Keeping Katie Ch 18
Elliott was the first one to smell the truth about Mr. Jones. He pretty much kept to himself in the crowd, while his wife was a smiling if shy woman who soon was quite at home with the rest of them. They sat around the picnic tables and chatted, telling jokes and stories while they watched the kids play croquet, shoot some hoops, swing on the wooden set in Katies case and even an impromptu game of badmitton. Katie had a heck of a serve, though they had to keep an eye on her because she tended to get frustrated and want to use the racket on the nearest person if she messed up.
The wind had come up with a gentle breeze that sent the lighter things flying off the table. Elliott and Mr. Jones reached for a paper at the same time and Elliott got a whiff of his breath. The unmistakable odor of alcohol made the big detective give him a hard glare. Mr. Jones sat back up and looked away, angry and unrepentantly.
After that, Elliott kept a firm eye on the older man. Mr. Jones got up and went to their car. Don came down and sat next to Elliott. "What's up, detective?" he asked with a smile. The comment was out of place in this casual setting, but he was still one no matter the place.
"Mr. Jones, has been tipping a bottle and I don't believe its soda. I caught a whiff but that's all. It might be cold medicine, I noticed he was sniffling."
"But you don't think so."
"No. Mrs. Jones seems like a nice lady and I'd hate to ask them to leave for her sake but I just don't trust him." Elliott said. "He strikes me as a sneaky bastard."
"You and me both. Let's see what happens when he comes back from the car." Don said and clapped Elliott on the back. "Good catch. He's been avoiding me."
"I can't imagine why." Elliott grinned.
Mr. Jones came back a few minutes later looking more relaxed. He deliberately moved off to sit somewhere besides near Elliott. That amused the big detective and he deliberately saluted him with a drink from his own plastic cup of soda. The implication was clear. He was keeping an eye on the man. Between Don and Elliott and his own growing inebriation, Mr Jones was becoming uncomfortable here.
Katie was getting tired and came over to sit down at the table. She chose to sit next to Karen who was talking to Mrs. Jones and the open space was between them. Katie sat down and Karen unconsciously curled an arm around her while still talking. That wasn't sufficient attention for Katie who tugged on Karens arm for her attention. "In a minute, Katie." Karen told her and went on with what she was saying.
Katie bumped Karens arm harder. "Excuse me a minute." Karen told Mrs. Jones. "Excuse me, young lady, but you know better than to do that. I was talking to Mrs. Jones. Don't interrupt." She deliberately removed her arm from Katie and turned away.
Katie got mad and hit Karens arm with her fist. It stung, but Karen turned to her and gave her a cold, angry look. "Go to the bench." she ordered. Katie started to sign and Karen deliberately looked her in the eyes and not at her hands. "Go to the bench. You know you don't hit and I'm not going to talk to you until you can say you're sorry and mean it. Go to the bench! Now!"
Katie stomped off and sat down on a purple bench under a tree off to the side of the yard. She folded her arms and glared at Karen from there. Karen ignored her. "Are you okay?" Mrs. Jones asked.
"I'm fine. It smarts, but I'm not going to let her know that. Let's just pretend it never happened. She'll be nice again in a few minutes. She tends to get frustrated easily."
Katie began to make her angry noises. "No one pay attention to her until she knocks it off, please." Don said. "I'm sorry for the interruption."
"Does she do this often?" Olivia wanted to know.
"No, she's tired and it's more than she's used to today. As soon as she settles down I'll let her come back and join us and give her something to do." Katie was louder now.
"Can't you shut her up?" Mr. Jones demanded.
"How do you suggest I do that, Mr. Jones? Hit her, cut her tongue out? That didn't work when she was a baby. What makes you think it will now? By not giving in to her tantrums, she'll have to find a more acceptable way to communicate."
Katie was screaming now and it was disturbing the other kids. They came over to the table. "Is everything okay, Dad?" Elizabeth asked.
"Katie is having a temper tantrum, honey. She's having a time out." Elliott said.
"What did she want, anyway? I couldn't understand her." Mrs. Jones said uncomfortably over Katies noise.
"She was demanding watermelon. Not asking, demanding. I love Katie, but we don't demand in this house, not when there are so many others that have a say in the matter. It was a control thing, she wanted to control my actions. She's not old enough to be allowed that priviledge. She wasn't bleeding nor was anyone else."
"She needs more discipline." Mr. Jones stated, clearly uncomfortable with Katies behavior and the noise.
"She'll outgrow it." Karen said calmly.
Already Katie was wearing down and the volume was lessening. Karen was about to look at her when she went off again having gotten a second wind. "You should at least look at her." Don said.
"No. Katie has an unusually strong stubborn streak. We've been through this before. She'll stop in a minute. She can't keep this up, but this is about the only way she can vocalize her displeasure."
"George, what do you think?" Olivia asked.
"It's uncomfortable but I see no harm in it." he replied.
Sure enough, the noise ceased abruptly. As soon as it did, Karen looked at the girl. "Can you behave yourself now?" Katie nodded, tearfully. "Then come here." Katie came flying across the yard and threw herself at Karen. "I love you, but you can't behave like that. I think you owe everyone here an apology. They'll think you don't like them." she told the girl while hugging her.
Katie turned and signed her apology and snuggled up to Karen. She got her head kissed several times and everything was fine again.
Another vehicle pulled into the driveway. "Someone called the police." Mr. Jones said tensely oblivious to the fact that he was in a group of cops.
"Shall we go talk to them?" Karen asked Don.
"Okay."
They approached the two uniformed officers. "Hello, Larry, Joe. How are you today?" Karen greeted them.
"Hi, Karen. We got a call about screaming. I see you're having a picnic?" Larry said.
"Yeah, it was Katie, she's overtired. This is Don Cragen, my fiance and some of our friends. Don, this is Deputys Larry O'Malley and Joe Wolf. I don't believe you've met them yet."
"Gentleman." Don greeted them cordially.
"So you're the new man in Karens life. We've heard of you." Joe said.
"We heard you're also in law enforcement?" Larry asked.
"Captain, Manhattan SVU. These are some of my detectives and associates." Don said modestly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. If you need anything, feel free to call on us." Joe said genially. He seemed to have a career upgrade in mind.
"I'll keep that in mind." Don promised with a small smile.
"So everything's okay?" Larry asked Karen.
"Just fine. I appreciate you stopping by. Would you like something cold to drink before you go? I have soda or ice water?"
"Not right now, but thanks. We'll just take a raincheck. Enjoy your get together."
They left. When Don and Karen got back, Mr. Jones looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Was there a problem?" he asked.
"No. Someone heard the screaming and they were just checking on the party. They do that frequently. They know me and who is here."
"Yeah, we're the running joke around here." Laslo said sarcastically.
"They are required to do that, Las, you know that. Would you rather they come around when they're not needed or not come when they really are needed?" Karen asked.
This was obviously and old argument. "I think it's time for us to go, Mother." Mr. Jones said to his wife.
"I guess so." Mrs. Jones rose immediately. "Don, Karen, thank you for inviting us." she said.
"You are more than welcome." Karen told them warmly.
Mr. Jones practically herded his wife out of the yard. "He must have a long drive ahead of him." Fin said drily.
"Or he's expecting to get pinched for something." Olivia said sarcastically. "I saw him checking out all the women. That man has a wandering eye."
"I hope he doesn't plan on having a wandering hand or I'll have him in jail." Don said harshly.
"We should be going too." Elliott said. He got a chorus of "aw's" from his kids. "I guess you have a popular place here." he grinned at his captain and Karen.
"Don't leave yet. We have watermelon and a bonfire planned for later. We'll have some hotdogs and toast some marshmallows over the fire. There's plenty to go around and no one has to cook dinner tonight."
"I should call Kathy." Ellliott demurred.
"Go ahead and call Dad. We'd like to stay." Kathleen said. "Please?"
"I'll call, but if she needs us at home..." he started.
"She'll want us to stay." Dickie predicted. "She doesn't like us around too much right now."
"What makes you say that?" Elliott asked.
"It's true Dad. She's been awfully cranky lately." Maureen said.
"Women who are late in pregnancy tend to get that way." Elliott told them "Maureen, you should remember that."
"Not like this. She was never this bad before." his oldest said.
"Go call, El. If the kids want to stay, I can take them home." Olivia offered.
"Someone will make sure they get home." Don said.
"I'll see what Kathy says." he stood up and moved off.
"Just in case they have to leave, can we have the watermelon now?" BB asked.
"Sure. Go get two of them, plates, forks and, Laslo, get the big knife. Carefully bring it out here. Katie, go get a big platter from the cupboard and bring it out here."
The kids all flowed into the house. "Is she that bad?" Karen asked.
"We don't know. Eliott's pretty close mouthed about it. It can't be easy with four kids already and another on the way."
"I know about having a lot of kids, but I've never had to deliver them all myself." Karen nodded.
"Plus most of yours have problems when they arrive, don't they?" Olivia asked.
"Yes. I love them all more or less. I don't get a blank slate like a newborn but I also don't have to deal with diapers and midnight feedings."
"Just midnight arrivals and nightmares." Don agreed.
"Captain, I'm going to put my professional opinion out here. I don't believe the Jones would be a good place for Katie to be placed. I'd be happy to go on record with that opinion." George Huang said.
"Thank you, I appreciate that, but we didn't ask you out here for that reason. We asked all of you out here for the express purpose of having a good time. No one here is obligated to testify to anything." Don said.
"I am available if you need me."
"Let's get this bonfire going." Karen said. "By the time the fire is going good the talent show will be over and we can move onto the hot dogs and marshmallows."
"Don, I think you should be careful around the Jones. They aren't at all what they seem." Fin said. "I wouldn't put anything past him."
"I know. We'll be careful." Don said.
"Charlene, can you help us?" BB asked Charlene.
Charlene got up and held her hand out for John. He seemed surprised and got up taking her hand. She lead them toward the house. "I'm glad to see you two aren't the only lovebirds out here." Elliott said slyly.
"You aren't the only one with good taste." Don said. "I wish Kathy felt well enough to join us."
"She enjoys a good picnic. She wanted to be here." Elliott said.
"I look forward to meeting her." Karen said. "You two have some beautiful kids and very well behaved. You should be proud."
"I'll make sure to pass that on to her." Elliott said with a smile of pride.
"Okay, everyone, it's time for the show." Charlene said coming back out from the house, grinning.
TBC
