Chapter Twelve

Las Vegas, Nevada

November 22nd, 2003

I love Vegas... Probably just as much as my dad. I love going to the over the top shows and seeing all of the different people. Most of all? A good friend of mine named Criss Angel walks the strip doing street magic for fun. It's how I first met him actually.

Whenever I'm in town he always makes time for me. This was no exception. I meet him at The Chandelier for a drink even though I'm dead tired. I did promise we'd hang. We just wrapped up filming so I figure I could celebrate. When I find Criss through the sea of people.

" Crissy! " I say excitedly.

He laughed at my nickname for him. " Look at you miss Jackson. A vision as always. "

I rolled my eyes. " Please. I'm like a zombie right now. I couldn't resist coming out to see you though. "

We embrace quickly before finding a table.

" Well, I'm glad you could make it. I wish your dad would have come with you. " He says looking a little disappointed.

I sigh. " You know how he is. He gets around a room full of strangers and then the social anxiety kicks in. "

" I get that. So what are we drinking tonight? " He asks with an evil grin.

God the nights I don't remember because of this man. " I can't get too wild tonight Criss we have Blanket with us and I have baby duty in the mornings. "

" Oh yeah, I forgot you had a new brother. " He says smiling.

I nodd. " Yes, sir. And he's just mastered crawling so you have to be alert with him. "

He laughs. " I'm glad I haven't had kids yet. That sounds like a lot. "

" Don't you and Joanne want kids? " I ask.

His eyes get sad all of a sudden. " I think my marriage is falling apart. "

" How? I was just here a few months ago and you guys looked more in love than ever. " I ask.

" That was the beginning of the end for us. All of a sudden she was accusing me of cheating while she was back in New York. She doesn't trust me and wants me to come home. I'm in works with A&E for my own TV show and I can't leave now. " He says with a sigh.

I frown. " I'm so sorry Criss. "

" It's fine. My dreams are about to come true and nothing is gonna stop it. " He says with determination. " So... Lemon Drops? "

I wake up the next morning to my dad telling me we have to go back to Santa Barbara. I told him I planned on going back to Minnesota but he insisted that it's urgent. I must be some kind of sucker.

When we land we split up with Lena, the head nanny. She is going to take Blanket to Rita, our other nanny who already has Prince and Paris. We are escorted to our limo as soon as dad is sure Blanket was safe. I don't understand why we have to split up in the first place, but that's my dad for you.

The radio is on and I could hear the ending of Problem making me smile. I was right about the song. We released the single a month after it was recorded and it skyrocketed on the charts. People are crazy over it. Iggy is now getting radio play for her song Fancy because of it. I'm so proud of her. My dad is also very proud of the song's success. He always knew I had it in me.

After a while, I realize Frank is driving the wrong way to Neverland. " Hey Frank this isn't the right- " I'm cut off by dad.

" Sweetheart I'm so sorry. " He starts.

My eyebrows knit together. " I don't understand. "

He sighs. " Bibi they issued a warrant for my arrest last night just as the number one's album dropped. Gavin Arvizo has accused me of molesting him. I have to go turn myself in. "

" What! No! You didn't do it! What are you talking about? " I say instantly breaking down.

Why do they have to do this just as everything is getting back to normal?

He hugs me tightly. " I'm so sorry baby. They got a warrant to search Neverland a few days ago. They claim to have found enough evidence to arrest me. "

Dad doesn't want me going to the station with him but I insist. I should have let Frank take me home. Once we get in they immediately cuff him. More like manhandle him into the cuffs.

" You don't have to be so rough. " Frank says through gritted teeth.

" Michael Joeseph Jackson you are under arrest for seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to carry out the molestation. "

" No! " I say before running to him. " Please no he didn't do anything! "

" Step aside miss Jackson. " One of the butch looking female officers says.

My dad wraps his cuffed arms around me and pulls me close. " It's okay I'll be fine Bibi just take care of your brothers and sister. "

I cry as they lead him away. I turn to Frank and we both cry on each other's shoulders. We both take a seat and wait for my dad's lawyer to get here. I'm not about to leave him here unprotected.

Once the lawyer arrives he's able to see my dad. I can breathe semi-okay knowing he's not alone. After an hour he comes back and shakes my hand.

" Miss Jackson he's doing okay. He's obviously shaken up and he has every right to be. There's nothing you can do here except let me do my job. You should go home to your siblings. " He tells me.

This man has got to be kidding me. " No. I won't leave him here. "

He sighs. " He said you'd say that. So he told me to give Frank a direct order. Get Bibi out of here ASAP. "

Frank knows he doesn't want to leave any more than I do but a direct order s ironclad. He stands up and sighs. " Let's go Bibi. "

I know better than to argue with him. Letting Frank lead me out I look back at the room they took my dad into. I silently vow that this will never happen again to an innocent person who just so happens to have money.

Once we walk into the house I can see we aren't finished being thoroughly humiliated. The whole place is trashed. It's no longer the safe haven it once was for us. There is some movement at the top of the stairs. That's when the nanny comes into view.

" Oh thank god. " Rita says looking worried.

Prince and Paris run down to me and bury their noses in my pants. Rita and Lena both come down with Blanket. I take him from Rita's arms and kiss the top of his head.

" Rita please go pack the kids bags while I go pack some of my things. " I tell her.

She hands Blanket to me. " Miss Bibi, you really don't want to go in your room right now. They went through yours and your father's rooms thoroughly. "

" What could they possibly have found in my room? " I ask.

Tears well up in her eyes. " They were saying things like " The oldest must know something. She's too close to him. There's no way she doesn't know the sick stuff he does. "

I'm genuinely shocked, appalled, and sickened. They actually think that my dad not only hurt children but that I knew and did nothing. How twisted and delusional can people be?

" Well that's just the Cherry on the fucking sundae, isn't it? We have to get out of here. " I say running a hand through my hair.

Frank clears his throat. " I don't think your dad would want that. "

" Well, we can't stay here! " I yell scaring the kids. " I'm sorry babies. " I say rocking Blanket while Prince and Paris hold onto my legs.

" Listen, Frank, my dad trusts my judgment. I'm taking them somewhere safe. With or without your blessing. "

Rita brings down some bags for the kids. I don't bother going up to my room at all. I just get the kids in my car that usually just sits in the driveway and strap them into their car seats.

" Be safe Bibi. " Frank says hugging me.

I hug him back. " Don't worry about us. We're Jackson's, tough as nails. "