Ch18: War is All Hell

"Detective Collins please." Mr. Miller scowled at the phone as he was placed on hold.

Mr. Miller thought he'd taken care of this situation long ago. However, Sue's phone call had instantly brought back a flood of unpleasant memories. He began to remember how he'd run Monica Young out of town with his threats. Threats that he knew were based on a lie. A simple and dedicated second grade teacher, Sue Miller's father had never lied before or since. Yet when his precious daughter had told him about Monica and Ben over three years ago, he felt he had no other choice. So he'd pretended to be a representative of the teachers union when he'd threatened Monica. In reality he'd had no power or authority over her whatsoever. At the time, it had seemed like the end justified the means. After all he really did regard Miss Young as a predator. Now however, in this moment, the lie ate at his stomach because he was about to compound it. Mr. Miller knew that he was about to bring Monica Young the biggest hell storm of her life, all based on nothing more than his own judgment.

"Special Victims Unit, Collins speaking," came a gruff reply.

"Frank, it's Will Miller."

"Will, you old war horse, what could possibly make you call this late in the evening?"

"Frank, I'm glad you're on duty. I ah have a problem, a very old problem." William Miller's voice stuttered as he took a deep breath.

Collins face immediately grew serious, "what kind of problem?"

Frank Collins was fifty-one, the same age as William Miller. A tall and stocky man with thick, curly grey hair, bushy eyebrows, a thick mustache, and icy blue eyes with bags under them. Frank and William Miller were old friends, army buddies in days gone by. Technically both were veterans of Vietnam, although neither had ever set foot in Asia. They'd been on active duty together stateside during the war, as MP's at Fort Lewis.

Collins had been a long time Seattle resident, only enlisting in the Army because his name had been high on the draft list. This way Collins got to pick the branch in which he served, as well as his operational specialty. A young beat cop, Collins had naturally chosen to be an MP. Miller on the other hand had waited until he was drafted. The then twenty-four year old teacher had been assigned to the Military Police and was lost. Collins had befriended William Miller when he was posted at Fort Lewis. It was how Mr. Miller had fallen in love with the northwest and decided to move his family to Seattle shortly after Sue was born.

William Miller snorted breaths, he paced around the island in his kitchen: thinking one last time about what he was doing. Finally he took a deep breath and began the story. "The problem is something I think you can help me with. This is a long story Frank so bear with me. Three years ago my daughter, Sue, discovered a sexual involvement between a female teacher and a sixteen-year-old student. The incident was never referred to the police. I handled it myself."

"How?" Collins interrupted, raising an eyebrow as he positioned a tablet with his free hand. He began scratching notes.

"I scared her off." Miller's deep voice hesitated as he answered evasively.

Collins tapped the end of his pen against the desk. "Alright let's start from the beginning. I need names Will."

"The teacher's name is Monica Young, the student's name is Ben Conner."

"Okay and how old were they?" Collins could tell Miller was uncomfortable and was trying to lead with some non-threatening questions.

"At the time Miss Young was twenty-three and Ben Conner was sixteen." Mr. Miller leaned on the island in his kitchen and dropped his head; there was no going back now.

"Okay Will, understand that I'm not going to blame you, but I need to know exactly what was said and done. Both by you and Sue." Collins continued scratching notes on the tablet.

"Sue walked in on them having an argument after school. She was also involved with Ben at the time. Sue came to me, asking for the incident to be handled without police intervention." Mr. Miller cringed with the memory.

"So what did you do?" Collins put down his pen and rested his hand beneath his chin, elbow propped on his desk.

There was a long silence before William answered. "I confronted her about what my daughter had overheard. I scared her by going over some of the things that might happen to her. I told her she'd lose her job, become a registered sex offender. The problem was I'm just a second grade teacher." Mr. Miller paused and looked at the floor. "So I told her I was a representative of the teachers union. Just to make it seem like I had some authority over the situation."

"Jesus Will." Collins rubbed his temples with his free hand.

"Miss Young got the message, or I thought she did. She took leave from her job at Woodrow Wilson. I told her she was never to teach again. She left town and I haven't seen or heard anything about her until tonight." Anger flashed in Miller's eyes as he pictured the short brunette.

"What happened tonight?" Collins picked up his pen again.

"Sue just called me, Miss Young and Ben Conner are together. Having dinner at Venchinzos, she said they look like lovers." Miller rapped his knuckles on the kitchen island.

Collins immediately set the pen back down. "This is pretty thin Will. I wish you hadn't waited to come to me. Statutory rape cases are notoriously difficult to prove and the incident being three and a half years old doesn't help. Had you brought this up then, we could have put this Miss Young away for a long time."

"So what can we do now," Miller closed his eyes as he asked?

"We're not gonna do anything Will. Only one of us has a badge anymore. All right look, I'll investigate but don't expect much. Really I have nothing but the word of you and your daughter. Honestly, unless Miss Young admits to this, she's probably gonna walk."

"That is unacceptable." Miller slammed his fist down on the island.

"Will what would you have me do, I can't arrest her for having dinner." Collins said in an exasperated tone.

"Lock her up, scare her like I did. She's fragile emotionally Frank: we can break her. Frank I'm asking you, as a friend, to bring justice to this situation and protect the honor of my profession." The passion in William Miller's voice kept rising.

Collins began clicking his pen and didn't speak for a long time. "Okay Will I can detain her for a few hours. Bring her down to the station, put her through booking. However, if she doesn't confess then I've got nothing." Collins sighed heavily at the decision he'd just made. It was a risk, but a veteran cop like Collins could not stand seeing criminals go free. "Will, the Conner boy's parents, where are they in all this?"

Mr. Miller was taken aback, in the tension of the moment he'd completely forgotten about Roland and Amanda. "They live here in Seattle. I told them about what happened three years ago."

"They didn't want their son drug through a police investigation." Collins guessed.

"Right, but neither has any affection for Miss Young. Ben admitted the affair to them, they told me so." Mr. Miller's voice was hopeful; if Ben parents made statements perhaps Monica could be prosecuted.

"I bet you didn't tell them about how you faked being a representative of the teachers union." Collins laughed slightly because lying was so out of character for William Miller. "Okay, Will listen, we're about to play one hell of a poker game here. I'm going to send a couple of uniforms to Venchinzos and have them pick up Miss Young. They'll arrest her; handcuff her, the whole nine yards. I'll also bring Ben and each of his parents down to the station and question them separately. Before that happens, I need you to go and pay the Conners a visit. Tell them that if they help us, we can put Miss Young away."

Mr. Miller hung up the phone and put on his coat while hustling to his car. Collins rose from his desk and took a deep breath. He went to tell the watch commander that he needed four separate interview rooms. Monica had made a faithful decision to return to Washington, and just as she feared, fate was about to declare war on her.

Ben saw the two police cruisers pull directly in front of the glass door to the restaurant, their lights and sirens active. Ben's face fell, his stomach twisted into knots, he let go of Monica's hands. Frantically Ben's eyes searched the restaurant: now that he was looking it didn't take long. Sue Miller stood beside her booth on the opposite side of the side of the restaurant, her cell phone again pressed against her ear. She flashed Ben an angry stare when he noticed her.

"Monica Young?" Two uniformed police officers advanced through the tables and interrupted Ben and Monica's dinner.

"Yes." Monica's face turned white as she twisted her head to the opposite corner of the restaurant just in time to see Sue Miller flip her cell phone closed and walk out.

"Ma'am, you'll need to come with us right now." The officers said together sternly.

"What is this all about," Monica asked hesitantly as she faced them.

"Ma'am you're being arrested on suspicion of statutory rape. Please stand up and place your hands behind your back."

Monica began sobbing uncontrollably as she complied with the orders. The officers placed Miss Young in handcuffs and each grabbed an arm to lead her from the restaurant. Ben tried to stand in their way. "No, I won't let you take her. She's done nothing wrong." He cocked his fist as if to throw a punch.

"Ben damn it, this won't help me." Miss Young shouted. One officer forced Ben aside and they resumed marching toward the cruisers.

"Monica I love you and I won't let this happen I promise." Ben shouted from some distance.

Monica resisted the officers long enough to turn and face Ben. "If you love me then for god sake SHUT UP!"

As she was forced to walk Miss Young was read Miranda rights, "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to the presence of an attorney during any and all questioning, should you so desire and cannot afford one, a lawyer will be appointed by the court prior to any questioning. Do you understand these rights as I've read them?" Monica managed to nod that she did. "Very well miss, watch your head." The officers rudely shoved Monica into the back of a patrol car. Ben stood cationic by the table as he watched Monica look at him through the window of the patrol car. He watched Monica's worst fears returning to Seattle being realized. As he watched the love of his life disappear from view, all he could think was that her last words were to tell him to shut up. Flames of anger lit in Ben's eyes as he scrambled to his SAAB.

William Miller was closer to the Conner home than Ben was and he got there first. He rang the bell multiple times; an annoyed response came from the other side of the door. "What'd you forget your house key Ben," Roland said as he opened the door. Ben's father was shocked when he saw the tall, chiseled figure of Mr. Miller standing outside. "William, what an exciting and bloodcurdling surprise. What can I do for you?" Roland stepped into the doorway and barred entrance to his home with his slender frame.

"Look I know we've had our differences, but I'm here because there's something you need to know. Are you going to let me in? I really don't think you want me to say this where the world could hear it." Will Miller placed his hands on his hips, pushing his unzipped tan jacket to the sides.

"Honey what's going on?" Amanda shouted as she walked across the living room to see what was keeping Roland. She arrived just in time to see Roland step aside an allow Mr. Miller to enter. Roland closed the door and leaned his back against it. He could already guess what this was about.

Monica arrived at the tenth street police station about the same time Will Miller was standing on the Conner porch. A large single story brick building located on a corner lot. Police cruisers were parked all around. Miss Young was taken to the central receiving desk where a formal complaint was typed up. She sat beside a uniformed female officer and was forced to answer mundane questions such as legal name, address, age, and so forth. From there she was led to a large room with a lab table at one end and a white wall with black height markers at the other end. The small blue placard outside the room declared this to be "booking". The room was well lit with rows of ballast lights. The counter on the desk was light blue and the floor black tile. There was a stainless steel sink at one end of the counter. The smell of paint thinner was heavy in the air. Turpentine was used to clean suspects' hands after finger printing them. Monica's eyes watered as she observed the camera in front of the wall. 'They're going to finger print me, and take my, oh my god, mug shots.' The thought hung like a storm cloud as the handcuffs were removed. Monica Young was about to be processed, like robbers and murderers. With her hands free Monica rubbed her arms, she felt cold and alone.

"Mr. And Mrs. Conner I think you need to know that Monica Young is back in town. My daughter caught them together eating dinner." Miller's voice was deep and serious.

"We know." Roland and Amanda answered in unison. "In fact she's staying here while she visits," Roland continued.

Will Miller looked down and batted his eyes several times in amazement. He held his hands out index fingers pointing to the ceiling. "Let me see if I've got this. Both of you know that Miss Young is back and seeing Ben?" Miller squinted as he asked.

"Well yes our perspective on Miss Young has changed somewhat." Roland crossed his arms and gave Mr. Miller a sly look. William again pushed his jacket to the sides as he placed his hands on his hips. He raised his head to the sky and wet his lips with his tongue. I can't believe this, Miller thought.

It overpowered her perfume. That's all Monica could think, as she smelled the disgusting smell of paint thinner on her hands. Having been photographed and finger printed she was taken to a holding cell. The cell was about nine by nine and Monica was alone in it. The walls were made of concrete block, the ugliest grey Monica had ever seen. The only thing in the cell was a wooden cot attached to the wall, with a thin mattress on top. Miss Young sat down on the cot; she watched and listened as the grayish green bars slammed home. The metallic sound reverberated over and over in Monica's head. The officer watching the holding cells returned to his desk. He couldn't help but look at the pretty brunette, caged like a wild animal.

"She's been arrested!" Roland's turn to blink his eyes in disbelief.

"Not only that but soon the police will be here as well. They'll want to question you." Miller's deep voice boomed the news.

"You're joking?" Amanda interjected, stunned.

"No I'm not. I have a friend in the police department, detective Frank Collins. I called him as soon as Sue called me." Miller made a point of staring at Roland and Amanda.

"This night just keeps getting better and better." Roland's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Like I said I know we've had our differences, but I can see you're good parents. She's taking advantage of Ben, surely you can see that." Will Miller started the up hill battle of trying to convince Ben's parents to prosecute Monica.

"What I see is a woman who took good care of our son while he was laid up in a hospital thirteen hundred miles away from us." Roland sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Besides the whole point of Ben going to Denver was he wanted to explore the relationship with Monica."

"I don't much like it, but it is what Ben wants. Even I'd have to admit the fact that they are together now after all that's happened this past year says something." Amanda walked up behind her husband and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.

William Miller paced around the couple for several moments. He shoved his hands in his pants pockets. "Look feelings aren't the issue here. The issue is Monica, then and probably now using her influence over Ben. She was in a position of power and that power cannot be abused. If it is, no teacher can ever be trusted to educate."

"I don't think there's been any abuse. Monica isn't a pedophile. The feelings they have are genuine, and very mutual." Roland covered his wife's hand with his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"How do you know that? Ben admitted that they had sex in a janitors closet three years ago. A janitors closet for heavens sake. Lord knows what else went on that you two, or I don't know about. You just said Ben was thirteen hundred miles away from you. How do you know Monica isn't coercing him?"

Roland opened his mouth to say: because I asked him, but was cut off. Amanda stepped away from her husband and looked at the floor. Something had shifted inside her mind: Mr. Miller was getting to her.

The bars slid back open and Monica was grabbed by the watch officer and handcuffed again before being escorted to an interview room. The room was hollow, dark, and small. A single orange light on a wire cable swung freely above a black metal table. The walls were grey and looked just as drab as the rest of the places Monica had visited since becoming a guest of the Seattle police. Two brown desk chairs were positioned on the long sides of the table. The officer once again removed the handcuffs and rudely forced Monica into one of the chairs. Detective Collins watched her being escorted into the room through a sort of duck blind. One of the walls was false, made of tinted Lucite and allowed a one-way view of the interview room. Collins studied Miss Young for a long time. Having seen the small, terrified figure in her bright blue blazer and jeans, he could hardly believe this was a criminal. Still she had broken the law and that was all that mattered to him. Monica again felt cold and rubbed her blazer sleeves with her hands. Interview rooms are designed to scare people, make them feel completely alone and isolated. The room was having the desired effect on Monica.

"You son of a bitch." Ben screamed as he stormed in the front door of his house. He'd recognized the Miller's SUV when he saw it parked in the driveway. Ben took galloping strides toward Mr. Miller. William turned in time to see Ben's right fist flying towards him. The punch connected on the left side of Miller's forehead and sent him back a couple steps.

"Ben what in holy hell are you doing?" Roland grabbed his son and buckled his arms behind his back to restrain him.

"My god Ben." Amanda covered her mouth as she watched Roland struggle to pull Ben away.

"Breaking the jawbone of an ass." Ben shouted as he continued to struggle against his father.

Will Miller hunched over, covering the knot forming on his head with both hands and stomping his foot in pain. "See what I mean. Are you telling me this level of devotion is natural?" He said after regaining his composure.

The confrontation was interrupted by the distant sound of police sirens. "This night just keeps getting better all the time." Roland grunted for a second time, still struggling to restrain Ben.

Collins was a tall and large man, particularly when compared against Monica's slender frame. He wore a dark brown tweed suit and white dress shirt. His burgundy tie had noticeable coffee stains on it. As he entered the interview room he held a manila folder containing the booking record and Monica's mug shots. He took a seat opposite Monica and propped his elbows on the table, placing the folder between them. Even in the darkness of the room Miss Young could see her own reflection in Collin's thick glasses. Collins put a stick of gum in his mouth and propped his head on his chin. "You know why you're here. Want to make this easy on yourself and confess?" Monica didn't respond even though she was shaking with fear.

The mutt and Jeff act had begun. Collins stood up and started pacing. Eventually he threw the manila folder onto Monica's lap. "Open it," he commanded. Miss Young did as she was told. She cringed when she saw the camera shots of herself, holding up the black placard that said Seattle Police Department. Collins stopped walking when he was behind Monica's chair, he leaned down and talked into her ear. "You've never been in trouble before. That women's correctional facility can be a breeze or a nightmare. You make this easy on me and I'll make sure you get an easy sentence, minimum security, light on the jail time. You make me work and you'll do hard time, in maximum security."

Monica fought desperately for control of her emotions and the situation. Her eyes burned even through tears. "I want a lawyer."

"You'll get one. Are you sure you won't play ball?" Collins circled back to the other side of the table and leaned on it. "I've got the Conner boy's entire family on their way here right now. You can bet your bottom dollar I'll crack at least one of them."

"Then do it." Monica snapped defiantly. Collins called for her to be taken back to the holding cell.

The Conner family arrived at the tenth street station just after 11:30PM. Collins had left specific instructions that the family was to be taken to separate interview rooms. He'd also stated that Ben was in no way allowed to see Monica until after his interview. It was a detail so obvious the watch commander was surprised Collins had thought to mention it. Uniformed officers escorted each of the three Conners to separate interview rooms. By separating them they would have no chance to collaborate on a story. All Collins had to do was crack one; the others would fall like dominos.

Monica went from the interview room to the one place that was worse: her grey metal cage. Again she sat on the wooden plank bed along the wall. She suddenly realized that being in the interview room with Collins had given her something to direct her fear and rage at. Now she had nothing but time and her thoughts. Miss Young's stomach tightened. 'Could Collins crack one of the Conners? My last words to Ben were to tell him to shut up. God I hope he doesn't take that wrong. And Amanda, what might she do when given such an easy opportunity to punish me?' Monica Young now knew mortal terror, as she never had before. She realized there was chance she would be caged for a very long time.

Ben was first, he was taken to the same interview room Monica had. Collins studied the teenager. He looked tired but perfectly normal in his purple Huskies polo and stonewashed jeans. He was about to go in when he received another phone call from William Miller. Detective Frank Collins now knew about the confrontation that had taken place in the Conner home.

Collins entered the room and sat down across from Ben. "I'm detective Frank Collins." He announced without extending his hand. The youngest Conner's eyes narrowed. He stared intently at Collins as he might a chess opponent sitting across from him. The game began: "I can see why you'd fall for her. She's pretty, she's awfully awfully pretty," Collins took off his glasses and bit one of the earpieces. "You know it occurs to me that a woman like that can have anything or anyone she wants."

Ben crossed his arms and did exactly as Monica had said; he stayed completely silent. The game Collins was playing was an obvious one.

"Don't you feel manipulated, taken advantage off at all?" Collins asked gently, he was trying to be Ben's friend.

"I'm not saying a word to you." Ben said defiantly, turning his head away.

"Really, well than let me ask you something. Why'd you punch William Miller?" Collins eyes narrowed. "Cause see I think you did it because this Monica makes you lose control. I also think you're a smart young man and part of you knows she makes you lose control." Collins leaned back in his chair.

"Your point?" Ben replied tersely.

"My point is son that being a teacher gave her an unnatural amount of influence over you. That's what causes a good, rational person like you to lose control. Like I said I think you already know that it was wrong of her. You're the victim here. If you just admit it we can help you. If you don't, well than we'll just have to consider that incident in your home assault and battery. It's all right to admit that she holds power over you son. That's what made you do what you did tonight. That's what makes what she did a crime."

"If you're gonna charge me with something than you do it. I'm outta here." Ben whisked is blue windbreaker off the back of the chair and left the room. Collins lowered his head and sighed: 'strike one'.

Roland was next. His interview room had ballast lights and drop ceiling so it was considerably brighter. Also the table was wood, not black metal. Still the room felt empty, and a suspect would feel alone in it. Collins decided to try the same thing on Roland he had on Ben. It might have more force going from father to father. As Collins entered he quickly processed Mr. Conner. Both Roland and Ben were tall and slender; it was about the only resemblance Collins saw. Mr. Conner wore a light blue dress shirt and navy trousers. Frank Collins sat opposite him just like he had Ben. "I'm detective Frank Collins." This time he did extend a hand. Roland accepted the handshake out of courtesy. "You know I'm a father myself: two girls. I know what it's like when something bad happens to one of your children. You want nothing more than to make everything alright."

Roland relaxed slightly. "Ben is our second child, so I thought I'd be more prepared to raise him. But I still wasn't prepared for the power he'd have over me."

Collins smiled, his strategy was having more of an effect. "You'd give your life for him in a heartbeat. I'd do the same for my daughters."

"I would," Roland nodded.

"Well then, father to father, let me tell you what I see. I see a gorgeous young woman who understandably caught your son's eye. I also see a boy that is coerced into actions he wouldn't normally take. The uniforms told me Ben tried to resist them at the restaurant. Not much, just a little. William also told me that you had to restrain Ben in your house earlier tonight. I'm willing to bet that violence is out of character for Ben."

"It is," again Roland nodded agreement.

"Then you can see how unhealthy this woman is?" Collins voice was trying to lead Roland where he wanted him to go.

Roland's nostrils flared and his eyes widened slightly. He had to calm himself before speaking. "Three and a half years ago I might have agreed with you." Collins tried to interrupt but Roland cut him off by holding up his hand. "Now detective Collins what I see is my family is in the middle of a concocted mess because you and Mr. Miller are pursuing a matter which has nothing to do with you. If anybody has the right to be upset over Miss Young its Amanda and I, not William. Monica nursed our son through a very difficult time in his life. I've seen she is not a monster, and she certainly doesn't deserve to be put in prison. And for the record I resent the implication that we cannot see what is healthy and unhealthy for our son." Collins lowered his head and rubbed his temples: 'strike two.'

Ben wandered the station until he found the holding cells. The room had three separate cells along one wall and oak desks centered about ten feet from each one. Only one of these desks was occupied, and that officer was reading a novel. "Ben!" Monica rose and shouted as she saw him approach. He scurried over and tried to find some way to hold her through the iron bars as she approached.

The officer's head came up at the noise, "hey away from the detainee." Ben didn't listen. The officer strode over and grabbed his shoulder. "Look son either step away or you go in there and I lock both of you in."

"Then unlock it." Ben replied impatiently.

The officer grabbed the keys from the desk and opened the cell. Once Ben was allowed entrance the cell door slammed home again. Ben held Monica and led her over to the wooden cot. When both were seated she buried her head in his chest and started sobbing. She pounded her left fist against his shoulder. "I knew this would happen, why did I come back here?" Monica was barely audible with her head buried in Ben's chest. He knew enough not to say a word. He just held her and rocked gently back and forth, his chin resting on top of her head.

Collins had one last chance and it was his best one: Amanda Conner. Her interview room was exactly like the one Roland had been in. Having been through two unsuccessful interviews the detective decided to change tactics. "Mrs. Conner I'm detective Frank Collins," he said for the third time. "I wish we were meeting under more pleasant circumstances."

"So do I." Amanda looked away from the detective.

Collins took a deep breath before doing what he was about to do. "I think I can make this easy for you Mrs. Conner. Roland helped me out a lot." Years as a cop had made Collins a good and experienced liar.

"I can't believe that. I thought he was actually growing fond of her." Amanda stammered out.

"Believe it. I just need to confirm a few facts. Monica Young was twenty-three and Ben was sixteen when the relationship started, correct?" Amanda nodded affirmative. "This relationship included sexual intercourse on at least one occasion, is that correct?" Collins smiled as he leaned back in his chair.

Amanda hesitated for several moments. The silence was like the loudest thunder ever heard. "Yes."