his voice was quiet, and more serious than Luke had ever heard it.
"You know, you really scared us. We didn't know where you guys were. And then...to see you when we came down in that helicopter, I-." Morgan's voice cracked. "It reminded me so much of when we went camping. Oh, gosh, it scared me, Luke. You have no idea how much it scared me."
Luke had rarely ever seen his father cry, save a few times. Only they were for minor things. Now, Morgan Ross was full out crying, the tears streaming down his face as if he were a child again.
"Dad, I'm sorry," Luke apologized.
Morgan quickly pulled himself together. "Hey. None of this is your fault. You understand me? None of it."
Luke nodded. Then another thought occurred to him. "How's Mary?"
"She's just down the hall. She's fine." Morgan smiled. "You're both fine."
"Just let me sit with her," Emma begged.
"What about the others?" Christina asked. The two were standing in the hallway outside of Mary's room, debating on who should sit with her.
"Jessie's with them. Come on, mom. Luke's awake now. Don't you want to see him?"
Christina sighed. She she didn't want to leave Emma with Mary, for fear Thomas would arrive, but she couldn't leave Mary alone. "Fine. One hour, and then I'll be back, you hear me?"
"Yes, ma'am," Emma answered. She prayed with everything inside of her that Mary would wake up soon. She needed to talk to her. Now.
As Christina walked the few doors down to Luke's room, Emma hurried into Mary's, and to her surprise, Mary was awake. She sat up when Emma entered.
"You're awake," Emma said, smiling. "How long've you been up?"
Mary shrugged. "Only about 20 minutes or so. Where's Luke?"
"He's fine. He's a few doors down."
"He okay?"
"Yeah. He's fine now." Emma approached her. "Mary, could I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Emma came in closer, and sat down on the edge of the bed so that she could whisper. "Do you know someone by the name of 'Jack?'"
Mary looked skeptical. "I know a Jack Moyer. He's one of dad's gambling buddies. What about him?"
Emma shook her head. "Nothing."
"Emma," Mary said hesitantly. "Do...do you know?"
Emma nodded her head solemnly.
Mary sat back against the pillows.
"All five of us kids need to meet in the patient lounge tonight. Bertram will be there, too. We need to talk."
"We're telling Bertram?"
"If tell Jessie, she'll just tell our parents. Bertram is the only one we can trust."
"So, tonight? What time?"
"12:00. I'll bring you, Zuri will bring Luke, and Ravi will make sure our parents are busy. He'll meet us later. You in?"
"Sure."
AN: So, what'd you think? I know this chapter stinks, but I'm pretty stressed right now. I don't think this story has many chapters left, but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it before the end of June. See, I'm getting eye surgery, and I don't know if I'll be allowed to look at the computer or my kindle for about two weeks. Of course, I'd have my friends help me, but one has to help with some kind of exhibit thing, and the other and me aren't really speaking right now. So, yeah. I'm stressed. But, yeah. That's my life. Fun. But don't worry, my "ssshhhhhh!" Fanfiction, as reviewer Annonymous calls it, is being worked on. And, for those of you haven't read my other story, please do. You don't even have to watch the show. I pretty much explain it all in the story. Oh, yeah, and the next chapter is up. Have a great day! God Bless You, fellow writers! :)
