Is This God's Way of Testing Me?
Chapter 6
(I'm too impatient to wait a week to post this chapter, so here it is.)
"Please state your full name for the record," ADA Madison told Beca.
"Beca Elizabeth Mitchell," Beca replied.
"Your honor, with the court's approval and for clarity's sake, I will be referring to the first Mrs. Mitchell as Chloe in my questioning of this Mrs. Mitchell."
"Approved," Judge Wyatt said. "Let the record show that during Mrs. Beca Mitchell's testimony, her wife will be referred to solely as Chloe."
"Thank you, your honor," ADA Madison said. "Mrs. Mitchell, Chloe left off telling us about the night you two came home to find Mr. Walp on your doorstep. How did you feel seeing him at your home?"
"I was angry and hurt," Beca said. "Chloe had been acting a bit off for a couple of months. She had said she needed to tell me something while we were at dinner. When I saw." Beca cleared her throat. "When I saw him standing on our front porch, I thought Chloe wanted to be with him, and that's what she was planning to tell me."
"Did she try to explain to you what Mr. Walp was doing there?"
"She did, but I didn't want to hear it, " Beca said. "I know can be quite stubborn when I want to be and I also know I needed to get away and clear my head before I said something I would regret. I told her to get out of the car so I could leave."
"Did you come back home that night?"
"Yes, but it wasn't for several hours."
"What happened when you came home?"
"I was still angry," Beca said. "Our friend, Aubrey, met me at the bottom of the steps. She said I should cool off before I talked to Chloe. She said that whatever I was thinking wasn't what was going on. Then our friend Stacie came out and suggested we stay elsewhere and come back later so I could talk to Chloe and let her explain why Walp had been there."
"Did you go somewhere else?"
"Yes. Stacie and I went to our friend Amy's place. We all came back to my house later that morning."
"Did Chloe tell you why Mr. Walp was there? If so, what did she tell you?"
"She did tell me. She told me that he called her one day about two months before and started threatening her with a custody suit. He told her he was going to take our daughter away from us. What she didn't tell me was that he wanted her to have sex with him to drop the custody suit."
Chloe grimaced; Aubrey touched her arm to keep her from doing anything.
"What did you do after she told you why Mr. Walp was at your house?"
"I immediately went to Aubrey and asked if Chicago could really win custody of Sophie. She said it was possible, but she was going to help us do everything possible so that did not happen."
"Let's fast forward to when you spoke to Mr. Walp," ADA Madison said. "Did he call you?"
"No, I called him," Beca said. "I was sitting in the living room when Chloe's phone vibrated with a text notification. I don't usually bother her phone but I saw Chicago's name and a message asking Chloe to call him. I took Chloe's phone and went out to the porch and called Chicago myself."
"Tell us about that call," ADA Madison said.
"Once outside, I placed the call. He answered on the second ring..."
"Chloe?" Chicago's voice came through the phone. "I wasn't expecting you to call so quickly."
"This isn't Chloe, it's Beca," Beca responded. "You're done talking with Chloe. From here on you will be dealing with me. What do you want?"
"I'm actually glad it's you on the phone, Beca," Chicago said, chuckling. "I've been wanting to have a chat with you."
"Fine, you got me. Now say what you have to say," Beca said. "I don't have all day."
"Direct and to the point. That's good," Chicago said. "I have a proposition for you."
"What kind of proposition?"
"One that will benefit both of us," Chicago said. "You'll get to keep Sophie and you'll make it worth my while to make that happen."
Chloe huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. This wasn't the first time she heard what was said between Beca and Chicago. But, she was still a bit put out that Beca had not told her about initiating the call with Chicago when it first happened.
"I knew there was more to this whole thing than him just wanting Sophie," Beca said. "So I decided to hear him out."
"What do you have in mind?" Beca asked.
"I'm going to throw out a number and you tell me if it works for you," Chicago said.
"Throw out a number?" Beca asked. "Are you suggesting I give you money so we can keep Sophie?"
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting. How does two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars sound to you? Is that doable?" Chicago chuckled. "And, don't tell me it isn't because you're a celebrity and I've seen where you live, so I don't bother lying to me."
"I can't believe I'm even discussing buying Sophie from you," Beca said.
"I'm not selling her," Chicago said with a laugh. "I'm giving her to you for a price."
"You're giving her to us for two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars?"
"That's right."
Beca paused and took in a deep breath before responding.
"That's doable," was all she said.
"Good," Chicago said. "Meet me tomorrow at ten. I'll text you an address and you bring the money."
"Wait," Beca said. "Tomorrow is Sunday. The banks aren't open and I don't have a spare two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars just lying around. Let's make it Monday at ten. That will give me time to get the money from the bank and meet you."
"That'll work," Chicago said. "It's a pleasure doing business with you."
"Walp ended the call and I immediately called the police to report what happened," Beca said.
"What did the police say?" ADA Madison asked.
"What they told me, shocked me at first," Beca said. "I thought Chicago offering to sell me Sophie was a crime; I would have bet money that extortion or blackmail is what he was guilty of." Beca shook her head. "I would have definitely lost that bet because the detective I spoke with said the best they could do would be to charge him with coercion because selling a child is not against the law."
"Did the detective say anything else?"
"He asked me to come to the police station on Monday before I met with Walp," Beca said. "They wanted to put a hidden wire on me to record everything that was said when I made the money drop."
"So, tell us about what happened on that Monday," ADA Madison said.
"I got up early and left the house," Beca said. "I went to the police station first. They put the mic on me, and then I went to the bank. I had spoken to the bank manager on Saturday and made arrangements to have the money ready by 9:30. I figured that would give me plenty of time to make the meeting with Chicago. I arrived-"
"Let me stop you for a moment," ADA Madison said, interrupting Beca. She then turned to the judge, saying, "Your honor, I'd like to play People's Exhibit B for the courts. I'd also like to have Mrs. Mitchell explain what is going on while we listen to the tape."
"I'll allow it," Judge Wyatt said. "You may proceed."
The ADA moved a cart with a laptop and speakers to the front of the courtroom. She arranged the speakers so when the tape played, everyone would be able to hear it clearly.
"Mrs. Mitchell, would you provide some visual narrative while the tape plays?"
"Sure," Beca said. "The tape starts once Walp approaches me. I had parked and had the bag with the money in my hand."
"Okay, here we go," ADA Madison said, hitting play on the laptop.
"Right on time," Chicago said.
There was the sound of something hitting the ground.
"That's when I tossed the bag with the money at his feet," Beca narrated.
"Are you ready to give up the custody case and terminate your parental rights to Sophie?" Beca's voice came through the speakers.
"No problem," Chicago said.
A rustling sound could be heard.
"That sound is from when he opened the bag to check the contents," Beca interjected.
"Is it all there?"
"Yes," Beca responded. "Two-hundred and fifty-thousand, just like you asked."
"A quarter-million dollars for a daughter I never wanted," Chicago said. "Not a bad deal."
"You're pathetic," Beca said. "I'm still trying to figure out what Chloe ever saw in you."
Chloe scoffed because, at this point, she was also wondering what she ever saw in Chicago.
The sound of footsteps could be heard as if someone were walking away.
"That's him going toward his car," Beca said.
"Hey!" Beca's voice called out. "Don't think for one minute you can come back for more later. A quarter of a million dollars to drop the custody suit and stay out of Chloe and Sophie's lives forever. That was the deal."
"I may not be Father of the Year, but I am a man of my word. That was the deal we made, and I stand by it," Chicago responded.
"Thank you. That's all I needed to hear."
There was a sudden flurry of sounds and voices calling out, "Drop the bag and put your hands up!"
"That's when the police came out from wherever they were hiding," Beca said.
"Chicago Walp, you are under arrest for coercion," another voice said.
"What the Hell?" Chicago could be heard saying. "You bitch! You set me up!"
"You set yourself up, asshole," Beca responded.
"That's when the police put the handcuffs on him and took him away," Beca said.
Chloe was unnerved by Beca's testimony and the tape; this was the first she had heard the tape, and all she could think of was how vulnerable Beca had been. She understood there were police around, but still, Chicago was a trained military officer. He could easily have hurt Beca before the police got to him. She was glad she didn't know about any of this.
"Can you confirm that that is your voice we hear on the tape? As well as Mr. Walp's?"
"Yes, it's me," Beca said. "And Mr. Walp."
"I have no further questions, your honor," ADA Madison stated.
Beca cleared her throat and watched as Mr. Kearns stood, buttoning his jacket. He picked up his notepad and moved around the table to stand in front of Beca.
"Mrs. Mitchell, isn't it true that you're the one who first brought up paying Mr. Walp so he would not file the custody suit for Sophie?"
Beca smirked and said, "No."
Mr. Kearns stood, looking at Beca as if waiting for something more Beca just stared back at him, not speaking, not moving, just staring at him.
Mr. Kearns became visibly uncomfortable. He looked at the judge, then around the room, returning his gaze back to Beca.
"That's it?" Mr. Kearns said. "You have nothing else to add?"
"That's it," Beca said. "And I have nothing else to add. Are you done?"
Mr. Kearns stood there looking a bit flustered.
Chloe used her hand to cover her smile. Beca was being a brat and Mr. Kearns didn't know how to handle it.
"No, I am not done," Mr. Kearns blustered, looking down at his notes. "How did you come up with the amount you were willing to pay Mr. Walp to leave your wife alone?"
"I didn't," Beca said, pointing at Chicago. "He did."
"That's not what Mr. Walp said."
Beca took in a breath and let it out slowly. She wanted to scream out and call Chicago a liar, but ADA Madison's words kept running through her head.
"Don't do that. The defense will say things like that to get a rise out of you. Don't take the bait."
"Well?" Mr. Kearns said, looking at Beca.
"Well, what?" Beca asked, looking from Mr. Kearns to the judge and back again. "Was there a question I missed somewhere?"
Mr. Kearns sighed. "What do you have to say about the fact that Mr. Walp does not agree with your version of what happened?"
"I don't know what Mr. Walp told you," Beca said. "But, if he didn't tell you the same thing I just did, he is not being truthful with you."
"Let's talk about the tape we heard earlier," Mr. Kearns said, changing tactics. "On the tape, you said, and I quote, Don't think for one minute you can come back for more later. A quarter of a million dollars to drop the custody suit and stay out of Chloe and Sophie's lives forever. That was the deal. End quote. Doesn't that sound to you like you were the one who negotiated the amount and used it to set up Mr. Walp? That's what it sounds like to me."
"I'll tell you, like I told him," Beca said. "He set himself up when he offered to forget about the custody suit if I paid him two-hundred and fifty-thousand dollars."
~~ Is This God's Way of Testing Me? ~~
Chloe could tell Beca was getting angry. She looked over at Aubrey.
"I hope Beca can keep her cool," Chloe whispered. "She's got that look in her eye where she's a hair's breadth away from letting loose on Chicago's lawyer."
Aubrey grinned and leaned over to whisper, "I almost hope she does." She then quickly glanced over at Chicago. "Chicago is looking much too smug about the whole thing."
Chloe looked over at Chicago as well. She grimaced when he caught her looking. She quickly looked away when he smirked and winked at her.
Beca saw Chicago wink and followed his eye line to see Chloe grimacing. Her jaw clenched and it took everything in her to not go off on him.
"Mrs. Mitchell?" Mr. Kearns said, causing Beca to turn back to him.
"I'm sorry," Beca said, somewhat flustered. "What was the question?"
"I said that Mr. Walp is a highly respected military officer, so why should we believe your version of things over his?"
"We haven't heard his version of things," Beca said calmly. "Plus, I'm sitting here under oath to tell the truth, and he's not. So, he can tell you anything he wants. Put him up here and let him tell the court his version, and let's see how that goes."
Mr. Kearns smirked and turned to look at Chicago over his shoulder; Chicago was looking over at Chloe.
Beca quickly looked at Chloe, who was looking down at the floor. Beca then turned her attention to Chicago. He was leering, and she saw him wink in Chloe's direction.
Mr. Kearns also saw the wink and turned to find Beca glaring at Chicago. He opened his mouth to say something, but Beca beat him to it.
"Mr. Kearns," Beca said, smile firmly in place. "If your client leers and winks at my wife one more time, going to jail will be the least of his worries."
Several things happened at once after Beca's statement.
Gasps and murmurs could be heard from those observing the proceedings.
Chloe's head jerked up to stare at Beca with a shocked look on her face.
Chicago looked at Beca with some trepidation.
Aubrey mumbled, "Beca, Beca, Beca," while shaking her head and pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Your honor!" Mr. Kearns called out, looking at the judge with his arms out.
ADA Madison jumped up, asking for a brief recess.
The judge banged his gavel, and everyone quieted and looked at him. He sighed heavily and looked at ADA Madison and then Mr. Kearns.
"Miss Madison and Mr. Kearns, I'd like to see you in my chambers immediately. As for the rest of you, this court is in recess and will reconvene in thirty minutes," Judge Wyatt declared and banged his gavel.
Everyone stood as the judge left the bench. ADA Madison briefly glanced at Beca as she and Mr. Kearns followed the judge through the doors leading to the judge's chambers.
~~ Is This God's Way of Testing Me? ~~
Beca swallowed when she saw the disappointment on Aubrey and Chloe's faces as she slowly walked over to them.
"I'm sorry," Beca blurted out immediately. "I just got so angry when I saw him leering and winking at Chloe again."
"Again?" Chloe asked, her brow furrowed. "He only winked at me once."
"Twice," Beca said, holding up two fingers. "It was twice. He just winked at you when you were looking down. I saw him do it!"
Chloe's eyes widened in understanding. She pulled Beca into a hug and whispered, "It's okay. It will be okay."
"Beca," Aubrey said, getting Beca's attention. "The judge calling the lawyers into his chambers does not look good. You can't just threaten people in open court."
"I wasn't threatening him," Beca said. "I was making a promise. Because if I had seen him leering at Chloe again, I would not be responsible for my actions against him."
Aubrey sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Regardless of what you intended, it sounded like a threat. I don't know, what if anything will happen to you, but you might want to be prepared to apologize as soon as the judge returns."
"Okay," Beca said, sighing.
"Sit down for a few minutes," Chloe said, sitting and pulling Beca down next to her. "Try and relax."
Beca heard someone laughing and looked up to see Chicago looking at her and Chloe. When he saw Beca looking, he pursed his lips as if blowing her a kiss.
"Asshole," Beca muttered.
"Just ignore him, babe," Chloe said, turning her back to Chicago so she was facing Beca and obstructing her view of the man. "Miss Madison warned us about this. She said they would try all kinds of tricks to get under our skin; you just can't let them."
"It's too late for that," Beca said, clearly agitated. "I just want five minutes alone with him. Is that too much to ask?"
"Yes, it is," Aubrey responded, causing Beca to look over her shoulder at her. "I get it, Beca, I do. I mean, I'd like to throttle the guy myself. But that's not going to help anyone."
"You're right, Aubrey," Beca said. She turned to look at Chicago and then to Chloe. "I was serious when I said I don't know what you ever saw in the guy."
"I honestly don't know either," Chloe said, refusing to look at Chicago. "He was a terrible boyfriend and a mediocre lover at best."
Beca smiled. "Are you just saying that to make me feel better?"
"No," Chloe said. "It's true. It was always wham, bam, thank you, ma'am, with him. You are a much better and thorough lover than he ever hopes to be."
"Ew, Chloe," Aubrey said. "I don't want to hear you comparing your lovers."
Beca laughed when Aubrey made retching sounds.
"Trust me, babe," Chloe whispered to Beca. "There is no comparison."
Beca leaned in and gave Chloe a quick kiss, smirking at Chicago as she pulled back from the kiss.
~~ Is This God's Way of Testing Me? ~~
The three friends sat quietly for the next ten minutes while waiting for the judge and lawyers to return to the courtroom.
They all watched as ADA Madison and Darren Kearns, two Federal officers, and a man in military uniform entered the courtroom from the Judge's chambers.
ADA Madison walked behind the table and stood by the railing in front of Beca and Chloe. "Things are about to get very interesting," ADA Madison told them before taking her seat.
On the other side of the aisle, Chicago and his lawyer sat at the table with their heads together. Mr. Kearns was doing all the talking while Chicago was just nodding his head; he looked frightened as he stared at the two Federal officers standing next to him.
"All rise," the bailiff called out.
Everyone stood as Judge Wyatt walked out and took his seat on the bench. He waved the military officer to him, and the officer stood in front of the judge's bench. The judge covered his mic and whispered something to the Sergeant.
"Thank you, your honor," the Sergeant said and stepped back.
He walked over to the two Federal agents and whispered something to them. The two agents nodded and remained where they were.
Judge Wyatt banged his gavel, getting everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this case is dismissed due to some unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, I will have to ask everyone to exit the courtroom as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding."
Everyone stood confusedly and made their way out of the courtroom.
~~ Is This God's Way of Testing Me? ~~
"Would you ladies please come with me?" ADA Madison said to Beca, Chloe, and Aubrey once they were outside the courtroom.
The three friends followed ADA Madison into a small conference room across from the courtroom.
"What's going on?" Beca asked as soon as she walked in behind the ADA. "Why was the case dismissed like that?"
"And who were those guys?" Chloe asked.
"One of those guys is a Sergeant in the army," ADA Madison said. "The other two were Federal Officers. It appears Mr. Walp has been listed as a deserter from his military duty station in Spain."
"Deserter?" Aubrey repeated. "His name should have been in a database. Anytime his name came up, there would be a notification to whatever law enforcement agency was looking into him. So, how did his name not get red flagged when charges were filed against him?"
"I don't know," ADA Madison replied, shrugging. "It could have been human error, a glitch in the system, or any of several other things, I'm guessing."
"What does this mean for us?" Beca asks. "Can he still file a custody suit for Sophie?"
"I don't think so," ADA Madison said. "The military doesn't play with deserters. From what the Sergeant told the judge, Walp went AWOL about six months ago. He thinks he'll get the maximum punishment which includes a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay, and five years of confinement. His conviction will be on his permanent record, and from what I can remember, it will be enough to have his parental rights terminated."
"AWOL?" Chloe asked. "I thought you said the warrant was for desertion. Are they the same thing?"
"No, they're not," Aubrey said. "In the military, if you are listed as AWOL for over thirty days without notifying anyone, it is considered desertion, and a federal deserter warrant can be issued for you. So, if he's been gone for over six months, he'll be court-martialed for desertion. There is some good news, though. Once he's convicted, we can immediately file with the courts to have his parental rights terminated."
"Please let me know if I can be of any assistance with that," ADA Madison said. "I have a few connections with the Family Courts."
"I will," Aubrey said.
"Thank you," Chloe said, hugging the ADA.
"You're very welcome," ADA Madison said, somewhat surprised by the hug.
"Let's go home and order pizza for dinner," Beca said, holding Chloe's hand. "I want to spend some time with Sophie."
"I love that idea," Chloe said. "Brey, would you, Stacie, and Bella like to stay and have dinner with us? We're going to order pizza."
"I think we'd all like that," Aubrey said. "Let's go."
"Aubrey," Beca asked as they walked toward the exit for the Courthouse. "Will I have to adopt Sophie after Chicago's parental rights are terminated even though my name is already on her birth certificate?"
"I'm not sure, but I think you should," Aubrey said. "That way, there will never be any doubt about who her parents are."
"I'd like that," Chloe said, smiling at Beca.
"Me, too," Beca said.
A/N: That's the end for now. I'm planning an Epilogue that delves a little into Chicago losing his parental rights and Beca adopting Sophie.
I want to once again express my sincere thanks to anotherbechloeshipper for being an awesome beta!
