Chapter 33 Confrontations
Thursday Morning
Day before Grant's Funeral Service
D.C. Hotel Room
Shelby and Sophie are sitting on one bed watching Taylor pace the room nervously. Sophie leans over and whispers to Shelby.
"Has she said a word to you?"
"Nope." Shelby watches with an amused look.
"Taylor, maybe we should get you something to eat before we go?" Sophie suggests standing and trying to get Taylor to stop pacing.
Taylor completely ignores her. There is a knock on the door and Sophie answers it.
"How's she doing?" Roger asks peaking into the room and seeing Taylor pacing.
"Not great." Sophie's has a worried tone. "I'm not sure we're doing the right thing?"
"We'll never know." Roger holds up some papers. "I've got directions to the morgue."
The two continue to talk. Shelby continues to watch Taylor pace.
"Hello?" Shelby says waving her hand nervously in the air. "Anyone home?" She gets no response. "Would it help to know that I know what you're feeling?" Shelby continues to wave her hand in the air annoyed. Taylor stops and actually glances at Shelby. Shelby looks at her with a look of understanding, but tries to hide it under her rage. "Why don't you just stop pacing, I'm just as nervous and anxious as you are." Taylor clenches her fists shut still staring at Shelby. However she isn't really staring at Shelby, she staring past Shelby. Shelby looks to where Taylor is staring and then turns her attention back to Taylor. "You've been in this room before haven't you?" Taylor doesn't respond, she just stands and stares. "You know, it would be so much easier if you talked." Still no response. "Okay, I'm not going to try and go all therapeutic on you. You know where I am." Shelby stands and goes into the bathroom. Taylor doesn't move.
The District Attorney arrives at their hotel.
*********
Back at Horizon
Trey, Scott, Ezra and a few male Trailblazers have decided to play a pick up game of basketball. Daisy and Juliette are sitting on the sidelines.
"It's so peaceful without Shelby and Taylor." Juliette takes a deep breath and looks around. "Don't you think so?" Juliette turns her attention to Daisy.
"It is quieter." Daisy looks around at everyone. "And a lot more boring." Daisy turns her attention to Juliette. Juliette is watching Scott playing. Daisy gives a little laugh. "He loves Shelby." Daisy flatly says to Juliette. "Anyway, don't you have Auggie waiting for you on the outside?"
"Whatever." Juliette says and keeps watching the boys play.
Daisy just looks at Juliette and shakes her head. Daisy's attention is drawn to a younger girl, who belongs to the Grizzly Bears approaching them. The look on her face is of terror.
"Are you Shelby?" She asks looking at Daisy.
"No?" Daisy says in a questioning voice.
"Is she Shelby?" The girl asks looking at Juliette who is engrossed in watching the boys. Daisy laughs a hysterical laugh.
"No. Shelby's not here right now."
"Oh." The girl looks around wondering what to do.
"I'm one of Shelby's best friend, can I help you?" Daisy looks up at the girl, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"I don't think so."
"Try me. What is it about?"
"It's about Jess."
*********
D.C. Crime Lab
Taylor is dressed in a hospital gown. Beside her stands the D.A. and a police officer, both dressed in hospital gowns. Outside stand Shelby, Sophie and Roger.
"This is too creepy." Shelby says watching Taylor. She looks at the body on the slab and then shutters. She quickly leaves the place and takes a seat over by a vending machine. She is searching for change standing by the coffee machine.
"No caffeine" says a voice behind her.
"You've got to be kidding me." Shelby says turning around laughing and seeing Sophie standing behind her. Shelby turns and starts to put what change she found into the coffee machine. Sophie walks up and pushes the return change button. "You are unbelievable." Shelby looks at Sophie annoyed.
"You are still under school rules." Sophie says folding her arms.
"Am I ever going to not be under school rules?" Shelby sarcastically asks taking her change out of the coffee machine.
"When you graduate." Sophie answers the rhetorical question.
"When I graduate?" Shelby turns and all of a sudden is filled with rage that she has been holding down ever since her mother had died. "Where the hell am I going to go when I graduate? Live with you and Peter under 'school rules'?" Sophie gives her a surprised look. "Don't look at me like that."
Shelby turns and puts her change back into the machine. Sophie does nothing to stop her this time. Shelby pushes the large cup button and coffee begins to pure into the paper cup. She pulls it out and goes to take a drink. She blows on it when she finds it too hot. Shelby sits down in a nearby chair and just sips her coffee.
Sophie turns and leaves Shelby. She goes to and finds Taylor still standing over the body. The D.A. has just come out.
"She made a positive I.D." The D.A. informs.
"Where's Shelby."
"Cooling off." Sophie says.
All three adults turn their attention back to the opened window. They see Taylor still standing over the body. Inside the room Taylor keeps looking over the deceased body of Grant Kameron Tarrant. She turns and with a flat look on her face leaves the room and joins the adults.
********* Horizon
Grizzly-Bear Female Dorm
The young girl drags Daisy into the dorm. She walks over to where Jess's bed is. The girl pulls out something from underneath Jess's bed. She shows Daisy.
"Get Peter Now." Daisy's face turns to complete shock.
********* That Night
D.C. Hotel Room
Sophie checks on Taylor and Shelby who ended up sharing a bed together. Both girls appear to be sleeping. Sophie picks up the phone and dials Horizon's number. It rings busy. She hangs up the phone disappointed and turns one more time to check on the girls. Again, both appear to be sleeping. Sophie turns off the light and crawls into bed.
Silence
6 A.M
Sophie is jolted awake when there is a loud thud in the hallway. She looks around the room. Then she gets out of bed. She walks over to check on Shelby and Taylor. Taylor is nowhere to be found.
"Damnet!" Sophie mutters under her breath. "This is getting so old." Sophie says with frustration and exhaustion over coming her. She calls Roger on the phone.
"I'm already on it." Comes his voice before Sophie even speaks. "She's knocked out the guard on duty."
Sophie opens the door and sees the guard lying on the floor. Shelby steers awake.
"What's going on?"
"Did Taylor say anything about leaving?"
"NO." Shelby looks over at the empty space beside her. "She's gone again? This is getting so old." Shelby's tone matches Sophie's frustrated and exhausted tone.
*********
Friday
D.C. Catholic Church
Outside of the church is a long line of limo's and people dressed in black. Sectioned off across the street from the church is a police barricade where the media personal are stationed. If one did not know better, they would be fooled into thinking that there was a party going on.
A large black stretched limo pulls up in front of the church. Ambassador Alexander Beau McPhearson and Cassandra McPhearson step out of the limo. The media goes haywire with photography and multiple questioning. Several hired bodyguards escort Alexander and Cassandra into the church. Unknown to them, Taylor is hiding in one of the private offices she had previously broken into. Alexander and Cassandra make their way up and greet Grant's parents and his sister, Rhea. A few more people enter before police close the doors. The priest begins the ceremony. A few people stand and begin to say positive things about Grant's character and so on.
*********
At the Hotel
Roger is standing with Sophie and Shelby.
"Where is the service being held?"
"I don't know at some church."
Shelby turns on the news. Roger and Sophie's attention is drawn at the news report.
"In other news today the service of Grant Kameron Tarrant, a political leader in the making, is begin held today at St. John's Church. Everyone who is anyone in the world of politics is attending the service today."
********* At Horizon Grizzly-Bears Girl's Dorm
Peter comes running into the room followed by the young girl.
"What is it Daisy?"
Daisy points down at Jess's bed. Peter walks over and picks up one of the shirts. The sleeve has blood on it. He looks down and there are many shirts with blood on them. When he moves a few more of them, a little pocketknife falls out of one of the pockets.
"Ann, Where is she now?" Peter addresses the question to the young girl.
"She's on a nature hike with Jeff and Frank. I couldn't go because I told them I felt sick. Peter I lied, I just had to tell someone."
"It's okay Ann, you're not in any trouble." Peter lays a reassuring hand on Ann's shoulder. "You did the right thing in telling us."
*********
D.C. Church
Taylor had rooted long enough to find the churches communion wine. She is about done with the bottle when she makes her presence known by stepping into the chapel. Some people gasp as they recognize her. She begins to stagger her way down the aisle. Taylor looks over and catches Alexander's glance. Alexander makes his way over her.
"Alexandra Taylor, just what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Alexander mutters underneath his breath.
"Paying the respect that is due." Taylor steps past him.
Alexander nods in the direction of his bodyguards. They approach the pair.
"Do not put your hands on me." Taylor yells.
This stops the service. The bodyguards look at Alexander who nods that it is okay. They hesitate because everyone's attention is drawn to them. Taylor continues to stagger her way up to the coffin. She looks people in the eyes. She arrives a few minutes later.
"How the hell can you people mourn?" Taylor turns and looks at Grant's made up body. "Don't ya'll know what he did? Or are you just pretending that nothing happened?"
"Alexandra, why don't you sit with us?" Jonathan Tarrant, Grant's father, has made his way up to stop Alexandra.
"You're son was a monster. How can you mourn him? We should be partying that he's dead."
Jonathan puts a hand on her shoulder and Taylor violently yanks it off.
"Do not touch me." Taylor warns and turns her attention back to Grant's corpse. There is complete silence in the audience.
"I stand in the shower everyday and no matter how hard I scrub, I can never get clean because he took advantage of me. Alls I wanted was a kiss." Taylor begins to break down. "I never wanted to have sex." There are a large amount of gasps throughout the audience. "Everytime I try to sleep at night, I can't because I hear cries of a baby that does not exist because of him."
"Alexandra Taylor McPhearson, you get back here right now." Comes Alexander's booming voice as he makes his way down the aisle and joins her at the front.
"You knew didn't you?" Taylor accuses rather loudly.
"Now is not the time for this." Alexander warns.
"You knew and you didn't do anything about?" Taylor ignores Alexander's warnings. "You knew and you let him continue to take care of me." Taylor's eyes fill with rage and hurtfulness.
"I will not stand here and listen to such horrendous accusations."
"How could you?" Taylor pleads. "You're my father."
"Not by my choice." Alexander finally spits out. "I gave your mother the money to get rid of you and she didn't."
Alexander's words stun Taylor and she is unable to speak. After a few seconds she gains her composure.
"You bastard."
Roger and Sophie come running in just in time to see Alexander violently slap Taylor in the face. The slap is so hard that it knocks Taylor back to where she falls to the ground.
"You are nothing but a mistake. You should have never been born." Alexander turns and leaves. Sophie is immediately at Taylor's side.
"Let's get her outside." Roger says coming up and quickly helping Sophie get Alexandra to her feet. When Taylor passes out, Roger picks her up and carries her out.
*********
At Horizon
Frank and Jeff have just brought the Grizzly-Bear group back to campus. Jeff has a wrap around his left wrist. Waiting for them are Peter and a female Grizzly-Bear Counselor, Jenny. Peter just looks at Frank and knows not to ask anymore. Peter makes his way right up to Jess.
"Hey Jess, can you come over here so we can talk to you?" Jenny's soft assuring voice frightens her.
"Why?"
"Because we need to take you to the infirmary honey."
"Why?" Jess begins to back away from them.
"We found the knife."
Jess looks at both of the frightened and confused. She falls to the ground on her knees and begins to sob. Jenny and Peter are right at her side.
"Where have you been cutting?" Jenny asks quietly.
Jess rolls up her sleeves on both arms to reveal many little superficial cuts.
"Oh Jess." Peter's concerned voice makes her cry even harder. He goes over and puts his arms around her. He glances up at Jenny. "We'll have to set up a cot in the lodge and have a senior student or staff member with her all night. Right now, let's get her to the infirmary."
"Yes Peter."
The two help a limp Jess to her feet and escort her to the infirmary.
*********
D.C. Hotel Room
Shelby and Sophie are sitting on one bed watching Taylor pace the room nervously. Sophie leans over and whispers to Shelby.
"Has she said a word to you?"
"Nope." Shelby watches with an amused look.
"Taylor, maybe we should get you something to eat before we go?" Sophie suggests standing and trying to get Taylor to stop pacing.
Taylor completely ignores her. There is a knock on the door and Sophie answers it.
"How's she doing?" Roger asks peaking into the room and seeing Taylor pacing.
"Not great." Sophie's has a worried tone. "I'm not sure we're doing the right thing?"
"We'll never know." Roger holds up some papers. "I've got directions to the morgue."
The two continue to talk. Shelby continues to watch Taylor pace.
"Hello?" Shelby says waving her hand nervously in the air. "Anyone home?" She gets no response. "Would it help to know that I know what you're feeling?" Shelby continues to wave her hand in the air annoyed. Taylor stops and actually glances at Shelby. Shelby looks at her with a look of understanding, but tries to hide it under her rage. "Why don't you just stop pacing, I'm just as nervous and anxious as you are." Taylor clenches her fists shut still staring at Shelby. However she isn't really staring at Shelby, she staring past Shelby. Shelby looks to where Taylor is staring and then turns her attention back to Taylor. "You've been in this room before haven't you?" Taylor doesn't respond, she just stands and stares. "You know, it would be so much easier if you talked." Still no response. "Okay, I'm not going to try and go all therapeutic on you. You know where I am." Shelby stands and goes into the bathroom. Taylor doesn't move.
The District Attorney arrives at their hotel.
*********
Back at Horizon
Trey, Scott, Ezra and a few male Trailblazers have decided to play a pick up game of basketball. Daisy and Juliette are sitting on the sidelines.
"It's so peaceful without Shelby and Taylor." Juliette takes a deep breath and looks around. "Don't you think so?" Juliette turns her attention to Daisy.
"It is quieter." Daisy looks around at everyone. "And a lot more boring." Daisy turns her attention to Juliette. Juliette is watching Scott playing. Daisy gives a little laugh. "He loves Shelby." Daisy flatly says to Juliette. "Anyway, don't you have Auggie waiting for you on the outside?"
"Whatever." Juliette says and keeps watching the boys play.
Daisy just looks at Juliette and shakes her head. Daisy's attention is drawn to a younger girl, who belongs to the Grizzly Bears approaching them. The look on her face is of terror.
"Are you Shelby?" She asks looking at Daisy.
"No?" Daisy says in a questioning voice.
"Is she Shelby?" The girl asks looking at Juliette who is engrossed in watching the boys. Daisy laughs a hysterical laugh.
"No. Shelby's not here right now."
"Oh." The girl looks around wondering what to do.
"I'm one of Shelby's best friend, can I help you?" Daisy looks up at the girl, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"I don't think so."
"Try me. What is it about?"
"It's about Jess."
*********
D.C. Crime Lab
Taylor is dressed in a hospital gown. Beside her stands the D.A. and a police officer, both dressed in hospital gowns. Outside stand Shelby, Sophie and Roger.
"This is too creepy." Shelby says watching Taylor. She looks at the body on the slab and then shutters. She quickly leaves the place and takes a seat over by a vending machine. She is searching for change standing by the coffee machine.
"No caffeine" says a voice behind her.
"You've got to be kidding me." Shelby says turning around laughing and seeing Sophie standing behind her. Shelby turns and starts to put what change she found into the coffee machine. Sophie walks up and pushes the return change button. "You are unbelievable." Shelby looks at Sophie annoyed.
"You are still under school rules." Sophie says folding her arms.
"Am I ever going to not be under school rules?" Shelby sarcastically asks taking her change out of the coffee machine.
"When you graduate." Sophie answers the rhetorical question.
"When I graduate?" Shelby turns and all of a sudden is filled with rage that she has been holding down ever since her mother had died. "Where the hell am I going to go when I graduate? Live with you and Peter under 'school rules'?" Sophie gives her a surprised look. "Don't look at me like that."
Shelby turns and puts her change back into the machine. Sophie does nothing to stop her this time. Shelby pushes the large cup button and coffee begins to pure into the paper cup. She pulls it out and goes to take a drink. She blows on it when she finds it too hot. Shelby sits down in a nearby chair and just sips her coffee.
Sophie turns and leaves Shelby. She goes to and finds Taylor still standing over the body. The D.A. has just come out.
"She made a positive I.D." The D.A. informs.
"Where's Shelby."
"Cooling off." Sophie says.
All three adults turn their attention back to the opened window. They see Taylor still standing over the body. Inside the room Taylor keeps looking over the deceased body of Grant Kameron Tarrant. She turns and with a flat look on her face leaves the room and joins the adults.
********* Horizon
Grizzly-Bear Female Dorm
The young girl drags Daisy into the dorm. She walks over to where Jess's bed is. The girl pulls out something from underneath Jess's bed. She shows Daisy.
"Get Peter Now." Daisy's face turns to complete shock.
********* That Night
D.C. Hotel Room
Sophie checks on Taylor and Shelby who ended up sharing a bed together. Both girls appear to be sleeping. Sophie picks up the phone and dials Horizon's number. It rings busy. She hangs up the phone disappointed and turns one more time to check on the girls. Again, both appear to be sleeping. Sophie turns off the light and crawls into bed.
Silence
6 A.M
Sophie is jolted awake when there is a loud thud in the hallway. She looks around the room. Then she gets out of bed. She walks over to check on Shelby and Taylor. Taylor is nowhere to be found.
"Damnet!" Sophie mutters under her breath. "This is getting so old." Sophie says with frustration and exhaustion over coming her. She calls Roger on the phone.
"I'm already on it." Comes his voice before Sophie even speaks. "She's knocked out the guard on duty."
Sophie opens the door and sees the guard lying on the floor. Shelby steers awake.
"What's going on?"
"Did Taylor say anything about leaving?"
"NO." Shelby looks over at the empty space beside her. "She's gone again? This is getting so old." Shelby's tone matches Sophie's frustrated and exhausted tone.
*********
Friday
D.C. Catholic Church
Outside of the church is a long line of limo's and people dressed in black. Sectioned off across the street from the church is a police barricade where the media personal are stationed. If one did not know better, they would be fooled into thinking that there was a party going on.
A large black stretched limo pulls up in front of the church. Ambassador Alexander Beau McPhearson and Cassandra McPhearson step out of the limo. The media goes haywire with photography and multiple questioning. Several hired bodyguards escort Alexander and Cassandra into the church. Unknown to them, Taylor is hiding in one of the private offices she had previously broken into. Alexander and Cassandra make their way up and greet Grant's parents and his sister, Rhea. A few more people enter before police close the doors. The priest begins the ceremony. A few people stand and begin to say positive things about Grant's character and so on.
*********
At the Hotel
Roger is standing with Sophie and Shelby.
"Where is the service being held?"
"I don't know at some church."
Shelby turns on the news. Roger and Sophie's attention is drawn at the news report.
"In other news today the service of Grant Kameron Tarrant, a political leader in the making, is begin held today at St. John's Church. Everyone who is anyone in the world of politics is attending the service today."
********* At Horizon Grizzly-Bears Girl's Dorm
Peter comes running into the room followed by the young girl.
"What is it Daisy?"
Daisy points down at Jess's bed. Peter walks over and picks up one of the shirts. The sleeve has blood on it. He looks down and there are many shirts with blood on them. When he moves a few more of them, a little pocketknife falls out of one of the pockets.
"Ann, Where is she now?" Peter addresses the question to the young girl.
"She's on a nature hike with Jeff and Frank. I couldn't go because I told them I felt sick. Peter I lied, I just had to tell someone."
"It's okay Ann, you're not in any trouble." Peter lays a reassuring hand on Ann's shoulder. "You did the right thing in telling us."
*********
D.C. Church
Taylor had rooted long enough to find the churches communion wine. She is about done with the bottle when she makes her presence known by stepping into the chapel. Some people gasp as they recognize her. She begins to stagger her way down the aisle. Taylor looks over and catches Alexander's glance. Alexander makes his way over her.
"Alexandra Taylor, just what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Alexander mutters underneath his breath.
"Paying the respect that is due." Taylor steps past him.
Alexander nods in the direction of his bodyguards. They approach the pair.
"Do not put your hands on me." Taylor yells.
This stops the service. The bodyguards look at Alexander who nods that it is okay. They hesitate because everyone's attention is drawn to them. Taylor continues to stagger her way up to the coffin. She looks people in the eyes. She arrives a few minutes later.
"How the hell can you people mourn?" Taylor turns and looks at Grant's made up body. "Don't ya'll know what he did? Or are you just pretending that nothing happened?"
"Alexandra, why don't you sit with us?" Jonathan Tarrant, Grant's father, has made his way up to stop Alexandra.
"You're son was a monster. How can you mourn him? We should be partying that he's dead."
Jonathan puts a hand on her shoulder and Taylor violently yanks it off.
"Do not touch me." Taylor warns and turns her attention back to Grant's corpse. There is complete silence in the audience.
"I stand in the shower everyday and no matter how hard I scrub, I can never get clean because he took advantage of me. Alls I wanted was a kiss." Taylor begins to break down. "I never wanted to have sex." There are a large amount of gasps throughout the audience. "Everytime I try to sleep at night, I can't because I hear cries of a baby that does not exist because of him."
"Alexandra Taylor McPhearson, you get back here right now." Comes Alexander's booming voice as he makes his way down the aisle and joins her at the front.
"You knew didn't you?" Taylor accuses rather loudly.
"Now is not the time for this." Alexander warns.
"You knew and you didn't do anything about?" Taylor ignores Alexander's warnings. "You knew and you let him continue to take care of me." Taylor's eyes fill with rage and hurtfulness.
"I will not stand here and listen to such horrendous accusations."
"How could you?" Taylor pleads. "You're my father."
"Not by my choice." Alexander finally spits out. "I gave your mother the money to get rid of you and she didn't."
Alexander's words stun Taylor and she is unable to speak. After a few seconds she gains her composure.
"You bastard."
Roger and Sophie come running in just in time to see Alexander violently slap Taylor in the face. The slap is so hard that it knocks Taylor back to where she falls to the ground.
"You are nothing but a mistake. You should have never been born." Alexander turns and leaves. Sophie is immediately at Taylor's side.
"Let's get her outside." Roger says coming up and quickly helping Sophie get Alexandra to her feet. When Taylor passes out, Roger picks her up and carries her out.
*********
At Horizon
Frank and Jeff have just brought the Grizzly-Bear group back to campus. Jeff has a wrap around his left wrist. Waiting for them are Peter and a female Grizzly-Bear Counselor, Jenny. Peter just looks at Frank and knows not to ask anymore. Peter makes his way right up to Jess.
"Hey Jess, can you come over here so we can talk to you?" Jenny's soft assuring voice frightens her.
"Why?"
"Because we need to take you to the infirmary honey."
"Why?" Jess begins to back away from them.
"We found the knife."
Jess looks at both of the frightened and confused. She falls to the ground on her knees and begins to sob. Jenny and Peter are right at her side.
"Where have you been cutting?" Jenny asks quietly.
Jess rolls up her sleeves on both arms to reveal many little superficial cuts.
"Oh Jess." Peter's concerned voice makes her cry even harder. He goes over and puts his arms around her. He glances up at Jenny. "We'll have to set up a cot in the lodge and have a senior student or staff member with her all night. Right now, let's get her to the infirmary."
"Yes Peter."
The two help a limp Jess to her feet and escort her to the infirmary.
*********