Physically Ralph Dineen was an intimidating man, no question. Nearly six and a half feet tall, and very muscular twenty two inch wide shoulders. While he didn't work out like he did as a young man, he still had a fairly healthy lifestyle and it showed.
So seeing him marching down the hallway of Harvard that afternoon was enough to make anyone give way, making a hole he could pass by through. The look on his face was the look he adopted when he knew he had to present a tough persona for a tough negotiating setting. But simple physical intimidation wasn't all Ralph was packing.
Next to him walked the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as Ralph's private attorney. They had spent much of the morning going over everything that happened with the Attorney General. And neither man looked any friendlier than Ralph. Caught up in their wake were his daughters, Paige and Happy. His claimed son Walter holding hands with Paige and Toby brought up the rear.
Last night, Paige and everyone had gone to the Dean over what happened and provided their stories. The Dean provisionally ruled in favor of Paige but was still suspending her for the rest of the week while conducting a further investigation. The Dean also barred Walter from being on school property. Paige had just wanted to wait out the school's investigation of what happened on stage but Ralph wasn't having it.
Before eight last night Ralph had the Attorney General lined up as well as his private attorney. The attorney had come over with a private investigator and a notary. The attorney and notary sat down and went over each individual's statement as well as having it written and notarized. They then reviewed the recording that Happy had made with Toby. The PI didn't wait, he took a copy of the recording along with the information Ralph had gained on Drew Baker and immediately left to begin his work.
Just before they got to the conference room, where their meeting with the school officials was scheduled, they were joined by the PI. He handed a folder to Ralph's attorney and was whispering quickly and quietly with him.
Ralph pointed at the chairs outside of the conference room and Paige, Happy and Walter all sat down. The door closed behind them as they entered the room. As an alumni and doctor, Toby went in with them.
Normally Ralph was pretty level headed and was willing to compromise to get something resolved but this struck him personally and he wanted blood. Thankfully he was letting his attorney be the lead for now.
The head of the committee that had always provided the scholarship for Drew was present as well as the Dean, the President of Harvard and their attorney. The director of Theatrics and the play director were also there.
Every defense they tried to use to dismiss some of Drew's actions were quickly shot down as Ralph's attorney was formidably armed with the PI's quick investigation based off of the Secret Service's information.
The General Attorney had brought along a number of complaints against Drew from the city itself. He showed the paper trail from the school to the DA's office and how school officials had worked to minimize what he had done. Influencing people to drop charges or alter their complaints. Even hinted at possibly witness tampering allegations.
Ralph's attorney made it painfully clear they were not accepting more of the same from the school. Drew was out of control, and he was not living up to the expectations of the scholarship program. That he was in the eye of the law, a clear and present danger to students.
The Attorney General summed up the state and city's position on the matter. Drew had to go. He was giving them and Drew until noon Friday for him to be out of the state for at least five years. When the statute of limitations for what he did to Paige would expire. He wanted proof that Drew was gone or he'd be filing for a bench warrant at 1 pm on Friday if he hadn't received any proof and he believed that Drew hadn't left the state.
The director of Theatrics and the play director came out first and stopped to speak with Paige. They apologized for what had happened and they wanted her back that night if she was willing.
"Please understand, I'm grateful for the opportunity, I truly am. But you didn't support me last night. Yes, you took appropriate action against Drew and I know as his friend that took a lot of guts. I appreciate it. But, you wanted to suspend me from the play for defending myself and that isn't right. You even knew my sister had recorded what happened. And it makes me question you as a leader, how many other women, possibly men, have suffered something similar that you didn't act appropriately on? Or maybe you brushed it under the rug. I can't be part of that, I'm sorry." Paige told them.
They both nodded and said they understood before they left the waiting space.
Ralph emerged a few minutes later with the Attorney General, his attorney and the PI. He stopped for just a moment and winked at Paige. Toby came out shortly after them.
"Let's go home." Ralph said before they left.
"Well?" Veronica asked worriedly as they walked into the house.
"Did you have some doubt?" Ralph frowned but he couldn't maintain it as he started grinning.
"Ralph." Veronica said as she shook her head.
"The suspension has been lifted and Paige's record expunged. She can return to class tomorrow. Walter is still allowed to escort her to her first class and pick her up after Paige's last class." Ralph told her as he kissed her cheek. "Drew on the other hand has been permanently expelled and they have until noon Friday to have him out of the state. Otherwise criminal charges will be filed."
"Good." Veronica grinned.
"How did you get the Attorney General involved so quickly and easily?" Paige asked.
"What do you think I do all day?" Ralph grinned. "Like money, relationships have to be built and tended. Just like moss won't grow on a rolling rock, well relationships won't just sprout out of the ground. When I'm not involved with the Ambassador in Ireland, I'm meeting and building relationships here. In addition, Toby had brought a profile he had built on Drew and presented it as well. He used it to demonstrate Drew's past and future. Considering he got his doctorates through them, what could they argue?" Ralph laughed.
"Well good, I'm glad it is over then." Veronica said as she hugged Paige tightly. "Thank you Toby, for helping Happy get that video of them." Veronica told him.
"You are most welcome. As a provisional member of Scorpion I had to do something." Toby laughed.
"Fine, I suppose you can be a member so I'll change my vote." Happy told him.
Walter and Paige both laughed at that.
"Actually I was afraid we would miss getting the video. Drew threw it off when he asked to reverse starting positions. He couldn't very well hide his grabbing her butt the other way." Toby told them as he laughed. "But we were able to make our way around the back curtain in time. Thought I was going to have to hogtie Happy the first time he grabbed your ass."
Paige laughed as she winked at Happy.
"But it was 197 that shocked me. That was an impressive jump you made over the orchestrate pit. That was a solid eight foot jump with little momentum." Toby grinned as Walter blushed.
"Yeah, speaking of that, we need to take Walter to prompt care. He's got a bulge in the inside of his groin-right thigh." Paige told them.
"What? Why didn't you say something?" Toby complained. "Do you mind if we use the bathroom or would you prefer us to use another room, so I can look at it?"
Veronica pointed to the bathroom and with Paige pulling on his arm Walter walked with her and Toby into the bathroom.
"That's a first rate strain Walt." Toby nodded as he felt up and down the muscle.
Walter nodded as he blushed.
"Okay, you can pull your pants back up." Toby told him as he stood back up. "I want you to ice it a few times a day for the next forty eight hours. For about fifteen minutes each time. Do not walk up and down any stairs on it. Use your left leg to lift yourself up and down the steps for the next week. No dancing this week if you had plans for it either. If you engage in sex, make sure you are on the bottom. Let Paige do the thrusting."
Walter blushed even more as Paige giggled.
Thursday, Oct 23rd 6:30 pm Family cookout:
"Dang it!" Happy yelled. "What is wrong with this thing?" She walked out into the backyard where the rover got stuck.
"Well for one, you are letting it get you too upset." Toby told her as he watched. "It is only the first field test after all. There are bound to be hiccups."
"No I'm not. It's Walter's fault. He's spending too much time helping develop the software for those self-driving cars." Happy said bitterly.
"Happy, you know that isn't true. He put in over twenty eight hours last week alone on the rover." Paige reminded her. "Are you sure the sensors are reporting back to the computer accurately?"
"Oh sure, take your boyfriend's side." Happy huffed.
"I'm taking his side because you are just blaming him without doing anything to figure out why it malfunctioned." Paige told her.
"Girls." Veronica said to them. "Happy, you know your sister is right. You just blamed Walter for the failure. At least verify everything is as it should be."
Happy sighed after glaring at her Mother.
"Fine. But I know my work and there is no way I screwed this up." Happy said bitterly.
Paige shook her head as Walter just smiled at her.
"I've got my laptop here if you want me to plug in and run a diagnostic." Walter offered.
"Fine by me. I'm sure you'll find the problem since it is software." Happy told him as she walked over with the rover.
"Happy!" Paige said loudly.
Walter just laughed as he took the rover and ran the patch cable from his laptop to it. Walter brought up the diagnostic software and the three of them watched the various checkpoints all going green. Toby stepped over to watch as well.
One check came up red but the rest were green.
"See, I told you something is wrong with your software." Happy told him.
Paige glared at her.
"Sorry Happy." Walter told her.
"Just fix it…please." Happy told him.
"I could, but technically it is hardware and that is your responsibility. But if you want me to, I will." Walter smiled at her.
"What?" Happy couldn't believe he said that.
Walter pointed it out. Happy grabbed his laptop and read the read out. "Detecting left-front sensor miscommunications."
"What the?" Happy said as she handed the laptop back and grabbed the rover after removing the patch cord. Happy sat back down at the picnic table and pulled out her power screwdriver. Ten seconds later she had the panel off and looked inside. Happy sighed seeing the connector to the sensor was extremely loose.
"Sorry Walter. Looks like either I didn't get the connector on solid or it worked off somehow." Happy said as she reached inside and forced the connector back on. "As tight as it is, I must have not seated it properly. I can't believe it worked itself free from the post."
"No worries Happy." Walter told her.
"Speaking of Richard's self-driving cars, how's that going?" Ralph asked as he checked on the potatoes under the grill.
"Really well. We're back on track, well once you adjust the schedule for the sabotage. If things keep going as they are I think we'll be done a month early." Walter told him.
"Excellent. Don't you get a bonus if you do?" Ralph asked.
"I better. I've lost a lot of valuable gambling time for this." Walter joked.
Paige smacked his shoulder.
"You know you are losing money doing this rather than gambling." Paige smiled.
"Yes…but it makes Mom feel better." Walter smiled at Paige. "But, the residuals we'll get will potentially make up for it."
"Hey, I heard they are looking for people for The Sound of Music. Are you going to try out for a part in it?" Toby asked.
"Nope." Paige said flatly. "The same guy is going to direct it."
"You still haven't forgiven him?" Toby asked, surprised.
"No. I've had a number of women come up and share similar stories about working under him. It is a shame too, I'd really wanted to get into theater. Maybe if someone else tries to direct a play I might." Paige told him as she stood up with Walter. They walked over and sat at the picnic table as Ralph turned with the platter of food from the grill.
"Oh, just so you kids know. Your Mother and I will be taking Emmett with us back to Ireland for the Christmas ball. You're welcome to come with us, of course." Ralph told them.
"Oh, I'd love to. I miss Megan." Paige said as she hugged Walter's arm.
"Walter?" Veronica asked as they all began filling their plates.
"I think there is enough time to allow me to take time off for that. A few days…maybe a week." Walter looked at Paige.
"Walter, you can do your work over the internet like you do here. Or do you not want to spend much time back there?" Paige asked softly.
"I've really enjoyed being here in the US with you and our family. Callan was a lot better when we left, but I still have bad memories of what people were like before you guys entered my life." Walter told them quietly.
"Well Walter, you got to remember something. While you are an adult and can make whatever decision you want. You will hurt your parents and sister if you don't go or don't spend much time with them." Veronica told him. "You don't have to worry about going out in Callan if you don't want to. Our homes are just a short distance apart so it isn't like you have to spend that much time between them."
"Don't forget how the kids and teachers supported you when you came back as champion of the chess tournament." Paige told him.
Walter slowly nodded.
"I know, it is just that, I have nothing but good memories here. I do want to see Megan and Billy as well as Patrick and my parents. Not to mention how lonely it would be here without you guys. I'm too used to the input from you guys." Walter told them.
"Besides, we're too used to having input from you too and I wasn't really giving any of you a choice." Ralph grinned.
"Can Toby come too?" Happy asked quickly.
"Actually, I can't go." Toby said quietly. I got the short straw at the hospital. Part of my rotation, even though schools are out, as a junior doctor, I have to be available."
"Well that stinks." Happy complained. "Though I'm sure that makes Dad happy." Happy glared at him.
"Now Happy, I am never happy when any of my girls are unhappy. You should know that by now." Ralph grinned at her.
"Oh, Saturday is the art contest for Walter's sculpture." Paige reminded them real quick, causing Walter to blush.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - Toby says things with Sly and his parents are going very well! Drew definitely doesn't know how to behave...but he better know how to run! lol Both directors seemed to really want her too, but she just can't trust the one. Can't say I blame her.
LouBe - LOL Much easier to focus on enjoying the pleasure knowing your responsibility is taken care of. lol Glad you enjoyed them and "the rumble in the jungle"! We'll actually get a look into one of the Fantasy and Frolics meetings in 2004! You're not the only one that thought that. But they have response times like anyone else, just so much going on and distance to cover. hehe Sadly it looks like it might be...But surely there is more than the one director for plays. She might, especially when her Dad drags in the attorney general into the mix. LOL It is definitely Bye Bye Birdie time for Drew. lol
Pearliegirl - If Paige was tempted to try out again, he might try out for it...lol Sadly not at this time though.
JerBr - LOL If it was his recorder, he just might! LOL Might be a little hard trying to explain to Happy why he needed to borrow the tape. LOL She's see through that in a heartbeat! They both don't seem to be scared of mixing it up for sure! lol My Muse said we have to give the stars their time to shine...the detail are just window dressing most times. lol Walter just grinned at the comment. Paige definitely likes your last idea.
To the Adventure! -Tim