Ch.23
"I'm going to do what?"
Ethan smiled.
"Adopt him."
Fox looked at his brother like he was insane.
"Ethan, I wouldn't be a good father…I'm too young! No court would ever grant me custody"
"Sure they will…once we show them this tape…and you happen to mention your last name."
Fox smiled.
"I would really be little Ethan's father?"
"Yes."
Fox thought for a moment.
"Do you think I can do it?"
Ethan laughed.
"Fox…I think you were born to play the part."
He put his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Now let's go…the sooner we show this to the judge, the sooner little Ethan is taken care of…and the sooner he is your son."
Fox blinked.
"My son," he whispered.
A smile spread across his face.
"Let's go!"
The boys sped to the courthouse as fast as they could. Once they were in, the immediately found Judge Reilly.
"Mr. Winthrop…Mr. Crane…to what do I owe this pleasure?" he said annoyed.
"Your honor, we're here to discuss custody matters of Ethan Lopez-Fitzgerald." Ethan said. "WE brought something we think you need to see."
"I'm a busy man gentlemen," he said, not taking his eyes off his paperwork. "Can this wait until a later date?"
"Your honor, the well being of this child depends on you," Fox said grabbing the tape from Ethan's hand.
"Fox, " Ethan tried to stop him.
"Please, I'm begging you…just watch this tape." Fox put it down on top of the files Judge Reilly was working on.
"Mr. Crane, you are out of line!" He yelled growing increasingly angry. "Now I told you I'm busy…you're going to have to come back another time."
"There might not be another time!" Fox yelled back. "If you don't do something now, this child could get seriously injured, or worse…his adoptive mother could kill him!"
"Mr. Crane, I'm warning you…"
"I'm warning you Judge!" Fox screamed getting in his face. "Either you watch this tape now, or I'm going to call my grandfather about this…and believe me, he'll take care of it… you'll be so out of a job, the only thing you'll ever say again is paper or plastic? Now watch the damn tape!"
Judge Reilly was boiling, his face red. He snatched the tape from Fox.
"Alright…I'll watch it…but don't think you can bully me around like this ever again Mr. Crane…do we understand each other? I don't care who your family is…if you ever come in here and disrespect me like this again, you'll spend your next 20 years behind bars…do I make myself clear?"
Fox smiled.
"Crystal your honor."
He stood up.
"You two wait here while I watch this…don't move a muscle."
He left.
"Jesus Fox, are you insane?" Ethan hissed.
"Look I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get so upset."
"Well we're very lucky Fox…that little outburst could have ruined everything."
The boys sat around for a few minutes.
"I wonder what's taking so long." Fox asked, looking at his watch.
"I'm not sure," Ethan said. "The tape wasn't that long…he should be here by now."
Back in Reilly's office, the tape had just finished.
He picked up his phone and dialed the number.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Crane? We have a problem…"
Finally, about 10 minutes later, Judge Reilly came back out. Ethan and Fox stood up.
"Well? When are you going to take him away?"
"Look boys, I'm afraid there must be some mistake…"
Fox looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I didn't see or hear anything on that tape that would be cause for removal of the child."
"What?!" Fox and Ethan yelled.
"Your honor, you cant be serious.." Ethan argued. "They admitted to beating him, it's all on the tape…"
"I'm sorry Mr. Winthrop, but I never heard it. Now, if you two will kindly let me get back to work…"
He walked by, going back to his desk and writing, not even acknowledging them.
Fox was speechless.
"Judge Reilly, I'm begging you to reconsider," Ethan pleaded.
"Mr. Winthrop, leave now before I call security!"
He sighed and walked over to Fox.
"Let's go," he whispered in his ear.
"I don't understand," Fox said. "What happened?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I'll give you three guesses…"
Back at the mansion, Rebecca and Gwen were locked in the bathroom.
"Ethan was going to turn me in…his own wife!" Gwen threw a vase against the mirror.
"Gwennie calm down," Rebecca said. "That's not important…what's important is that judge Reilly in on our side…we cant lose!"
"Yea, but I still want to make Fox and Ethan pay for trying to rat us out," she said furiously.
Rebecca smiled.
"You want them to pay?"
"Yes mother! I want them to pay!"
"Good," Rebecca said, twirling a piece of her hair. "I know just how to do it…"
"How?"
"Think about I Gwennie…what would be the best way to hurt them the most?"
Gwen thought for a moment…suddenly, a wide smile broke out across her face.
"Let's hit them where it hurts," she said triumphantly.
"Let's get Teresa."