Chapter 11. The line drawn in the sand

Mayfaire paced; they were gathering in the Headmaster's office, waiting for him. He could see them in his mind's eye. Dr. Madison, trying to keep control and fighting a losing battle within with his prejudices. Henderson a school yard bully if ever Mayfaire had seen one. Mr. and Mrs. Williams, believing in a daughter they hardly knew. Meg, the cool cat of a girl who was seething on the inside and needing to conquer something she could not possibly rise to. Lastly Sarah, he paused on the thought of the tempting little teen that was at the center of this drama.

"Sarah," he whispered wishing he could just banish her from his mind. Had she not thrust herself into his arms when he'd pulled her from the path of the bus' wheels, had he not felt her tremble in his arms, had he not looked at the sweet tremble of her unknowing lips. He sighed, vowing not to be a fool. He was here to give an evaluation, and that's just what he intended to do. He looked up at the wall clock and gathered his notes. "Showtime," he quipped as he walked to the hall that led to the Headmaster's offices. He glanced down at the woman sitting in the outer office. "Are they ready?" He asked.

"Yes, Doctor." Miss Shelton rose, giving him a slightly simpering gaze before schooling her face into its usual stony façade. She opened the door ahead of him and announced him to the occupants of the office. "Doctor Mayfaire."

Madison was seated behind his desk, looking like a deer in the cross hairs. "Doctor, would you like my seat?"

"Not necessary." Mayfaire addressed him. He placed his notes down and looked at the assembled group. "Charges such as these are a very serious business," he began. "I'm very gratified that you all took it as so. I wish to thank you all for your cooperation." He was about to speak again when Henderson broke in.

"Damn it man, out with it!" The man roared.

Robert looked over at the man with a slightly bemused expression, but kept still. Mayfaire found himself appreciating the Williams family as a whole. "I believe that's what I was trying to do." Mayfaire stated, moving to a wingback chair that was unoccupied. Settling in he addressed the Headmaster. "Dr. Madison, my finding is that the charge of sexual misconduct is unfounded."

"What?" Roared Henderson, standing to be more imposing; "Did you not look at the filthy drawing that creature drew?"

"I studied the sketch and found it a very good likeness of your stepdaughter, but little else." Mayfaire now looked bemused. He looked again at the Headmaster. "Miss Kohler herself admitted that she asked Miss Williams to use her as a model."

Sarah, standing with her hands in her blazer pocket, blinked.

Meg had the most calm and composure.

"That's a lie," roared Henderson, turning to his stepdaughter. "Tell them, it's a lie."

"I did ask Sarah to draw me." She said quietly, as if totally innocent herself. Henderson's mouth dropped open as he dropped back into his seat. "I told you that, Daddy." She turned those blue/green eyes into standing tidal pools as she looked up at her stepfather with almost seductive innocence.

"She goaded you into it," he offered.

Mayfaire cleared his throat. "Miss Williams and Miss Kohler are both of that age where young ladies blossom into young women. For centuries women have turned to other females to bolster that mystic. They were carried away by two lectures that followed each other; one on the Sabine, the other on the human form. There was no sexual misconduct. Miss Kohler herself has stated that after completing the drawing the girls then went up to her bedroom 'and started trying on clothes and fixing each other's hair, doing girl things… things no man would ever understand.'" He read from his notes. "Hardly the actions of a predator."

Henderson frowned.

Madison on the other hand wore a look of utter relief. "Then we can lift the decree of isolation and Miss Williams may return to her normal classes."

"I object!" Henderson rose to his feet yet again. "You can't put that girl back among innocent…"

"Miss Williams is not a predator; she is merely a young girl becoming sexually aware. Perfectly normal for her age," Mayfaire said loudly. "Both girls should be allowed to return to their normal classes and activities."

Henderson picked up his overcoat, "You'll be hearing from my lawyers." He threatened as he left.

Robert took a card from his pocket and handed it to the Headmaster. "Should you need us," he said calmly.

The Headmaster sighed. "Miss Williams, Miss Kohler, go to class."

Meg turned to Sarah and smiled.

Mayfaire saw the smile, and the look behind the eyes of the owner of the smile. He frowned. Turning he looked at the Williams', he couldn't let this go. "Might I have a word with Mr. and Mrs. Williams?" Robert looked at him and nodded. "Conference room G in five minutes, please."

Karen winked at Sarah, "Go to class, I'll pick you up at three and we'll celebrate."

Sarah giggled, "Shopping!" She followed Meg out of the office.

Madison rose to his feet and thanked Mayfaire who accepted the Headmaster's hand.

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Mayfaire walked down to Conference Room G, steped into the room to see the Williams' there, waiting for him. The Williams' looked at peace; he hated having to shatter that. Telling himself it was to protect Sarah didn't make it any easier. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."

"Is something wrong?" Robert asked as he settled Karen into a seat and then himself.

"Not wrong, but troubling." Mayfaire said.

"What is it?" Karen asked. "You said Sarah was not guilty."

Mayfaire clasped his hands on the desk. "Sarah is a very troubled girl. I think a good deal of it goes back to her not having dealt with the fact of your divorce from her mother."

Robert looked stunned. "I beg your pardon?"

"I think she would benefit from a few sessions of counseling." Mayfaire suggested.

"Counseling?" Karen repeated looking alarmed. "Have we done something wrong with her?"

"No," the man said calmly. "I've noticed that she's a bit…immature. And she alluded to some resentment I feel she should address. A weekly session at this point would help her learn to face her resentment and deal with it, before it becomes a serious problem. Who did her counseling when you were divorced?"

Karen looked at Robert who was looking at the floor. "No one," he sighed. "I thought she was coping with everything."

Karen looked down.

Mayfaire addressed her, knowing she was his key. "Mrs. Williams, did you feel she was coping?"

"No," Karen sighed. "She's been better of late, though." The defense was there.

"I'm not accusing you of anything." Mayfaire said gently. "I just feel that Sarah needs some help to overcome some issues."

Robert looked over at the man, judgingly. "Could you oversee her counseling?"

Mayfaire shook his head, "I don't think that would be wise." He tapped his chin, "I'm already too involved in this case. Someone objective would be better."

"Sarah won't accept this." Karen warned. "If you counsel her, it would be someone she knows and trusts."

He'd known this was the argument they would use, and he counted on it. "Well, it's out of the ordinary, but then, so is Sarah." He took out a sheet of paper. "I'm opening offices here in town as I'm spending a good deal of time here. So, let's say Fridays after school from say, four until six." He passed the address to the parents. "We'll begin this Friday. I'll inform Sarah before I leave today."

Robert nodded, "I can pick her up after the sessions, as my offices are near there." He stood up and offered his hand to the doctor. "Thank you."

"Thank you." The doctor shook the hand and kept an impartial face as the parents exited the conference room. "One down, one to go," He mused as he walked down the hall. He entered the outer office of the Headmaster, "Call Sarah Williams down to Conference room G before she goes to lunch, please."

"We've just sent her to classes;" protested the woman, but quickly shifted gears seeing his grimace. "Of course."

Mayfaire returned to the conference room and waited for the girl. When she entered the room, he motioned her to be seated. "Miss Williams, your parents and I agree that you would benefit from some private counseling. You and I will be meeting on Fridays after school."

"You gotta be kidding me!" She stood up so quickly the chair flipped over. "Of all the dirty tricks!" She slammed her hands on the desk. "I won't do it! I'm innocent, you said so yourself!"

Mayfaire leaned back in his chair, "I said there was no sexual misconduct; I never said you were innocent." He smirked. "We begin on Friday."

"It's not fair, you… you… you Goblin King!" She stomped her foot.

Hearing the term, he lost his smirk. Leaning forward, his eyes got dark. "What did you just call me?"

Sarah backed up, thinking fast; "Nothing."

He rose from the leather swivel chair like the great cat his car was named for. "What did you just call me?" Sarah panicked and raced to the door. Hands slammed on either side of her, trapping her and a mouth was close to her ear. "You're no match for me, Sarah."

She froze at the words spoken, her breathing coming in short quick gasps.

Mayfaire leaned closer, "You'll be at my office this Friday, and be prepared. I'm going to break you down, and get to the bottom of all this." Pulling back he watched her pull it together. "Friday at four, Miss Williams."

Sarah opened the door, stepped into the hall, and looked back at him. "Go to hell." She pulled the door shut with a slam.

He could hear her angry steps away from him and down the hall. He smiled. 'Goblin King, indeed. Now where did that come from?' He moved to the window, looked down to see Meg standing with two other girls whom he was not very familiar with. One he'd seen working as an aide in the Headmaster's office, the other he recognized as the girl who'd brushed past him the day before yesterday, when he saved Sarah from being run under the bus. The girl with red curls looked up, a look of unmasked evil on her pretty face. He glared right back at her, self-assured and poised. "You want her?" He said quietly. "You're going to have to go through me to get her." He turned from the window. "Goblin King?" He moved to the desk and wrote down the words. He would do a bit of research before he next met with the girl. Taking a seat, he wondered if he could make a request of the Lab teacher for some salt peter and prescribe for himself.