Chapter 2

Good Vibrations

As I got on the highway driving back toward Lima, I was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. So, I went back to what my Uncle Danny Ocean always told me where the non-negotiables. One, never hurt anyone. Two, don't steal from anyone who doesn't deserve it. Three, play the game like you have nothing to lose. Yes, my uncle was a professional thief, and before I found the straight and narrow and started dating a cop. I put myself through college as a con-woman and now I was going to use my gift of the grift for good.

Speaking of my beautiful wife, I needed to call her. When she answered we exchanged pleasantries, and she asked when I would be home. I told her I should be there in about two hours and I needed her to do something for me. "What do you need, sweetie?" "April, go chaulk Rachael's rear tire so that we can see the mark from our front window. Also do a search for Leroy Berry, target crime reports." "What's rolling around in that head of your Pam. You wouldn't ask for this if you didn't think there was a reason." "April this is just a gut instinct, but I think Hiram left the other day. I always got the feeling that Leroy was the doting father that loved Rachael and Hiram just put up with her for Leroy." "Ok then we will set up surveillance on the Berry house and will let you know what I find on Leroy," said April. We both said our "I love you's" and hung up with each other.

The next call I placed was to my old friend Holly Holiday. Holly was a master of the circuit. Professional videographer, professional sound engineer, and master of everything digital and criminal. We worked several jobs and then she decided to go straight and started teaching various sound engineering, video production, and general electronics courses at a couple of Chicago's high schools. She was also a hell of an actress. When she answered and said, "Hola Chica!" I knew she knew who it was. "How's it hanging Holly?" "Side by side sister. What can I do for you today?" "I need your help Holly." "I figured that otherwise you wouldn't have called." "I'm teaching at the professional bully capital of the US and the worst offender of the lot is a teacher." "Tell me you're not planning on trying to take him down Pam." "There is no try Holly. I'm taking him down and I need your help to do it." "When do you need me there?" "First week in July if possible and empty the storage unit and bring it with you." "See you then sister."

Once I hung up with Holly, I realized I needed to pull over for gas and while I filled up I sent a text to Sue Sylvester asking her to meet. She replied before I even got back on the road and said she was heading for Boca in three days so she could meet the next day. Great another piece was coming together.

When I finally arrived home April was waiting on our doorstep for me. "What's so important that it couldn't wait till I actually got inside." April comes over and hugs me. "I really hate when you get a gut feeling. I had an attorney waiting for me when I got to the station this afternoon. He was Leory and Hiram's attorney. Leroy died in a mugging in New York City last week while he was there on business. Leroy left everything to Rachael in his will including the house and Hiram decided he couldn't raise Rachael without Leroy so he signed custody of her over to us, the son of a bitch. Then he left town for a job offer on the West Coast without saying a word to us. I'm tempted to issue a BOLO on him for child endangerment just to let him know how pissed off I am."

"April, we can't do that and the custody may only be temporary. Shelby Corcoran is on board with my plan if Rachel is ok with it." "Honey from the way Rachael cried on your shoulder that night, that's a big if." Pam sighed and recounted everything Shelby had told her about what Shuester had done and April was starting to get as pissed as Pam. "Pam, I know I gave you a hard time about your obsession with Will Shuester but do me a favor and destroy him will you. Any man who would do that to a mother and daughter needs to suffer."

"I guess we need to go talk to Rachel," I say to April as I toss my bag inside. "I guess so. What are we going to say to her," asks my bride, taking my hand as we walk down the street. "Honestly April, I have no idea. I guess we'll play it by ear and hope for the best."

We walk up to the door and ring the bell and wait. Just a minute later Rachel answered the door, "Ms. Ocean, Ms. Munday, what a pleasure to see you this evening. My dad and daddy are presently not at home if you need to communicate with them."

"We know they're not here Rachel. We also know that your daddy Leroy passed away honey," said April ever the up front facts only cop. Rachel immediately breaks down into tears grabbing on to me for dear life. I"m glad she's small because otherwise we would still be in the doorway with her clinging to me crying.

Twenty minutes later Rachel appears to be cried out as the sobs fall off and finally asks what I know has been weighing on her heart for days. "Ms. Ocean, why does everyone hate me?" "Rachel, everyone doesn't hate you. Your daddy didn't hate you. April and I do hate you and there are plenty of other people that don't hate you." Rachel, still with watery eyes, begins again, "but dad didn't want me without daddy here and my birth mom didn't want me. Finn didn't want me, and everyone at school hates me. I've been abandoned by everyone who should love me and care for me."

"Rachel, let's break this down one relationship at a time for you. Your daddy Leroy loved you a great deal and even though he isn't here, he is still watching over his baby girls. In your dad Hiram's case, honestly some people aren't strong enough to deal with the grief of losing the person they love the most and because they can't cope with that loss they just walk away from everything they had with that person. Finn is just an idiot and you could do better dating a potted plant. Also, everyone at school doesn't hate you. There are plenty of people who like you but in that hellscape called McKinley it's hard to stand apart from the crowd without being treated horribly."

"Ms. Ocean, you responded to each part of my statement but my birth mom," replied Rachel. "You caught that, did you. Let's just say that what Shelby did was horrible, but I think there may be more to that story and tonight while you're grieving the loss of your fathers might not be the best time to discuss her." Rachel just nodded and snuggled into my side. I personally breathed a sigh of relief because I wasn't ready to tell her about the conversation I had with Shelby.

"Now Rachel, I'm going to tell you something and I honestly don't know how you are going to take it. When your dad Hiram left he left documents with his attorney that gave April and I custody of you since you're still a minor. Is that ok with you or do you want to look into other options?"

Rachel took a moment of deep thought and replied, "I believe that will be acceptable to me for the time being. I just know that neither of you have actually enjoyed your time in Lima and I'm afraid that I will wake up one day and you will have left me as well." I lifted Rachel's chin so I was looking into her eyes and said, " I don't plan on going anywhere as long as you're in high school. Lima be damned." A small smile creeped across Rachaels face. At this juncture April finally decided to insert herself into the conversation saying, "Now that all the emotions are over with how about Thai food. I have chicken pad thai for Pam and Thai red curry with tofu for you Rachel." Yeap, that's my wife, skip the emotions and go straight to food.