Sorry, I'm so sorry this has taken so long. I got stuck on another one and well, my muses went on a working vacation with us, and ran off! When they got back, well, lets just say they were in 'good moods, and damn slap happy' and that is NOT conducive to M's writing Bosco Angst fics! Silly muses. But I whipped them into shape finally, and hopefully they stay that way. A Happy Bosco Muse...who ever heard of such a thing? Geesh! M. (thanks for the lovely reviews....)
Truth or Lies
Chapter 7
"Mr. and Mrs. Yokas," Dr. Angelica Sharpe sighed, "If Emily is lying, there is no way for me to be able to know. I'm a child psychologists, not a mindreader. Your daughter displays all the signs of someone who has suffered a trauma. I'm sorry, but at this point, I have to say you must continue to believe her. Despite what her brother told you, which could have been jealousy, or anger driven. OR," she held up her hand quickly seeing the protests in their faces, "if it were actually said by Emily, she could have been angry and trying to hurt Charlie. He has been very upset about this entire thing. And he's been after Emily to stop it."
"Hold on Dr. Sharpe," Fred leaned forward, "I know, we know, that Charlie has been after her, but Emily has been acting strange. I told you about her wanting to go and see that boy, and about her comments about the condom use. So, if she's telling me stuff you said she wouldn't be able to even think about, why is it so hard to believe she would say that to Charlie and not be 'lying'?"
"I have to agree with Fred," Faith added to his comments, "I talked to Amanda's mother, and Helen thinks that Charlies telling the truth. She overheard Amanda talking to one of her other friends in Amanda's bedroom. Amanda was telling the girl that if Emily gets 'caught' she's probably going to 'Juvie'. Now, does that sound like a 'lie' to you?"
Tapping her pen on her desk pad, Dr. Sharpe studied both parents faces. After a few minutes, she nodded, "Okay, I'll try again. I can't promise anything, but, I'll definitely try again with her. So, our times up, and when Emily comes this afternoon, I'll work on her about this." Standing Dr. Sharpe walked around her desk, "I would suggest to both of you, that if you think so strongly that she's lying, you speak to the ADA about it. Going forward at this time could make things worse if she is lying, no, make that it WILL make things worse." Seeing them to the door, she gave a smile of reassurance to them, "And try not to talk to her about this before I see her this afternoon, I don't want her guard up. She's begun to open up more, and I would like to see it continue."
"Of course," Faith smiling back, nodded, "we want our daughter to get the help she needs Dr."
"Thank you," Fred shook her hand, "for everything."
"Don't thank me yet," Dr. Sharpe became serious, "things may not ever be fully resolved in this case. Sometimes they never are."
Fred and Faith glanced at her sharply, then at each other before leaving. Dr. Sharpe sighed as she told her secretary to send in her next appointment.
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"No way!" ADA Walker sat behind her desk as Fred and Faith took a seat in front of it, "If we back off on this now, he'll walk! Judge Marks doesn't play around. She won't leave him in jail or custody, if she thinks we're hesitating on prosecuting this case! I'm sorry, but the next hearing is tomorrow morning, and bail is going to be asked for again. We have evidence now that substantiates your daughters case, hard evidence. That halter top of hers we found in his trunk? That makes this case a slam dunk, and you know it Officer Yokas! No, no, I have to go forward or risk this being dismissed." Sitting back in her chair she eyed them both, "It's not unusual for a Rape Victim to retract her or even his story if the pressure gets to be too much. Has anything happened at home, or school? Maybe she's feeling guilty about putting away your partner?" She was looking directly at Faith.
"Trust me," Faith instantly replied, "nothing's happened at home or school. Emily is seeing Dr. Sharpe again this afternoon. And guilt? I would think if she's lying, she should be feeling a hell of a lot of guilt! Ms. Walker, I want to believe my daughter, god you have no idea how much I want to believe her! But, I also have to trust my son. And my husbands gut instinct. Fred usually reads the kids like books. They both say she's lying. Fred attacked and beat Bosco up because he believed Emily's story. Now he says he may have made a mistake. If her own Father, whom she is close too and loves dearly thinks she's lying..."
"Ms. Walker," Fred jumped in, "I do think something happened, but I don't think it was Rape anymore. Hell as far as we know, it could have been a completely innocent incident. I know Emily won't just admit it. But you saw what happened to Bosco in that jail. Do you really think he'd survive in the prison? I don't honestly know what's going on, but I sure as hell don't want his death on my conscience if my daughter is lying about what happened. Do you?" He stood up, walking over to the window to look out, "If he did this, IF he Raped my little girl, I want him so deep in prison he'll never get out. But," looking back at her, "right now, I'm just not sure what's going on."
Her hands tented before her, elbows on the arms of her chair, ADA Walker chewed on her bottom lip. It was obvious she was thinking over the parents sincere pleas. Faith watching her felt something nagging at the back of her mind. ADA Walker saw her sit forward suddenly, her mouth dropping open slightly, she asked Faith, "What? Something to add?"
"Oh my God," Faith didn't know whether to cry of laugh, it was so obvious, how could she have not seen, "he's not lying." Fred turning back from the window frowned, asking curiously, "What? Faith," he knew her looks, and knew she was on something here, "why do you say that?"
"He's not lying," tears falling she looked up at Fred, "Fred! Damn it, Emily lied about it all!" Both Fred and Walker were now staring at her like she'd lost her mind, Faith gave a tearful laugh, "Let me explain..."
"Yes," ADA Walker smirked, "please do."
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"Well," Faith stood just inside the bedroom door, talking to Dr. Sharpe on the phone, "did it work?"
"Yes," Dr. Sharpe was smiling, but sad, "it worked. Fred just left with her. I think this should do the trick. I'm still not convinced she's completely lying about what happened. Something did happen Mrs. Yokas, but I do think that your breakup with your husband has a lot to do with Emily's problems. I will be there tomorrow morning, just in case she needs me. I've cleared my morning calendar."
"Thank you Dr. Sharpe," Faith nodded, "I have a feeling we will all need you before this is over. We still have that family counseling group session to attend."
"Oh Mrs. Yokas," Dr. Sharpe allowed her humor to show through, "I've a feeling there will be many of those before I let you folks go. We haven't even begun to address Charlie yet. See you at 9am."
"Bye," Faith hung up the phone, to see Charlie staring at her, "hey, did you get your homework finished?"
"Mom," Charlie stood next to her, it always surprised her that he was nearly her height now, "I was right wasn't I? Emily lied about Uncle B!"
Hesitating only a few seconds, Faith softly replied, "We're still not sure about that Charlie, but we know you didn't lie on your sister." Gently stroking his cheek, "And I'm sorry for acting like you did, or would." Taking him into a hug, Faith pinched him eliciting a squeal from him when he commented in jest, "Oh I'd lie on her, just not about something this big!"
Smacking him on the shoulder, Faith smiled sadly, "Charlie, you can't let on that we believe you, or that we talked about this at all. Emily hasn't backed off her story, and until she does, Bosco is not going to be let go. AND," she headed him off, "there isn't anything Dad or I can do, we tried. ADA Walker isn't going to stop moving forward until she has proof positive that Em lied."
Charlie pulled back from her, "So Uncle B has to stay in the hospital? Or Jail? Until when Mom?" He was angry now, "That's so not FAIR MOM!! I heard you and Dad talking! They almost killed him in there didn't they? And all because Emily's a damn bitch!"
"Honey," Faith reached for him, but he threw his arm up avoiding her touch and headed to his room.
"Oh don't worry Mom, I know when to keep my mouth shut!" Charlie closed his door behind him, leaving Faith to wonder when her 'baby' had grown up so much.
"Where the hell was I?" she muttered, already knowing and in some ways regretting the answer she found.
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Bosco buttoned up the last of his shirt, slipping the jacket on as Rose handed him his tie, "Maurice, you should have put this on first, how are you going to tie this with that?" Pointing to his cast, "With a jacket on?"
"Not going to," he grinned softly leaning in for a quick kiss on her cheek, "my mommy's here, she'll do it for me." Joking around with her since she'd arrived he was attempting to stop her from worrying, and in the process keep himself from a nervous breakdown. His stomach was in knots, and he already had a headache. He knew if the Judge decided so, he would end up back in jail, or prison by tonight. For a moment this morning he'd thought he was going to have another panic attack over breakfast, but managed to get it under control. Breakfast didn't make it, but at least he wasn't in the psyche ward right now.
Rose simply yanked his collar up and began putting the tie around his neck. Bosco continued tugging at his sleeves, adjusting the coat. She gave a slight tug, "Be still, you are constantly in motion. How's your arm feeling?"
Attempting to stand steady, Bosco was looking into her eyes as he saw her tongue slip out while she worked the tie. Grinning now at her concentration, "Still getting twinges, but its okay, Doc says the cast should be off in a couple of weeks. Mom, are you sure you know how to do this?" He gasped as she yanked it tight, "MOM," pulling back on it with his finger to loosen it, "no choking your kid!"
Glancing up at him, she smirked, "Sorry," finishing the knots placement she stepped back, "well lets see. Turn around." Motioning him to spin around in front of her, "Lets make sure you look like a 'decent upstanding' citizen here."
"Mom," Bosco laughed, "not a chance, I'm a cop remember?" Winking at her he moved to collect his wallet and rosary. Stuffing them in his jacket's inner pocket, "Besides, this is all show and everyone knows it. I'm not some street criminal, the judge expects me to show up in decent clothes anyway. And at least this is MY suit and my lawyer didn't buy it for me, like most of the perps I put away." Heading to the small bathroom, "Going brush my teeth and hair, be right back."
Watching him go, Rose gave a reassuring smile to him, then walked to the table next to his bed. Sitting beside the disconnected phone, and water pitcher was a small frame, she lifted it tears springing to her eyes as she looked down on her two sons. Taken several years ago when Maurice joined the Rangers. Mikey had been so proud of his big brother's achievement, had told everyone he knew that his brother wasn't only in the Army, but was a Ranger. The best of the best. Mikey had been arrested two months later on a possessions charge. Wiping her face quickly as she heard Maurice returning, "Ma, you seen my belt?" Laughter in his voice, "Guess I need that huh? Judge Marks might not appreciate my pants falling down around my," seeing her wiping her face, "Ma? Hey, its going to be okay." Removing the picture from her hands, he replaced it, turning her around to face him, "Ma, don't, I need you to be strong here, alright?"
His worried and fearful eyes staring into hers, Rose nodded, taking a deep breath, "You're right, everything's going to be okay, baby. I was just thinking about Mikey, and you the day that picture was taken. Just being silly." Snatching a tissue from the box on the stand, she wiped her eyes again, as she patted his arm, "Now look what I did," heading to the bathroom, "let me fix my face and I'll be ready."
Bosco watched her go, "I'll tell Arden we're ready to go, okay Ma?" Her muffled answer coming back to him, he went to the door.
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"Faith, Emily," Fred called out, "you guys ready yet?" He was finishing the gathering of his keys and wallet as Charlie moved in and out of the bedroom, "Charlie what are you looking for?"
"My book about Mustangs," Charlie mused as he searched under the bed, "I was going to send it to Uncle B, you know in case they make him go back to the hospital. I thought you could give it to him..." trailing off as he saw Fred's face.
"Hopefully," Fred relaxed his expression, realizing Emily and Faith couldn't hear him from the bathroom, "Uncle B won't have to go back to the hospital, or anywhere else after the hearing. Except home." Clapping Charlie on the back, "Now go get your shoes on, Mrs. Martin said she would be here at 8 remember? Its 7:50 now."
Bouncing up off the floor, Charlie ran from the room, "OH yea, I forgot!" Leaving Fred to shake his head wondering where that boys time sense got to.
"I don't know why I have to go!" Emily whined as Faith finished her makeup, "Mom, you and everybody else said I wouldn't have to do this!" Flinging herself back against the door's frame, "This is so not fair!"
Faith grabbed hold of her self control, remaining calm as she snapped the cap back on her lipstick, "Emily, I told you," her voice the soft voice of motherly reasoning, "the laws allow for the Judge to request your presence. You're not under 16 remember? You don't have to testify, but you do have to be in the court if she says so."
"GOD!" Emily flung herself out of the bathroom as Faith began to leave, "I HATE YOU ALL!!"
Spotting Fred as he crossed the livingroom, Faith locked eyes with him, praying for strength, not to kill her, and for what was coming. And praying they were not making a larger mistake.
"Ready," Fred informed her as he smiled at her, asking, "Ready?" Seeing her huff as she responded, "Ready!"
"Emily, Charlie, lets go!" Fred called out, holding his keys in his hand, he followed Faith to the door. Emily flounced past them still griping about having to go to court, while Charlie slipped a smallish book into Fred's jacket pocket. Looking at him, Fred frowned in question.
"You know," Charlie gave him a serious stare, "just in case. Is that okay Dad?"
"Sure Charlie," Fred rubbed his shoulder briefly, "it's fine."
Closing the door behind him softly, Fred joined his family.
TBC...