Chapter 5
Jackson got home early Sunday morning. His body was still humming from his time with Maisy last night. And earlier today. He knew he shouldn’t bask in what happened, but he couldn’t quite let it go yet.
After changing into workout clothes, he hit his home gym. Maybe he could work out the soreness out of his body, caused by tension and vigorous lovemaking. He sweated through heavy bench presses, sat up and targeted his deltoids and biceps and stretched out all the muscles and tendons in his body. He felt good. But had not lost the high of being with her.
His cell phone rang right after he showered and dressed. He was disappointed to see the caller wasn’t Maisy, but of course it wouldn’t be. Not after their conversation before he left her…
This doesn’t change that I can’t see you. I’m your employee.
He voiced his feelings for the first time . “I’m not good enough for you anyway.”
The ringing continued. “Nick, hi.”
“Hi, Jackson. We found the Pecorino boys. My men are sitting with them right now.”
His heartbeat sped up. “Where were they?”
“In an abandoned house. I don’t know what their plans were from there, and they aren’t talking. Should I bring them to you or call the police?”
Say the police . It was the best thing for the school. He opened his mouth and what came out was, “Bring them both to Pathways. I’ll meet you there.”
He disconnected and dropped into a chair. He’d gone against everything he believed in and why?
He knew the answer.
Maisy Shepherd.
* * *
Maisy was sipping from her mug at the kitchen table when Caleb came downstairs. She’d already showered and put on clean clothes.
“Hey, sis,” he said getting some brew for himself, then joining her. “I didn’t hear you come in last night.”
When she didn’t answer, only blushed, he said, “Ah, you didn’t come home.”
“I was with Jackson. All night.”
His smile was soft. “So you made up? Came to terms with your relationship?”
“No. We know we can’t see each other again.”
He sipped the coffee. “It’s hard to put that genie back in the bottle, honey.”
“I know. But I can do it.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Well, I’m gonna try. Want to run?”
“A little later. Let’s talk about this.”
“No, Caleb. We both gave into our feelings, and it was so good, but it was just a…a relapse.”
“I—”
Her phone pinged. She looked down. It was Jackson.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“No.”
The ringing stopped. Caleb’s phone rang immediately. He clicked on and pushed the speaker icon. “Hey, Caleb. I need to talk to Maisy. Tell her it’s about Frankie.”
She grabbed the phone from her brother. “I’m right here. Did you find him?”
“My team did. They’re bringing him and Freddie to Pathways as we speak. I’m heading over to the school.”
“Does this mean you aren’t kicking him out.”
“No, this is temporary. I want to get him back there and talk to him before I make my final decision.”
“I’ll be right there.”
When she handed the phone back to her brother, he said, “This is not good. You’re both going to get hurt.”
“What do you mean?”
“Pathways is his baby. Bringing Frankie back will have a negative effect on the other kids.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Of course we do.”
“I’m going over there now.”
“That’s a bad decision, too.”
“I’m not going to abandon Frankie.”
“I think you’re really saying you’re not going to abandon Jackson.”
“So be it. I’m going.”
Maisy’s heart was in her mouth as she drove to Pathways, only a short distance from her house, but seemed interminable today. At Jackson’s office, she got out and saw the door was ajar. Once inside she crossed to the first doorway. There, she found Frankie, Freddie and Jackson. “Hi, everyone.”
Frankie wouldn’t look at her. Freddie was staring down at his hands. “Hey, guys.”
Jackson said, “Hello, Ms. Shepherd. Frankie, Freddie, say hello.”
The little boy’s face was dirty, his clothes too. He resembled an orphan out of those old movies. He just stared at her.
Frankie glanced up. His face was bereft. Hopeless. God, she hated seeing that. Her gaze went to Jackson. His face was blank.
“First off, Frankie, Ms. Shepherd is suspended from teaching for not reporting your absence.”
His dark eyes widened. “What the hell?”
“Language, Frankie!” This from Maisy. The chiding just came out.
“Sorry. Why you punishing her?”
“She broke the rules.”
“So did I.”
“And you’ll be punished. I haven’t decided how.”
“Could he come back to Pathways?” Maisy asked. She knew the question was out of line, to discuss this in front of the student involved, but that didn’t matter right now.
Jackson’s face flashed with anger. It was hard to believe this was the same man who had made sweet love with her only hours ago. “I said I haven’t decided. I asked you to come here today because I know you were worried. But I’m…considering all the factors.”
“I see.”
“Ms. Shepherd, will you escort Frankie and Freddie back to his cabin?”
Her jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe he was dismissing her.
“What are you going to do about Freddie?”
“He can go with you too. But I have to contact DFS that he’s been found. They’ll want custody of him right away.”
“Can we talk afterward?” Maisy asked.
“No. I can’t allow you to affect my decision.”
“Fine. Goodbye, Mr. Kane.”
He swallowed hard. “Goodbye, Ms. Shepherd.”
Halfway to the cabin, Frankie stopped. “Ms. Shepherd, I don’t care what they do to me, but I gotta protect Freddie.”
“He’ll go to emergency foster care.”
“Been there, done that.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Take him home. Let him stay with you.”
“Frankie, I…” She was about to say she couldn’t, but actually, she could.
“You call those people and ask if you can keep him.”
““All right. I’ll take him home until they can find some loving parents for him.” She squatted. “Want to come with me, Freddie?”
The kid looked really scared. “Yes ma’am.”
They got to the cabin and Frankie said, “I’m gonna go to juvie, aren’t I?”
“Truthfully, Frankie, I don’t know.”
“At least Freddie will be happy.” He gently socked the boy in the arm. Freddie threw himself at Frankie. As they hugged, Maisy battled back her tears.
* * *
After he calmed himself, and erased the memory of hurt from Maisy’s eyes, Jackson headed over to the cabin. Half expecting her to still be there, he knocked on the door.
Frankie said, “Yeah, I’m here.”
Jackson walked inside and looked around. “Where’s Freddie?”
“Ms. Shepherd took him home. She’s gonna apply to keep him as emergency foster care until they can find somebody else.”
“What? She has no right to do that.”
“What’s the matter with you, Mr. Kane? It’s the best thing for Freddie.”
“It’s against the—”
“Rules, I know. I guess it doesn’t matter what’s best for us kids.”
“It does, Frankie.”
“Then why are you gonna hurt my baby brother?”
* * *
On the way home, Maisy’s stomach was queasy because of her decision to take Freddie. Still, she stopped at the department store in Westwood.
He asked, “Why we here?”
“To get you some clothes. You need a bath and clean outfits.”
“Okay.”
She took his hand and felt warmth spread through her. It was an odd kind of pleasure, one she hadn’t felt before.
Inside the store, she got a cart. They passed the toy section on the way to Boys Clothing and Freddie perked up. “Freddie, would you like a toy?”
His face lit. “Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
They perused the many rows chock full of trucks and other things she didn’t recognize. After several minutes, he couldn’t decide between two. She put both in the cart and added some action figures for his bath. Again, his eyes widened. Despite his tough life, he was just a six-year-old kid.
In the clothing department, he picked out jeans and a T-shirt for him to try on, then she added two more of each. They snagged some shoes and socks and a light jacket. Pajamas were last on the agenda.
He eyed a duffle bag. She said, “Choose one, Freddie. We can put the extras in that to take home.”
The clothes fit him, as did the shoes. They checked out, then drove to her house.
When she walked inside, Caleb stood. “Well, who do we have here?” he asked, squatting down.
“Freddie Pecorino, sir.”
“You can call me Caleb.”
“Are you hungry?”
He nodded.
“What do you like?”
“Everything.”
“Why doesn’t my brother fix you food while you take a quick bath and put on clean clothes.”
He nodded. Poor Freddie, he was the victim of adults.
When she got him in the tub in her room, he relished the bubbles. Soon, Caleb came to the door. “I’ll be right outside here, Freddie. I want to talk to Caleb.”
Once in the hallway, Caleb asked, “What happened?”
“I pretty much kidnapped Freddie.” She told him what had happened. “Well, that explains why Jackson’s downstairs.”
“Oh, dear, do you think he’ll take Freddie?” Her words were hushed so the kid couldn’t hear.
“I have no idea. Why don’t I finish the bath and get him into clothes afterward. You go talk to Jackson.”
Downstairs, she walked into the living room where he stood, his back to her, staring out the front window. “Jackson?”
He turned. His face was ravaged. “Why did you take Freddie?”
“Frankie asked me to. I wanted to. The poor kid has been shuffled around so much he deserves a break.”
“You acted against the law.”
“Jackson, please. At least do what’s best for Freddie.”
His eyes widened. “Does that mean you don’t think I’ll do what’s best for Frankie?”
“I-I don’t know. But please, don’t hurt this little boy.”
“How do you see this all playing out, Maisy?”
“I think Caleb and I should have temporary care of Freddie.”
“You aren’t certified.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “You told me yourself you have pull at DFS. We can take the classes right away.”
He sighed. “What’s your long-range plan?”
“To find a permanent home for him, and for Frankie eventually.”
He shook his head.
“Please let us keep him until then.”
“It could be a few months.”
“Well, it’s summer, so we don’t have to worry about Freddie’s school.”
“Maisy, this is out of the box.”
“You won’t let me have any say over what happens to Frankie. Please, let me have input into Freddie’s care.”
Just then, Freddie came down the stairs. He looked like a different kid in little boys’ clothes and sneakers. His hair was clean and combed. When he saw Jackson, he ran to him and hugged him. “Thanks for letting me stay here.”
It was dirty pool she was playing here, but she didn’t care. And she wouldn’t let this be about Jackson, about not hurting him. She was past that.
Jackson hugged the boy. “You’re welcome, son.”
Maisy deflated with relief.
* * *
Jackson arrived home, exhausted. He’d failed Freddie and Frankie and Maisy. When he fell into bed though, other failures took over. He didn’t have the strength to push them down…
The leader, Buck Macom, called from the living room, “Hey, Jacko. Come see what we got.”
Since his initiation, Jackson had become fully entrenched with the gang. He stood, put out the joint and went to the bedroom.
A girl laid on the mattress. Her arms and legs were stretched out to the four corners of the bed and were bound. Her mouth was stuffed with a gag. Her lower half was naked. “Who’s this,” he said, squelching his horror.
“We got her from our sista gang. She jumpin’ in and train cars are part of her initiation.” Train cars meant fucking several guys in a row.
He hesitated.
Max grinned. “You ever fucked a girl?”
He shook his head. “I’m only twelve.”
“Then it’s about time to do it. Go on, live a little.”
“With you in here?”
“Yeah, we wanna watch.”
Buck went to the bed and yanked out the gag. He turned back. “Go on, Jacko.”
Jackson didn’t take off his pants. Or shoes. He unzipped and tried to push into her. “Give yourself some love, first. Activate your pecker.”
Jackson rubbed his penis until it was hard.
“Now open her up and plunge in.”
Her screams echoed in the room, and the boys laughed …
Oh, God, oh God, oh God. He couldn’t stand this. He’d spent a lifetime trying to repress these memories. Still, they kept coming…
Jackson was fifteen now, and old enough to drive, though not in the eyes of the law. “Pull up to the jewelry store. We be in and out.”
“Sure thing, Buck.” He parked the car. The guys got out. He wished he had a joint or a hit of heroine to calm his nerves. Finally, they came running out.
A shrieking from the store. The alarm. They scrambled into the car, laughing. “Get goin’, Jacko.”
The tires screeched as Jackson tore out.
“Faster.”
He upped the speed.
“More.”
The car was nearly uncontrollable. His hands fisted on the wheel. A few blocks away a woman raced across the road. The car hit her and she flew to the side of the road. No, no. He swerved to pull over.
Buck grabbed the wheel. “Whatcha doin’ You knocked off a lady, Jacko. Good goin’.”
Bile rose in Jackson’s stomach. He swallowed it back…and kept driving…
The next day, he searched the police database—he had mad-cool computer skills--and found a call that came in right after the jewelry theft.
Woman hit by a car on Main Street. DOA.
DOA. DOA. DOA.
Now, Jackson bolted off the bed, no longer tired. Crossing to the living room shelving, he removed a bottle of whiskey that he indulged in once and a while.
He took a swig
More. And even more.
* * *
Maisy smiled over at Freddie. Dressed in Batman pajamas, he’d fallen asleep next to Caleb on the couch. Cyberchase , something her brother found on the Internet recommended for six-year-olds, played on the television. Caleb had his arm around the boy.
For the hundredth time, she wondered what the hell she’d gotten them into? No one had come from DFS but she’d probably hear from them tomorrow. Well, she was suspended from work, so she’d be home all day with him.
“What are you thinking?” Caleb asked.
There hadn’t been much private time to talk at any length.
“That DFS will probably come tomorrow to get him.”
“You don’t think Jackson made the call for us to keep him temporarily?”
“Oh, he probably contacted DFS. But not to ask for us to keep Freddie.”
“Are you going to work tomorrow? I can reschedule my sessions.”
“I’m suspended, remember.”
“Ah. Then we just wait.”
“I guess.” Disentangling himself from Freddie, he stood and picked up the boy. They’d put him in the room in between hers and Caleb’s. “I’ll take him up.”
Her heart clutched as she watched them leave. Oh, God, they’d come for him. She didn’t want that.
When Caleb came back, he studied her. “What’s wrong?”
“I want to keep him.”
“I know, honey.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“We can ask DCF if we can be emergency care designees.”
“We’re not certified.”
“It’s only emergency fostering. Given the circumstances, and that we’re a respected psychologist and an established teacher, it might fly.”
An ember of hope sparked inside her.
“As for after that, we’ll see. It would buy us some time.”
They talked some more then went to bed.
Early the next day, the doorbell rang. Maisy answered it. A beleaguered man stood before her. “Maisy Shepherd?”
“Yes.”
“I’m from DCF. May I come in?”
Oh, God, it was happening. Well, not without a fight. Not without a fight.