Chapter 4

When Hannibal returned to the office and found Face missing, he was frantic to find him. He was afraid that Face might have run again at the thought of being locked up. He went out and asked the first officer he saw, "Hey, did you see anyone leave this office?"

"Yeah, I saw Deputy Adams escort some kid in cuffs back to the holding cells a few minutes ago."

Hannibal was at the Detention area trying to gain entrance but was having trouble getting past the guards who argued only law enforcement officers could go back there. He would have to come back with a deputy or the Sheriff. "But they locked up my son!"

The guard smirked, "then that is where he is supposed to be."

Hannibal was about to get violent with a loud commotion from the cell area caught their attention. The guard called for back-up and rushed back there with Hannibal following.

They found the prisoners yelling and banging on the cells, but no one was fighting.

Along with the deputies came the Sheriff. "What's going on in here?" asked the Sheriff and catching sight of Hannibal, asked, "and what are you doing here?"

"One of the deputies locked Face in there. I want him released at once!"

The Sheriff nodded to one of the deputies and said, "release the boy and take those cuffs off!"

Adams rushed to the cell door and opened the door, where Rocky helped him to the door. "The cuffs were on too tight; the kid's hands were turning purple."

Soon Face was engulfed in Hannibal's arms. "Rocky helped me until you could find me; it was his idea to make a ruckus to get the guards to come back here."

Hannibal turned to look at the man who had helped his son, only to realize exactly who he was. "Rocky? You served under me. You got shot and were shipped home. I didn't recognize you at first because of the beard. Thanks so much for helping my kid."

"You saved me numerous times in Viet Nam; I couldn't let anything happen the boy, no matter who he was."

Face was relieved as he was led from the cells but had recovered a bit by the time they had reached the sheriff's office, where they discovered Timmy. The two boys talked among themselves until the DA arrived.

"Would you two leave me while I interview this witness?"

Tom nodded and led the way to his office. "We can talk in one of the interrogation rooms until Mr. Avery is finished interviewing your friend."

As he went by his secretary, he paused to tell her where they would be.

Once they were seated, Tom turned to Face and asked, "how did you end up in one of the cells. When I left to pick up your friend, you and Hannibal were left in my office with the DA."

"I left a few minutes later to arrange for a lawyer to represent the kid and left Face with the DA," replied Hannibal.

"The DA left a few minutes later, and one of your deputies entered. He's the one who put me in handcuffs. He cuffed me behind my back and put them on too tight, I may add. We talked for a few minutes. He was mad at me for Charlie stopping him from arresting me earlier, but I don't remember that part."

"That's because you were sleeping. I gave you a mild pain killer to help relieve the pain in your back due to the beaten you received at the hands of your teacher," explained Hannibal.

"He thought I was faking being asleep. He also told me that he was going to put me in a cell with a hardened criminal, but fortunately he didn't. I guess he thought that being in a cell would be frightening enough."

"Do you know why he did this?"

"He said implied that it was because my puppy prevented him from arresting me earlier. I guess he wanted payback."

"Your name is?" The DA asked Timmy.

"Timmy Parker, sir."

"Tell me what you heard of the alteration between your history teacher and your friend, in your own words, and this conversation will be recorded."

So Timmy told Mr. Avery how he was scared for his friend and had sneaked back to the classroom. He heard demanding that Face apologize for his remarks about Ms. Foster's activities in Viet Nam, but Face had refused. The next thing he heard was the sound of someone being hit. "I rushed to the door and banged on it until the door was suddenly opened, and I was facing Ms. Foster, who demanded that I be quiet. But when she turned back to look back into the room I was able to see Face bent over a desk with Mr. Denton is standing over him with his armed raised, ready to strike him with a bamboo rod. I yelled STOP, but I was pushed out of the room. I thought that once they knew that I had seen what he was doing or about to do that, they would stop."

"But that didn't happen?"

"No, sir, it was like he had to break Face's spirit because It sounded like he was hitting him even harder, and I knew I had to get some help, so I ran to the office in hopes of finding the Principal or at least another teacher."

"Did you find someone?"

"Yes, sir, but it took longer than I thought, and by the time we got back, Face was gone, and Mr. Denton was on the floor, with Ms. Foster screaming that Face had attacked him."

Avery nodded and then asked, "is there anything more to add?"

Timmy paused before answering, "if Face attacked Mr. Denton like Ms. Foster said, then he did it to protect himself from being beaten further."

Mr. Avery thanked Timmy and dismissed him with, "thank you for your testimony, young man, your words may help your friend."

Mr. Avery entered the interrogation room. "Having heard what your friend had to say and the pictures I have seen of your son's back. I don't feel that I have enough evidence to convict. I'm going to recommend that this case be dismissed. Young man, you are free to go."

"Thank you, sir," replied Face before Mr. Avery left the room.

"Whew, I feel much better now. Can we go home now?"

"Yes, we can go home now. Why don't you go and meet me in the van? I want to ask the Sheriff something."

Face nodded and left.

As soon as Face left the room, Hannibal turned to ask. "Tom, what happens now? I know he's free, but what happens when he returns to school? More importantly, once he goes to his history class."

"I don't think your son has anything to worry about; Mr. Denton is no longer working at his school. He was fired. When Timmy went for help, he found the Principal, who decided that Mr. Denton wasn't the type of teacher they needed in their school. He had been getting reports from the parents of the students in that class, and his attack on Face was the final straw."

"Face will be happy to hear that. Thanks, Tom, for everything," Hannibal said before leaving.

Before Hannibal could, Tom stopped him, "wait a minute Hannibal, do you still

Want to press charges against Mr. Denton and Ms. Foster?"

"I should, but it would bring up more bad memories for Face, so if they drop their charges, so will I," Hannibal replied firmly.

While Hannibal was talking to the Sheriff, Face had left the building with Deputy Adams following behind. He watched as Face stopped to talk with Timmy but was about ready to make his presence known when Hannibal joined the two boys.

"Hop in, Timmy; it is time for a small celebration, and you are invited. It was your testimony that ultimately freed Face." As Hannibal opened, the van Deputy Adams spoke. "Just where are you going with this boy?" indicating Face.

"It's none of your business, Deputy, but if you must know, I'm taking him home. There wasn't enough evidence for the DA to take the case to court, and the case has been dismissed!"

"What!? He attacked his teacher, and he gets off scot-free?"

"It was self-defense, officer. His teacher was whipping him so severely that it left welts on his back; if you were in the same position, would you have stood back and taken it?"

"Then he must have deserved the beating; he was caught cheating, right?" sneered the deputy.

"NO! I was punished for voicing my freedom of speech against someone who was a traitor to this country!" Face shouted vehemently.

"I would drop this harassment, deputy, before you find yourself up for charges of your treatment of my son, " threatened Hannibal.

Adams was about to reply when Sheriff Jenkins came out. "I want to see you in my office Deputy Adams!"

Adams scowled before he left Hannibal.

"Sheriff, I need to tell you something," Face said urgently.

Tom turned to face the boy, "what is it you want to say, son."

"Deputy Adams has been arresting people on trumped-up charges, just to

up his arrest record. Rocky, the man in the cell next to me, said that he had only just gotten off the bus and was walking to the nearest eating establishment when your Deputy arrested him for loitering, and I bet that a lot of those men locked up were for minor infractions as well. This action gives the law enforcement a bad name."

"I'll look into it, young sir, and if this proves to be true, they will be freed, and Adams dismissed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Face."

After the Sheriff left, Face turned to Hannibal, "Timmy says that Mr. Denton wasn't in class today. The class was taught by Vice Principal Matthews instead."

"Mr. Denton has been fired. The Sheriff just told me. It seems that the Principal has been getting a lot of complaints from your classmates' parents. They decided that they didn't need a teacher like him teaching their children. A teacher should be impartial in teaching, giving both sides; Mr. Denton didn't do this."

When Face returned home, he was greeted by his family. "I made a chocolate cake to celebrate your case being dropped," Mrs. B said as she pulled him into a light hug.

Charlie jumped up and down at his feet and barked, voicing his welcome, too.

As Face bent down to pick up his puppy, he realized that he was so lucky to have family and friends who would stick with him no matter what.

The End

Epilogue: Deputy Adams was put on probation for his unlawful arrests and warned if he ever did that again, he is would be dismissed. He was getting this second chance only because of his father, who had served with distinction in the Sheriff's office. Mr. Denton agreed to Hannibal's proposal and left the state; Ms. Foster returned to Hollywood to continue her acting career.

Face tried to stay out of trouble…but only time would tell if he would be successful.