"We have to interview the parents again, and the band," Mac informed
Singer, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Why?"
"The parents are suing."
"Suing who?"
"The band and the Navy."
"What? With all due respect Ma'am, where did you here that?"
"The Admiral just told me. we're in the middle of a mess here."
"Um, what band are you talking about Ma'am?"
"The Juvenile Prophets, they're the group that sung the song in his suicide note. The whole litigation thing changes everything."
"So what do we do next Ma'am?"
"I was hoping you'd have some ideas Lieutenant," Mac sighed wearily.
"I think we should still conduct the investigation at the school, that way we can prove to the parents that we are holding inquiries into the incident to make sure those of it's kind don't happen again."
"I disagree with you. I think we should approach the band's counsel and see how they're going handling the negotiations."
"You're not going to try to convince the parents not to sue?"
"I just don't think they're going to consider any offer we make. This was their son. We don't have much time, we need to make some progress here."
"Ma'am, may I make a suggestion?"
"Please do."
"There's two of us. How about I negotiate with the parents, and you meet with the band?"
"Ok Lieutenant, that sounds like a good proposal," Mac replied cautiously.
Singer, negotiating. That could be no short of disastrous.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"We were going to meet with Mr and Mrs Bentley tomorrow afternoon.."
"I've arranged a time to meet with the band and their counsel tomorrow."
"Ok Ma'am, um, I guess we'll talk on Friday to compare notes or whatever."
"Ok Lieutenant."
"Uh, I have work to do," Singer said, gesturing towards the door.
"Yeah," Mac replied, watching the woman leave the office.
"Well that was weird," she said to herself after Singer left, turning her head to the mound of paper in front of her.
"There's probably twice my weight in paper there," she complained ruefully, "There goes any hope of leaving before midnight."
* * * * * *
Mac sat trying to avoid the stare of the lawyer half her age on the opposite side of the table. There was a giggle in from the outside.
"I hate this mascara, its not waterproof," a voice announced.
Three girls entered the room, dripping wet, with black streams running down their cheeks. One of the them stuck an arm into the hallway and pulled a guy in after them, sporting much the same look.
"Um," she began, "We may look like the living dead, but we're the Juvenile Prophets. It's raining outside."
Mac eyed them warily.
"Don't worry, I'm not insane, I just sound like it," the same girl assured her, "Anyway, I'm Katie Richardson, but everyone calls me Skatie, this Jade Moore and Leah Morrison. He," she paused, pointing at the guy, "Is Matt Evans. And you are Lt Colonel Mackenzie right?"
"Yeah," Mac replied.
"Ms Reid said you wanted to meet us Ma'am," Skatie continued, "Speaking of whom, she should be here right now."
"Ms Reid is your lead counsel right?"
"Yeah, and that," she said, pointing at the guy across the room, "Is actually human, hard to believe I know. He's second chair, Josie O'Donell. Alright, I'm talking too much, someone else can talk now."
"Yeah, how about you all sit down and shut up?" Joseph O'Donell suggested, pointedly glaring at Skatie.
She grinned at him and sat down at the head of the table, Matt and Jade sitting on either side of her with Leah sitting next to Jade. The spot at O'Donell's right was left unoccupied.
"I'm sorry," Joseph apologised, "She should be here by now, I'll just go phone her."
As soon as he left the room, the four kids began to fidget.
Mac turned to face them, "Why don't you tell me about yourselves?" she suggested.
"Ok," Matt agreed, "I'll go first, otherwise Skatie will talk until tomorrow."
Jade and Leah grinned while Skatie glared.
"We're just a bunch of kids that got lucky," he said, "I'm 16, and the oldest in the group, so we're a young band, but we've been playing together for about 2 years now. Skatie is my cousin. It was her idea to form a band while we were at school together."
"You went to Jason Bentley's school didn't you?" Mac queried.
"Yeah, he was in my class," Matt replied.
"Jade and I are 15, and we're in Skatie's year even though she's 14 until December," Leah began, "We all ended up in the same dorm and one night after light's out we discovered we were all into music. Jade and I play guitar while Skatie sings. She drafted a few songs, we started playing them and the rest just sought of happened."
"We needed a percussionist, so we asked Matt," Skatie interrupted, "Then we just started rehearsing in the gym one weekend, and half the school turned up to listen. We played half a dozen songs and I'm up there, singing, and I jump down when we've finished and this kid says to be, man you guys are like Jesus to the kids of today. It got me thinking, we should be called the Juvenile Prophets. We kept playing on weekends, and kids still turned up to listen. I was completely psyched. From the moment I got up there, I loved it. So I suggested we send out some demos..."
"Which we did," Matt interrupted, "And we got signed to Rebel Records and the rest is history. Our first single, The Youth of Today, went straight to number one. Our album is the biggest success Rebel has had in a year, and we really can't believe it happened to us."
"I want to talk to you about that song," Mac stated, "The Youth of Today, you wrote it didn't you?"
"Yeah," Jade replied.
"Why did you write it?"
"Because we saw this show about how America betrayed the Kurds in the last Gulf War," Leah answered, "And we're just like, well we're not going to grow up and do that to any one."
"And everywhere you go there's adults telling you that you have to change, complaining that kids today have no respect and are going nowhere," Jade added.
"It was basically just committing us, the youth of today, to change," Matt said, "We're sick of your lies and your filthy corruption, hiding behind your cheap disguise your spreaders of destruction, you call us the misguided youth, this is what we have to say, we're sick of your morbid truth, we are the youth of today."
"Yeah, what about the first verse?" Mac inquired, "What have we got to live for? Atomic bombs and nuclear war. do you think that could be interpreted the wrong way?"
"Yeah, but you could make that point about any of our songs." Skatie pointed out, "I wrote that bit because sometimes, when you look around, the future seems so bleak and you really do wonder what you're living for."
"What about your song I Want To Die? Couldn't that be interpreted in advocating suicide?"
"I Want To Die goes I want to die, don't ask me why, look around you, you'd wanna die too, if you saw. it's about seeing the problems in the world and struggling to find the strength to deal with them," Skatie answered, "And I think every teenager feels that way sometimes, like it's all too much and there's no reason to keep living. Our music is a way of letting them know they're not alone, that other people feel exactly the same and that there is a reason to hold on."
Mac was about to ask another question when Joseph O'Donnell entered the room, followed by Ms Reid, who looked wet and exhausted.
"Sorry I'm late," she addressed the group, sinking into her chair, "I got caught up in the family court. Couldn't you just drop the restraining order?" she asked, directing her question at Skatie.
"No way, I'm sick of my father's mentality. He can't do stuff like that to me and get away with it any more!" she scowled.
"Um, I'm sorry if I've missed something, but what does your father do to you?" Mac asked, intrigued by the girl's statement.
"He hits me, he yells at me and just generally abuses me," Skatie replied, "My mother took my little sister and left about a year ago and I'm just sick of the way he treated us and the way he treats me. That's not really relevant here, though, let's get back to the point."
"Yes," Jennifir Reid said sharply, "I thought we'd agreed not to discuss it openly."
"Who cares about legalities? I'm sick of keeping it a damn secret," Skatie informed the woman heatedly, "He does it, why shouldn't he have to face the consequences?"
"We'll discuss this later Kathleen. Right now, we're talking about the inconvenience of this tragedy to your band and the United States Navy."
"Ms Reid, if you don't mind me asking, how are you going to handle the proceedings?" Mac queried.
"The Juvenile Prophets have agreed to make an offer to reimburse the boy's parents for the funeral and to make another public statement to inform other teenagers that suicide is not cool."
"We're also going to write a song for Jason," Skatie piped up, silencing herself again when Ms Reid glared at her.
"The proceeds of which will be split. 50% going to Jason's parents and 50% going to teen counselling services across the country."
"Ok. Could the Navy perhaps contribute to this deal in some way?"
"Are you suggesting a partnership between our two parties?"
"Well they're suing us collectively and your clients did attend a United States Navy military school prior to their success in the music industry."
Skatie scribbled something on a piece of paper and pushed it under Jennifir Reid's nose: Say yes.
"I'd have to discuss such a deal with my clients and their guardians before accepting."
"And I'd have to contact co-counsel and my superiors before making any settlement offer."
"So we'll talk again sometime. How about Wednesday next week?"
"Um, if that's good for you."
"I'll see you then, same place, same time."
"Ok."
All five got up and prepared to leave. Mac left not quite sure what she was getting herself into.
* * * * * *
"Why?"
"The parents are suing."
"Suing who?"
"The band and the Navy."
"What? With all due respect Ma'am, where did you here that?"
"The Admiral just told me. we're in the middle of a mess here."
"Um, what band are you talking about Ma'am?"
"The Juvenile Prophets, they're the group that sung the song in his suicide note. The whole litigation thing changes everything."
"So what do we do next Ma'am?"
"I was hoping you'd have some ideas Lieutenant," Mac sighed wearily.
"I think we should still conduct the investigation at the school, that way we can prove to the parents that we are holding inquiries into the incident to make sure those of it's kind don't happen again."
"I disagree with you. I think we should approach the band's counsel and see how they're going handling the negotiations."
"You're not going to try to convince the parents not to sue?"
"I just don't think they're going to consider any offer we make. This was their son. We don't have much time, we need to make some progress here."
"Ma'am, may I make a suggestion?"
"Please do."
"There's two of us. How about I negotiate with the parents, and you meet with the band?"
"Ok Lieutenant, that sounds like a good proposal," Mac replied cautiously.
Singer, negotiating. That could be no short of disastrous.
"Ma'am?"
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"We were going to meet with Mr and Mrs Bentley tomorrow afternoon.."
"I've arranged a time to meet with the band and their counsel tomorrow."
"Ok Ma'am, um, I guess we'll talk on Friday to compare notes or whatever."
"Ok Lieutenant."
"Uh, I have work to do," Singer said, gesturing towards the door.
"Yeah," Mac replied, watching the woman leave the office.
"Well that was weird," she said to herself after Singer left, turning her head to the mound of paper in front of her.
"There's probably twice my weight in paper there," she complained ruefully, "There goes any hope of leaving before midnight."
* * * * * *
Mac sat trying to avoid the stare of the lawyer half her age on the opposite side of the table. There was a giggle in from the outside.
"I hate this mascara, its not waterproof," a voice announced.
Three girls entered the room, dripping wet, with black streams running down their cheeks. One of the them stuck an arm into the hallway and pulled a guy in after them, sporting much the same look.
"Um," she began, "We may look like the living dead, but we're the Juvenile Prophets. It's raining outside."
Mac eyed them warily.
"Don't worry, I'm not insane, I just sound like it," the same girl assured her, "Anyway, I'm Katie Richardson, but everyone calls me Skatie, this Jade Moore and Leah Morrison. He," she paused, pointing at the guy, "Is Matt Evans. And you are Lt Colonel Mackenzie right?"
"Yeah," Mac replied.
"Ms Reid said you wanted to meet us Ma'am," Skatie continued, "Speaking of whom, she should be here right now."
"Ms Reid is your lead counsel right?"
"Yeah, and that," she said, pointing at the guy across the room, "Is actually human, hard to believe I know. He's second chair, Josie O'Donell. Alright, I'm talking too much, someone else can talk now."
"Yeah, how about you all sit down and shut up?" Joseph O'Donell suggested, pointedly glaring at Skatie.
She grinned at him and sat down at the head of the table, Matt and Jade sitting on either side of her with Leah sitting next to Jade. The spot at O'Donell's right was left unoccupied.
"I'm sorry," Joseph apologised, "She should be here by now, I'll just go phone her."
As soon as he left the room, the four kids began to fidget.
Mac turned to face them, "Why don't you tell me about yourselves?" she suggested.
"Ok," Matt agreed, "I'll go first, otherwise Skatie will talk until tomorrow."
Jade and Leah grinned while Skatie glared.
"We're just a bunch of kids that got lucky," he said, "I'm 16, and the oldest in the group, so we're a young band, but we've been playing together for about 2 years now. Skatie is my cousin. It was her idea to form a band while we were at school together."
"You went to Jason Bentley's school didn't you?" Mac queried.
"Yeah, he was in my class," Matt replied.
"Jade and I are 15, and we're in Skatie's year even though she's 14 until December," Leah began, "We all ended up in the same dorm and one night after light's out we discovered we were all into music. Jade and I play guitar while Skatie sings. She drafted a few songs, we started playing them and the rest just sought of happened."
"We needed a percussionist, so we asked Matt," Skatie interrupted, "Then we just started rehearsing in the gym one weekend, and half the school turned up to listen. We played half a dozen songs and I'm up there, singing, and I jump down when we've finished and this kid says to be, man you guys are like Jesus to the kids of today. It got me thinking, we should be called the Juvenile Prophets. We kept playing on weekends, and kids still turned up to listen. I was completely psyched. From the moment I got up there, I loved it. So I suggested we send out some demos..."
"Which we did," Matt interrupted, "And we got signed to Rebel Records and the rest is history. Our first single, The Youth of Today, went straight to number one. Our album is the biggest success Rebel has had in a year, and we really can't believe it happened to us."
"I want to talk to you about that song," Mac stated, "The Youth of Today, you wrote it didn't you?"
"Yeah," Jade replied.
"Why did you write it?"
"Because we saw this show about how America betrayed the Kurds in the last Gulf War," Leah answered, "And we're just like, well we're not going to grow up and do that to any one."
"And everywhere you go there's adults telling you that you have to change, complaining that kids today have no respect and are going nowhere," Jade added.
"It was basically just committing us, the youth of today, to change," Matt said, "We're sick of your lies and your filthy corruption, hiding behind your cheap disguise your spreaders of destruction, you call us the misguided youth, this is what we have to say, we're sick of your morbid truth, we are the youth of today."
"Yeah, what about the first verse?" Mac inquired, "What have we got to live for? Atomic bombs and nuclear war. do you think that could be interpreted the wrong way?"
"Yeah, but you could make that point about any of our songs." Skatie pointed out, "I wrote that bit because sometimes, when you look around, the future seems so bleak and you really do wonder what you're living for."
"What about your song I Want To Die? Couldn't that be interpreted in advocating suicide?"
"I Want To Die goes I want to die, don't ask me why, look around you, you'd wanna die too, if you saw. it's about seeing the problems in the world and struggling to find the strength to deal with them," Skatie answered, "And I think every teenager feels that way sometimes, like it's all too much and there's no reason to keep living. Our music is a way of letting them know they're not alone, that other people feel exactly the same and that there is a reason to hold on."
Mac was about to ask another question when Joseph O'Donnell entered the room, followed by Ms Reid, who looked wet and exhausted.
"Sorry I'm late," she addressed the group, sinking into her chair, "I got caught up in the family court. Couldn't you just drop the restraining order?" she asked, directing her question at Skatie.
"No way, I'm sick of my father's mentality. He can't do stuff like that to me and get away with it any more!" she scowled.
"Um, I'm sorry if I've missed something, but what does your father do to you?" Mac asked, intrigued by the girl's statement.
"He hits me, he yells at me and just generally abuses me," Skatie replied, "My mother took my little sister and left about a year ago and I'm just sick of the way he treated us and the way he treats me. That's not really relevant here, though, let's get back to the point."
"Yes," Jennifir Reid said sharply, "I thought we'd agreed not to discuss it openly."
"Who cares about legalities? I'm sick of keeping it a damn secret," Skatie informed the woman heatedly, "He does it, why shouldn't he have to face the consequences?"
"We'll discuss this later Kathleen. Right now, we're talking about the inconvenience of this tragedy to your band and the United States Navy."
"Ms Reid, if you don't mind me asking, how are you going to handle the proceedings?" Mac queried.
"The Juvenile Prophets have agreed to make an offer to reimburse the boy's parents for the funeral and to make another public statement to inform other teenagers that suicide is not cool."
"We're also going to write a song for Jason," Skatie piped up, silencing herself again when Ms Reid glared at her.
"The proceeds of which will be split. 50% going to Jason's parents and 50% going to teen counselling services across the country."
"Ok. Could the Navy perhaps contribute to this deal in some way?"
"Are you suggesting a partnership between our two parties?"
"Well they're suing us collectively and your clients did attend a United States Navy military school prior to their success in the music industry."
Skatie scribbled something on a piece of paper and pushed it under Jennifir Reid's nose: Say yes.
"I'd have to discuss such a deal with my clients and their guardians before accepting."
"And I'd have to contact co-counsel and my superiors before making any settlement offer."
"So we'll talk again sometime. How about Wednesday next week?"
"Um, if that's good for you."
"I'll see you then, same place, same time."
"Ok."
All five got up and prepared to leave. Mac left not quite sure what she was getting herself into.
* * * * * *