Chapter Eight

Found

One Police Plaza

During the drive back to OPP, Bobby phones his brother and asks him if he wishes to meet them at the station.

Alex is booking Richard for the original DUI offense as Bobby uncovers some information. Michelle has been receiving social security checks resulting from her mother's death. In addition, according to Claire's will, Michelle will inherit fifty thousand dollars, on her eighteenth birthday. The executor of the will is Richard.

"Not anymore," Bobby says.

Alex is just sitting down at her desk, "What?"

"Richard has another reason for not reporting her missing. Michelle has been receiving social security benefit checks since her mothers' death. Three hundred dollars a month, and Claire left a will. When Michelle turns eighteen, she will inherit fifty thousand dollars. Guess who the executor of her will is?"

"That slimly little worm."

Bobby shakes his head, "I couldn't have said it better myself."

"Bobby may I please have the honor of questioning him."

"Go right ahead." Alex gets up from her chair.

"Alex."

"Yeah," she says.

"Don't hurt him."

"I won't, but boy would I love to," they laugh.

Frank arrives at the station and he and Bobby enter the observation room. "Three months," Frank says.

"What?"

"You said three months."

"Alright maybe I exaggerated a little, but that's how long it seemed. Especially when you're twelve and you have to spend every day and night at home with your Mom"

"Do you want me to tell her it was mine?"

"Don't be as ass, anyway she probably doesn't remember. Shit, I haven't thought about that in years."

"I'm sorry, I know I said it before but I am, I never meant for you to get into trouble."

"I'm not sure I believe you."

"Come on man."

Bobby waves his hand in his brothers' face, "Its ancient history. I won't bring it up again, let's just forget about it."

"Bobby?"

"Forget it man, its ok."

A uniformed officer escorts Richard into the interrogation and Alex enters soon after.

Alex starts her questioning, "Mister Tillman?"

"I don't appear for a court hearing for DUI and the major case squad is called, Jesus don't you people have real criminals to pursue."

"Oh you are a funny guy, we are not really interested in your DUI case, we are interested in the whereabouts of Michelle Goren. Do you remember her? She lived with you and your deceased wife Claire."

Bobby says, "I asked her not to do that anymore."

"Do what?"

"Bend down like that," he points, "When she's interrogating people."

Bobby looks over at his brother. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," he says as he raises his eyebrows. They start to laugh.

Richard starts to fidget in the chair.

"When was the last time you saw Michelle?"

"On Friday morning before she left for school."

"When she didn't come home that night, didn't you get worried?"

"No."

"I can't believe that it never occurred to you to call the police."

"I figured she went to see her father."

"You're a terrible liar. You know damn well that she had no way of getting in touch with her father."

"How would I know that? I barely spoke to the kid when Clair was alive. Why would I talk to her now? Besides, she is a spoiled little brat. Claire never scolded her. That kid was free to do whatever she wanted."

Frank says, "He's lying, Claire was a good mother, strict but fair."

"He has no reason to lie about that. Maybe she eased up a little. Michelle may have been difficult, her own father leaving and her mother marrying a man who obviously is not fond of children."

"How do you know that?" Frank asks.

Alex says, "You don't like kids do you?"

"No not really. But she stayed out of my way."

Frank looks at his brother. Bobby just shrugs his shoulders. "It's a gift."

"I have no idea where she is," Richard says.

"We realize that and we are also aware that you have been cashing her SS checks, haven't you?"

He turns his head away.

Alex raises her voice. "Haven't you?"

"Yes I have, she didn't even know about them and I needed the money."

Frank says, "Jesus this guy is worse than me."

Bobby lightly taps his brothers' arm, "You're comparing yourself to him, and you think if you do that it makes you a better man?"

"I didn't say that."

"She's your daughter, what the hell did you ever do for her? Hell Dad was a better father than you were, at least he did some things with us."

"Since when are you taking his side?"

"I'm not taking anyone's side. He's not here to defend himself, he was who he was and maybe if he had lived longer maybe he would have changed. So now that you have a chance you better not fuck it up again."

"I don't need a lecture from you. I know how I've behaved. You keep talking about letting the past go Bobby but you keep throwing it up in my face, why?"

Bobby steps back from the window, "I don't know."

Alex enters the observation room. "God, what slime. He couldn't care less. He's more concerned about his own ass."

Frank asks, "What now?"

"Bobby, maybe we should bring the girls in here."

"That's an idea."

The captain enters the observation room. "Goren?"

"Yes, Captain."

"There is a Misses Webster here from Child Services to see you."

Frank asks, "Why did you call them?"

"She's a runaway and it's the law, what did you think? That we would find her and she could come home to live with you and two other guys."

"Damn I never even thought about that."

Sarcastically Bobby says, "Obviously."

Alex hits Bobby on the arm, "Knock it off." She whispers.

He exhales, "Frank it's the best thing, they will find her a place to stay until you can get your own place. They will guide you in the right direction so that you can get your daughter back."

Frank asks, "Strangers?"

"Most likely," Bobby says.

Frank's face has a look of total disappointment. Bobby says, "I'll, we'll help you in any way we can, ok."

"Thanks you guys, for everything, I have to say that the two of you make a hell of a team."

Kelly's House

11:35 PM

Kelly's cell phone rings. "Hello."

"Kelly it's me. I'm around the corner, is it safe? Can I come back?" Silence on the line, "Kelly are you there?"

"Yeah I'm here I'll meet you at the basement door."

"Thanks, see you in a few."

Kelly makes her way down to the basement. She unlocks the door and Michelle walks in.

"You can't stay here anymore Michelle, I'm getting scared. There were cops every where."

Kelly sits down on the couch, "Then where am I going to go? No one cares about me."

"Some of the people who were here last night do." Kelly sits down next to her friend.

"Why would they care about me?"

"Michelle I think one of the guys here last night was you father."

"Really," she says, sounding very surprised.

"Yeah and I think that one of the cops was his brother. Anyway this is the card the detective gave my Dad, look at the name."

She hands Michelle the card. Detective Robert Goren. A faint smile crosses her face. Maybe they do care.

"Call him, he seems very nice. Besides I think he knows that I have been hiding you."

"What makes you say that?"

"I'm not sure. Call him Michelle."

The Next Morning

"Bobby you're having another cup of coffee?"

"Yeah it tastes very good this morning."

His cell phone rings. He flips it open to look at the number and shrugs his shoulders, "Goren."

"Hi, this is Michelle."

Alex notices a broad smile on his face and she catches his eye, he winks, "Hi Michelle. Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm alright."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at Kelly's house. She told me that you and my Dad were here yesterday."

"Yes that's right. We have been looking for you for a few days. Have you been staying at Kelly's all this time?"

"Yes I have, she told me that you already knew that."

"I wasn't positive but I was certain that your friends knew where you were. Are Mister and Misses Wiley there with you now?"

"Yes they are."

"May I speak with one of them please?"

"Sure."

She points the phone at the Wiley's and Bobby can hear her say. "He wants to talk to one of you."

Sounding very excited and scared, "Detective we had no idea that she was here."

"I know that Mister Wiley, you can calm down."

"Is it a game to them?"

"No sir. The girls were just trying to help their friend."

"Do you want us to bring her down to the station?"

"No she doesn't need to come here. We will come and pick her up within the hour, would that be alright with you?"

"That's fine Detective, see you then."

Alex says, "So you were right."

"Naturally," he says as he flashes a smile.

He phones Misses Webster and she has agreed to meet them at the Wiley home.

He then phones his brother, "Hey. Are you at work?"

"No. I'm not scheduled to work today."

"I just received a phone call from Michelle. I was right she was staying at Kelly's," he says boastfully. "Alex and I are just leaving now. We will pick you up in about half an hour."

Silence, "Frank?"

"Yeah, this is going to sound ridiculous but I'm scared."

You should be. Bobby shakes his head.

"What should I say to her?"

"I'd start with hi Michelle and see where that goes."

"Thanks again for everything."

"You're welcome, see you soon." Bobby clicks off the phone as they get into the car. He slams the door, "Man I wanted to rip into him so bad."

"Why? After everything he's been through this week don't you think he's had enough pain?"

"Enough pain, oh give me a break. That's life and it's about time he faced it instead of running away."

"What is the matter with you?"

"Nothing," Bobby says.

"Bull something is bothering you, only the other day you wished that it all works out for them. Have you changed your mind?"

"No, I haven't changed my mind." He pauses. "I knew I had a niece out there and I never did anything to find her either."

Alex starts the car. "I know it's not because you didn't care. What was it?"

"I'm not sure maybe because in a way I was jealous of the fact that my brother, a total screw up for twenty five years, had a wife and a child and……….I had nothing."

"Nothing. Are we feeling sorry for our self? I'm surprised at you, in all the time that I have known you I have never heard you speak that way. You found a career that you excel in and you are blessed with many friends who care about you, so don't tell me that you had nothing."

He stays silent and just looks out the window.

"Michelle was not your responsibility, besides I didn't see any evidence that Claire ever tried to involve you in her life."

"I still could have made an effort."

"Alright you want me to agree with you. I will. Is your conscience clear now?"

"No not yet."

Alex parks the SUV in front of Frank's apartment building and Bobby gets out of the truck. "I don't think you're allowed to park here."

"It's official police business."

"Picking up my brother, I don't think that warrants official police business."

"By the time I find a place to park Michelle will have graduated from High School, now go get him."

Sarcastically he says. "Yes Ma'am," as he salutes her.

"That's not funny Bobby."

He turns to leave, "Yes it is."

Moments later Bobby and Frank appear, "Morning Frank."

"Morning Alex, how are you doing?"

"Not bad for a Friday morning."

The Wiley Home

Mister Wiley answers the door. "Detectives, Frank. Please come in."

"She's in the kitchen."

Frank looks to Bobby. "What are you looking at me for, go on."

He walks slowly into the kitchen. Michelle is sitting at the table with her head down on her hands, "Hi Michelle."

She lifts her head and a slight smile crosses her face. "Hi, you don't look that different from the photo I have."

He takes a few steps closer. "You have a photo of me?"

"Yes, Mom gave it to me."

"That's a surprise."

"Why do you say that?"

"I had always thought that she was so very angry with me."

"No not really, I remember one time she told me that she knew who you were when she married you and she had hoped that you would change, have you?"

He sits down and reaches for her hand. Michelle hesitates at first and then lets him hold her hand. "I've been trying to convince my brother of that for almost a week now and I'm still not sure that I have shown him that I have changed. However, he has a very suspicious mind. I think it comes from his job."

"Kelly showed me his card, is he here?"

"Yes he is. He and his friend Alex have been helping me to find you."

"I never thought anyone was even looking for me."

"Michelle, why did you run away?"

She lets go of his hand and sits back in the chair as she shrugs her shoulders.

"Was Richard mean to you?"

"No, I didn't want to live there anymore, I didn't like him and he didn't like me." She quickly stands up, raising her voice. "I don't have to go back there, do I?"

"No, you couldn't even if you wanted to, he's in jail."

"In jail, for what?"

"He was arrested for drinking while he was driving. Did you know that happened?"

"Yes, Mom was still alive."

"I am so sorry about your Mom."

"I miss her so much." Michelle starts to cry.

He stands up, "This might be a lot for me to ask and if you don't want me to, I won't. Believe me I will understand. Can I give you a hug?"

She nods her head and walks closer to him. They embrace. "I'm sorry Michelle I'm sorry for being a selfish and unreliable father. It had nothing to do with you and hopefully we can have the kind of relationship that a father and daughter are suppose to have."

Michelle's crying subsides and she nods her head. He holds her face in his hands and lightly wipes her eyes, "Come on there are some people who want to meet you. Would that be alright?"

She smiles and wipes her eyes with a napkin. "Sure." He takes her hand and leads her into the other room.

While Frank and Michelle were talking in the kitchen, Misses Webster arrives at the house.

"Michelle this is my brother Bobby."

"You mean my Uncle."

"Hi Michelle, I'm so glad that you are alright. We've been looking for you for three days. We would have started sooner but we didn't know that you had run away."

"Kelly told me about the police coming here and she got scared and she asked me to call you."

"Well that was the idea," Bobby looks over at Kelly.

"Am I in trouble?"

"Probably," Bobby smiles, "With your parents but not with us."

Bobby winks at the Wiley's and they smile.

"And this is Alex she has been looking for you also."

"Hi Michelle, it's nice to meet you."

"Hi Alex."

"And this is Misses Webster she is from Children's Services. She is going to help us."

"What do you mean?"

"I would love for you to come home and stay with me now but I share an apartment with two other men and Misses Webster is here to take you someplace safe until I can find us a descent place to live."

Michelle backs away from them and shakes her head. "You're just going to forget about me again."

"No Michelle I'm not, please believe me."

"Why should I?"

Alex nudges Bobby. He looks at her and she whispers, "Say something."

Bobby walks closer to Michelle, "Michelle I know that it's hard for you to trust adults but your Dad is being honest with you, he has changed and whether you believe me or not, your Dad and I understand what you are going through."

"Really?"

"Yeah we do. I have been given him a hard time all week and I can tell that he was very worried about you. He really does care and so do we. Give us a chance."

She walks closer and puts her arms around him. "Ok."

In a jokingly manner Bobby says, "Besides if he screws up I'll kick his butt."

Michelle smiles through her tears, "I thought he was the older one."

Bobby nods his head, "He is."

They all laugh.

The Wiley's have been quiet through out the visit but now they are whispering to each other and Kelly is the only one who notices. She walks closer to her parents and she smiles when she hears their conversation. After they all agree Mister Wiley says, "Michelle can stay here with us, till you are settled in your new place."

After his comment all eyes are on Misses Webster, "Are you all in agreement with that? Michelle?"

"Yes I would like that."

"Frank how about you?"

"That would be great, may I visit her, here?"

"Yes as long as Mister or Misses Wiley are home."

Frank extends his hand, "Thank you both so much."

"Everything just goes around in a circle," Bobby says.

Alex asks, "What?"

He shakes his head, "Nothing."

"Oh smile," Alex jabs him in the side. "You know you're happy about all this."

Later That Night

Bobby and Alex are just getting home when his cell phone rings. He hands the keys to Alex and she unlocks the door as he answers the phone. "Goren."

"Bobby, its Doctor Miller."

"Yes Doctor, how are you?"

"I'm fine thank you, and yourself?"

"I'm doing alright, what's up?"

"Your Mom had her physical today."

"She had her physical today? I was informed that she was scheduled for her physical, last Friday. I didn't hear anything so I assumed that everything was alright, what's the matter?"

TBC