Chapter 11
"Ms. Sherman, I know we should have called first," Seth said reasonably, "but Mom was worried ..." He swiveled his head around the room to stop at a forlorn tree in the opposite corner. "About her ficus … and asked us to water it?" Seth ended the sentence in a question rather than a logical explanation for why they had been caught in Kirsten's office.
"What are you really doing in here? The police put these filing cabinets in here yesterday afternoon. They locked the door and said they were coming back today. The lock registers which passes were used to get in."
"Police? Whaaaat?" Seth's voice rose incredulously and he looked to Ryan for confirmation. "We don't know anything about files. Besides the ficus, we wanted to get her mug. That's it, I swear. Mom's upset about the court case and acting irrationally. We were looking for her lucky mug – the one with photo on it with the family gathered around. She won't talk about anything else; she's coo-coo for photo mug." Seth spun his finger around the side of his head. "You know, like coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs."
"Your mom and I have worked together since the beginning, and Seth, I've known you since you were seven." She paused and her face wrinkled in sadness. "I'm going to have to report this."
"It's all my fault," Ryan said as he stepped forward. "Seth had nothing to do with it. I forced him to come along. Let him go. Please," he said earnestly.
Ms. Sherman stared at him dumbly. Seth broke in, "Ms. Sherman, this is my personal martyr Ryan. Ryan, this is Mom's right hand woman, Ms. Sherman."
"Everyone calls me Elizabeth. I'm the sales' manager. I recognize you from photos now, Ryan. Kirsten talked about you a lot." She smiled at him sympathetically. "I'm not sure what choice I have but to report both of you."
Ryan closed his eyes and put his head down. Seth shook his head and said, "It wasn't right to break in but Chrismukkah is in a few days and all we wanted was to get something special for Mom."
"Chrismukkah?"
"It's the greatest super holiday known to mankind, drawing on the best that Christianity and Judaism have to offer. Highlights include eight days of presents followed by one day of many presents." Seth smiled brightly as she nodded back uncertainly. Seth continued, "This year we just wanted one nice present for Mom. But we already sold our car, lost our club membership, and never eat out. Mom hasn't been to a spa or had a facial in over a month. It's tough in the numbered streets. We were thinking to get her cooking classes maybe."
"Numbered streets!" she repeated with horror. "She said she found a small but nice house. A month without a facial? I never imagined things had gotten so bad."
Seth hung his head in shame. "I knew there was a money pouch Mom used for small company expenses … we were going to steal it."
Ms. Sherman appeared to be blinking back tears. She closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself. Seth snuck a peak at Ryan and smiled quickly before he was crushed by Ms. Sherman's hug. Pulling back she went to hug Ryan as well. "What happened to you?" she asked inspecting his swollen eye.
"Ryan had to take a job in the numbered streets," Seth said when Ryan didn't answer. "He was walking home and got mugged. They took all his Chrismukkah money. His wrist is hurt, too. Show her Ryan. We can't tell Mom or Dad because we don't want to bother them with a doctor's bill."
"My wrist is fine," Ryan blurted. Seth glared at Ryan, and Ryan reluctantly nodded. "We do need money for the, umm, stuff he said like for Kirsten."
"If you call the cops about us stealing money – and that's all this was about –money, Ryan might get sent back to the orphanage. He's had a hard life on the wrong side of the tracks. If you think the numbered streets are bad you should try Chino. Oliver Twist had it easy; Ryan was abused and neglected there."
Ms. Sherman turned to Ryan with pitying eyes. Ryan quickly looked away. "I don't want to leave the Cohens," Ryan mumbled to the floor.
"Ms. Sherman - Elizabeth, we didn't want to get anyone else mixed up in our troubles, especially someone like you - Mom talked about you all the time." Seth sighed and shook his head regretfully. "You have to do what's right…"
"I wanted to call Kirsten, but she didn't seem to want to see anyone from the office. I should have insisted. What kind of friend am I?" Fresh tears threatened to flow.
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"What?" Seth asked in confusion. "You didn't talk to me the whole way home and now more silent treatment? We found what we needed, you hid it in your girly-man spandex and out the door we went. She took care of our passkey and even gave us a hundred bucks. What are you so pissed about?"
Ryan nearly vibrated with tension. He turned away and through clenched teeth said, "Seth, just shut up. I'm asking you to give me some space. Can you do that?"
"Yeah, yeah, sure," Seth said petulantly. He poked at a flame in a pan with a stick. "Pyro and I will deal with the incriminating evidence ourselves."
After a minute Seth leaned back in his lawn chair. "It's done," he said, kicking at the charred empty pan where the papers had been.
Ryan looked over and sighed. "When she walked in… We were in way over our heads. I thought I had screwed up so bad-"
"What do you mean? Mission accomplished dude!" Seth shouted.
"Seth be serious. Do you realize how close we were to ruining everything? It's not just us who would have been in trouble, your mom might as well have gone directly to jail, do not pass go. Get it? We were lucky."
"But we didn't get caught," Seth argued, "why do we have to Groundhog Day something that never even happened?"
"Every thing is so easy for you isn't it? A comic where nothing bad happens to the good guys." Ryan shook his head in disgust. "I knew it wasn't right and I let you go in there with me anyways. I messed up."
"Let it rest, dude. Seth wears big-boy pants now, and he weighed the pros and cons, decided to do something to help his mom avoid prison. A no-brainer, really."
Ryan peered at Seth through the hair that hung in front of his eyes. "How could you say that stuff? About your mom? Us?"
"Ryan I would have pledged allegiance to the water polo team if it got us out of there. Maybe you're really pissed because it was me saving your bacon for a change." Seth stood up and stood over Ryan, his hands resting on the arms of Ryan's chair. They stared at each other, both red faced. "C'mon, we-did-it, man. Let there be joy in Kid Chino! Is that ever allowed in your dark brooding place?"
A slow, begrudging smile formed on the edge of Ryan's mouth. "They never turn the lights off in the orphanage." Ryan pushed Seth away at his shoulders and laughed. "Get out of my grill, man. Okay, yeah, we did what we had to do. I felt my heart stop when she walked in. I saw your mom-"
Seth interrupted, "You're doing it again. But I know, man, I know." He held his hand out and Ryan grabbed it and pulled against it to get up. They pounded each others' backs. They were laughing when Sandy walked onto the patio.
"Oh, here you are. Things went well in court; she's out on her own recognizance."
The two boys went over to Sandy. "So where's Mom now?" Seth asked.
"She's fine, resting upstairs. She needs some time to herself so let's keep it down." Sandy sighed and sat at the table. "I'm going to be honest with you guys. There is talk of more checks Caleb passed under Kirsten's name… but this I know: the truth will come out. It's hard on your mom and it's only going to get harder, so let's do everything we can to help her." Sandy's face tightened but he looked into each boys' eyes seriously. Then, he clapped his hands together. "Let's not worry about that for now, I brought home some Thai for dinner."
Ryan pulled Seth a few feet away and whispered, "Let's tell him." Seth nodded and said, "Yeah, or they'll worry over nothing. Maybe Dad will change the defense strategy if he knows."
Without looking over at them, Sandy asked, "So are you two deciding to come clean about the fight you had last night?"
Ryan and Seth shuffled back over and sat at the table with Sandy. Ryan nodded, and Seth started, "Dad, we went to the Newport Group offices and got those records you heard about. Mom doesn't have to worry anymore."
"Let me get this straight. You broke into the Newport Group offices and stole a document under police custody?" he asked in amazement. He glared at the boys in turn but they stared at the ground, not daring to meet Sandy's eyes.
"Sandy, Caleb thought it was only way to help," Ryan said hoarsely.
"Caleb thought – that was your first mistake. Don't either of you ever go near him again!" Sandy shook his head with growing anger. "Bad decision, bad call, guys. How many times have I said you can come to me with anything? Am I talking to potted plants?" He leaned forward in his chair. "I could have gone to the DA and worked something out. Do you realize how much you put at risk? Give it to me and I'll try to make this right."
Ryan and Seth passed guarded looks. "We burned it already," Seth mumbled.
Sandy's face turned red. He got up and walked away from them. When he returned he said tightly, "If Sherman changes her mind, Kirsten could get serious time. Is this what you wanted?" Sandy stood up and paced around the table, his hands gesticulating broadly. Finally he said, "Okay, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to tell your mom everything is all right, but she can't know what happened. If she slips up during questioning ... we don't have a prayer."
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"Honey?"
Kirsten was sprawled across their bed fully dressed. On the nightstand was a crystal highball glass with only ice left.
"We need to talk." Sandy gently touched her on the shoulder. He sighed and loosened his tie before trying again. "Honey, we need to talk."
Kirsten stirred at those words. She turned over and rubbed her eyes. "Goop news or bath?" she slurred.
"Both. Are you drunk?" he asked. "We only got home an hour ago."
"A little but I wish I were sloshed. Catch up to me," she said with a seductive smile. "There's a Stoli with your name on it." She leaned over and poured a fresh drink.
"There won't be any more incriminating evidence. I just wanted to let you know so you won't worry. We only have to worry about that one check my friend says the DA already has.
"Did you do something after we agreed you would keep yourself safe?" Kirsten sat straight up now. Her eyebrows gathered in concern.
Sandy hesitated. "No, I didn't but I need you to trust me and not ask anything else."
Kirsten stared at him considering. "Why can't I know?"
"I don't want anything to slip when they question you. People other than you or me can get in trouble."
Kirsten nodded agreeably, but it was unclear whether it was to Sandy's words or to the fresh drink she took a sip from.
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Author's Note: I thank FredSmith for another great job, and all the kind reviewers for their encouraging words.
