Momma Maria talked Ms. Judy and Eric into staying for dinner, telling them she made more than enough. The dinner was held in the Formal Dining Room, since there were going to be nine people eating.
The conversation around the table that night centered on what Mr. Wayne and Matthew were doing and thinking during the time that Grace had the youngest Cover in the women's restroom.
Even though Matthew had told his story in the Study, he didn't mind talking about it some more, saying he needed to make sure he didn't forget anything, for when the detectives arrived.
Mr. Ken told everyone that attorney Stewart Russell would be there to sit in while Matthew talked to Matthias and Roberts, and they couldn't dawdle too much at the dinner table. They all laughed at 'dad' Ken for what he said. But it wasn't too long after that the doorbell rang, and Stewart Russell was there for Matthew's interview.
Ms. Judy hugged Matthew before she left and wished him good luck during his interview. Eric then shook his hand, patted him on the back and told him he'd see him on the school bus in the morning. The Turner's then left for home.
Mr. Ken asked Mr. Russell if he wanted something to drink or snack on during the interview and all Stewart asked for was cold water. The Cover boys wanted to sit in during the interview, but Mr. Ken nixed that idea right from the start. The boys moaned, but their 'dad' told them to go catch up on their rest, or do some more homework.
Detectives Matthias and Roberts arrived promptly at 7 PM. Mr. Ken greeted them at the Foyer Door and invited them in. He took them to his Study where Matthew and his lawyer waited. They all greeted one another and made some small talk before getting down to the reason they were there.
Lt. Matthias started the interview process by asking Mr. Wayne to tell him what he did before Matthew went missing. Wayne Mitchell described how after the boy's appointment was over he allowed Matthew to go to the men's restroom. He explained he'd done that just like after the other boys had done when he'd taken them to meet up with Doctor Douglas Jennings.
Mr. Wayne also explained what he did before and after he called Mr. Thomas to let him know Matthew was missing. He explained how he only looked in the men's restrooms thinking that was where the boy would have gone.
The Estate Master told the detectives he, and Doctor Jennings, went to the floors above and below his looking for Matthew. He explained how they called out for the boy over and over again, but never got a response. Mr. Wayne then told how he and the Sheriff's Deputies talked and then searched the building all over again.
Mr. Wayne told the detectives that it was something that the lead deputy said that made him realize he never checked the women's restrooms, and quickly ran to check the ones on Doug Jennings' floor. He finished by telling them how he heard Matthew call out to him and him going out to the hallway to call Mr. Ken and tell him to have the deputies come to that floor.
Wayne Mitchell told Matthias and Roberts what he saw when the deputies called him to come into the restroom. He told them what he remembered Matthew telling him about his mom saying she would kill him.
The detectives spent about twenty minutes talking to Mr. Wayne. They asked him some pointed questions concerning his statement to make sure he didn't change anything, he initially told them.
That was the first time Matthew heard what was happening all the while his mom had him trapped in the women's restroom. During all that time, he wondered what the Estate Master was doing. He had heard the man calling his name, but he never stopped in that particular restroom.
Matthew was jolted out of his thoughts when Lt. Matthias called out to him. Matthew quickly got himself focused on what happened to him, and he told the lieutenant he was ready.
The detectives had the Cover tell him everything that happened from the time he left to use the restroom until he was being held by Mr. Wayne inside the women's restroom where his mom held him captive.
The young Cover told them how his mom called out to him and took him onto the women's restroom to talk to him. He told them about their conversations and his hearing Mr. Wayne calling his name, but told them he couldn't yell out to him because his mom threatened to kill him.
The detectives spent over and hour interviewing Matthew. They asked him different questions designed to elicit the same answers each and every time to ensure his story never changed. The two detectives were happy with the young boy's recollection. But they were very concerned by Matthew's statement that his mom threatened to kill him, and was also holding, almost squeezing, his genitals, so he would not call out
The Sheriff's detectives focused on two parts of the boy's statement. Their first focus was what they could initially charge Grace Turnsten with from her taking Matthew to the women's restroom. They came up with:
1) Unlawful restraint, stemming when one intentionally or knowingly restrains another person if the actor was a relative of the child.
2) Kidnapping, from when a person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person when the actor is a relative of the person abducted.
3) Aggravated kidnapping, from when a person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with the intent to inflict bodily injury, or violate or abuse them sexually.
Their second focus came from Matthew's description of his mom holding his genitals, so he wouldn't call out. They considered two charges there.
1) Indecency with a child, from Grace's touching the boy's genitals through his clothing.
2) Sexual contact with a child, which again stems from her touching the boy's genitals through his clothing.
They decided they would leave it up to the District Attorney to make the determination on all of their recommended charges.
The one thing they were certain of was that Grace Turnsten would have her bail revoked, and she would be incarcerated until her trial.
Mr. Ken looked at the time and asked the men if they were almost finished with their interview of Matthew. He said it was getting close to the boys bedtime, and he wanted the boy to have some time to relax and unwind from his long and arduous day.
Lt. Matthias said he did have one more thing he wanted to talk to the young Cover about. Taking the hint, Sgt. Roberts brought out a series of pictures and presented them to Matthew. The sergeant asked the boy if he recognized any of the men in the photos.
Matthew looked through each picture. He set aside the ones he definitely knew he did not know. There were three photos left. He took his time looking at them and then set aside one more into the first pile.
"These. I recognize both of these men but ... well, I only know one of their names," offered Matthew.
"May I look at the pictures," asked Mr. Wayne. "There was one man that seemed to follow us last week. Matthew said he recognized the man when he first passed us. And, then he was waiting in a strip mall parking lot staring at Matthew as we passed by. We gave the license plate number to Dan Fischer."
Sergeant Roberts gave all the pictures to Wayne Mitchell, but first he mixed them before handing them to the man. He didn't want him to see which pictures Matthew had chosen.
Mr. Wayne looked through the pictures quite quickly. He set aside a few, as Matthew had. He looked at the remaining pictures and set aside a few more. When he had only one picture left in his hand he passed to the Sheriff's detectives.
Lt. Brandt Matthias and Sgt. William Roberts raised eyes at one another. Both Matthew and Mr. Wayne had picked out the same picture. Now they needed to ask Matthew if he had a name for either of the two men in the pictures he'd picked.
"I know this man as Lonny. I'd see him come and talk to Lincoln around the time before and after we moved. It was kinda strange. He'd show up and a day or two later we'd move and then Lincoln had money again. But only after he talked to Lonny again," revealed Matthew.
"This other man ... you know his face ... but don't know his name?" asked Lt. Matthias.
"Yes, sir. I'd see him talk to my mom when Lincoln wasn't around. She didn't know I'd seen them talking, though, and I never asked her his name. I didn't want her to know what I saw and get another beating from Lincoln," replied the young Cover.
"Did you ever see the four of them, your mom, Lincoln, Lonny and this man, together?" asked Sgt. Roberts.
"No, sir. I'd only seen Lincoln and Lonny meet and talk. And, once I saw my mom talk to them, together. I never asked what they were talking about as Lincoln would beat me for just about anything that made him mad," explained Matthew.
"How is it you know this man Lonny's name, then?" asked the lieutenant.
"I heard my mom and Lincoln mention his name after they came back inside one time. I didn't even move my head as if I was listening knowing Lincoln would beat me if he even thought I saw them talk to or knew the man's name," responded the young Cover.
"I think that is enough for now, Matthew," offered Lt. Matthias. "We know where you live and if we need to talk to you any more we'll contact Mr. Ken, here, and stop by again."
Matthew shook the detective's hands and then hugged Mr. Wayne. The boy went around the big desk and hugged his 'dad'. "Thank you 'dad' for everything."
Matthew then stopped by Stewart Russell and thanked him for giving up his evening to be there for him. The boy told the man he hoped the detectives didn't need to talk to him at night again. That brought out a chuckle from the men.
"Good night, everyone," called out Matthew, as he left the Study with Chief following on his heels.
"Ohh, Chief ... would you come back here, please," called out Mr. Ken.
When Matthew got upstairs his 'brothers' were waiting for him. They wanted to know what happened in their 'dad's' Study. Matthew explained how Mr. Wayne told them what he did and then what happened to him. The youngest Cover finished his tale by telling them about the pictures they showed him.
When Chief came back into the Study she went directly to her first master. Mr. Ken gave the resident dog some behind the ear scratches that she loved so much. It was while the owner of The Cove was scratching behind Chief's ears that he whispered into her ear.
"Chief ... keep a careful eye on your boy. He's had a rough day. He sounds good on the outside, but he might be hurting on the inside. You understand, Chief?" said Mr. Ken.
"Woof, woof, woof," barked Chief, causing the other three men to look at the man and dog.
Chief then quickly went up the stairs to Matthew's room.
"Oh, there you are. I hope 'dad' gave you some ear scratches, when he called you back," said Matthew, as he knelt down to pat her and scratch behind her ears, too. Matthew then told Chief to go outside and do her business while he did his. The dog barked once in understanding and then the two went in their separate directions.
Matthew and Chief laid down, in their separate beds, as soon as they met back up in Matthew's bedroom. Chief heard his young charge crying before the eleven year old finally fell asleep. She wanted to go over and give him some of her doggie kisses, but knew the boy needed his sleep. Chief soon fell asleep herself.
It was a little after 10 PM when the phone in The Cove rang. At that late of an hour, Mr. Ken would normally let the answering machine take the call, but he noticed who the caller was by the Caller ID, so he took the call.
"Ken, Judy ... I just watched the late night news. Grace Turnsten ... she was their lead news story tonight. They mentioned she was arrested earlier today at the medical office building, but then they also mentioned she'd been previously arrested, along with Lincoln, at the hospital three weeks ago.
"They said she was out on bail from her attempt to take her son from the hospital. They didn't mention Matthew by name, but ... but, I'll bet all his friends will recognize the name. I also would bet they know his story.
"Ken you may have a problem on your hands tomorrow morning. I just wanted to tell you that because I figured the detectives kept you busy most of the evening, and you didn't get to watch the news," offered Judy Turner.
Mr. Ken thanked her for the phone call and the heads-up about Grace. He told her he'd sit down with Matthew before he goes off to school in the morning. He told her he'd make sure he knows how to handle any questions he may get from his friends. After they hung up, Ken Thomas laid in his bed thinking of what to say to the boy in the morning.
The Cove was quiet that night. That is until Matthew started tossing and turning in his sleep. Chief was brought out of her sleep when she heard the rustling in Matthew's bed. She raised her head and watched the boy for a few minutes. When the youngster settled down and looked like he'd gone back to sleep, Chief did the same.
Two hours later, Matthew yelled out from his sleep, "NO, no, DON'T KILL ME! Please don't KILL ME!"
That immediately woke Chief up and she went directly to the boy's bed. She put her paws up on the bed and started to lick the boy's face.
"Stop holding my boy parts, mom. ... You're hurting me! ... NO, no I'll be good, just don't KILL ME!" Matthew cried out again.
Chief licked the boy's face some more and that finally woke the boy up.
"Chief, ohh, Chief ... she ... she is going to kill me," cried out Matthew, as he held onto the resident dog and let out his soul in his tears. He cried and cried and Chief knew she needed to get someone. Matthew finally let go of her and she quickly went to the door, opened it and went barking down the stairs.
The noise woke up Robert and Charles. They both went out into the hallway to see what the problem was. It was then they saw Matthew's bedroom door opened. They ran to the room to find Matthew crying, as they never heard him before.
Chief ran into Mr. Ken's bedroom barking up a storm. She jumped up on the bed and began pulling the covers down and off him before Mr. Ken could even do it himself. He knew immediately there was something wrong and it had to deal with Matthew. He pulled on his running shorts and ran, along with Chief, up the stairs.
"Matthew, Matthew," called out Robert, as he sat on the bed and tried to comfort his youngest 'brother' by rubbing his back. Charles also sat on the bed and began rubbing the boy's legs.
'Dad' Ken came into the room and took over. Robert and Charles quickly got off the bed and as soon as they did Matthew jumped into the man's arms.
"'Dad' ... she wants to kill me. She wants to kill me, 'dad'. I wasn't a bad son; was I?" the eleven year old continued to bawl. He kept on saying his mom wanted to kill him and will do it when they get back together after she gets out of jail.
Robert and Charles were aghast at hearing their 'brother' say it the way he did. Matthew had told them what she said to him, earlier, but they didn't know how much it affected him until just then.
"Matthew, we can deal with this ... together. You're not the first person I've had to help get away from individuals who are out to kill them. I know it is very difficult for you to understand. Even I don't understand why your mom would say that to you.
"Remember, I was there when you talked to the detectives, so ... well, maybe tonight, after dinner, we can sit and talk about some things," counseled 'dad' Ken. "Then maybe we can make some sense out of all this."
"She got mad when I told had I had 'brothers'. I told her they were my foster brothers, but she got mad anyway. Then, she told me that when Lincoln got a hold of me I ... I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week. And ... and she even agreed I needed to be beaten, 'dad'. Why is she doing this to me?" cried out Matthew, who hugged the man as tight as he could.
It took 'dad' Ken many minutes to get the boy settled down enough that he would go back to sleep. The man asked Robert to stay in his room the rest of the night and he'd see them all down at the breakfast table in the morning.
Robert, Charles and Matthew all headed to the bathroom to relieve the pressure on their bladders, no matter how light it may be. While the boys did that, Mr. Ken praised Chief for coming to get him and taking such good care of her boy. Chief gave the man some doggie kisses, while he gave her some behind the ear scratches.
When the boys came back to Matthew's room, Matthew hugged his 'dad' again and thanked him for coming up to take care of him. Mr. Ken told the boy that Robert would stay with him the rest of the night, and made sure he got up in time for school. 'Dad' Ken told the youngster they'd talk again in the morning.
Mr. Ken hugged the boy and then had him get under the covers. He kissed the boy's forehead and smiled at him. The man then hugged Robert and had him get into the second bed in the room. He kissed the teen's forehead, as well, before he and Charles left the bedroom and turned the light off. Mr. Ken hugged Charles out in the hallway before the pre-teen entered his room to go back to sleep.
The twins never woke up from all the commotion that night.
Ken Thomas got out of bed a few minutes before the morning TV newscast was to come on. He wanted to hear for himself what the television reporters were saying about Grace Turnsten. After he heard their take on her arrest, and what they had to say about her previous run-in with the police, the man got into his normal morning clothes.
After retrieving the morning newspaper, he went to the Kitchen Nook where Momma Maria already had his first cup of coffee waiting for him. The man took the paper out of its protective sleeve and broke it out into its sections, as he usually did, before reading them.
As Mr. Ken read, he learned the TV news reporter and the newspaper reports all said that Grace Turnsten was arrested for unlawful restraint, kidnaping and aggravated kidnapping of someone, yet to be named, who was in the medical building.
The reports said that Grace Turnsten and her boyfriend, Lincoln, had attempted to unlawfully remove her son out from the hospital the night they were arrested, and she was out on bail, but would now lose her bail and be sequestered back into jail.
The reporters also told their readers that Grace Turnsten's son was relegated into the Children's Protective Services and had not been heard from since. They went on to say that the present whereabouts of the boy could not be legally released by Children's Protective Services, and they would need permission from CPS and or the foster parents in charge of the boy before they could interview him.
Mr. Ken was happy the news media was aware they needed permission from him at least before they could contact Matthew, and interview him. Mr. Ken knew that would never happen if he had anything to say about it. He had to hope that Judy Turner would stand her ground and not let them know where Matthew was, or allow them to talk to the youngster.
The boys came quietly into the Kitchen Nook, that morning. When Matthew saw Mr. Ken, he ran to him and hugged him. Mr. Ken hugged the boy right back and patted him on his back, and told him to go get his breakfast.
As the boys ate, Mr. Ken explained to them what may and probably would happen at school, when they arrived. He told them about the TV, radio and newspaper reports that identified Grace Turnsten and that Matthew's friends would probably ask him if that was his mom.
Mr. Ken also told them she was charged with unlawful restraint, kidnaping and aggravated kidnapping of someone, as of yet to be named, who was in the medical building.
"Matthew ... I take it your friends ... that they know your story. Am I correct in assuming that?" asked 'dad' Ken.
"Yes, 'dad', they know about me being in the hospital, and that my mom was arrested outside of there. So, what does that mean?" replied Matthew.
"Well, Matthew, if any of your friends ask you ... if that was your mom, I think you should say ... that it was. They may ask you why she was at that building and all you should say is that you do not know. Please don't mention you were in there seeing Doctor Doug.
"If some of your friends ask what doctor appointment you had yesterday afternoon ... ahh ... tell them you had to have your ... ahh, your tonsils checked," laughed 'dad' Ken, who was quickly joined in by all his 'sons'.
Momma Maria heard the conversation and understood that it had to deal with what happened yesterday to the youngest Cover. She'd heard the radio reports on the way into work that morning, and wondered how her employer would handle the fallout. Now, she knew that he was going to attack it head on, with a wrinkle or two.
"Boys, what I told your 'brother' ... I want you to say the same thing. Matthew's friends already know his story, or most of it, so it won't do us any good to deny that Grace was his mom. We do, though ... have to protect Matthew from speculation that his mom had tried to kidnap him again, yesterday.
"If you see reporters come to the school with TV cameras and handheld SLR type cameras, you go to Principal Chadwick and have her call me. I'll get there as soon as I can. And boys, by NO means are you to answer any adult's questions without me present. If you are hounded by anyone you squeeze your coins. You know they work and that will tell me you are in trouble.
"And speaking of the coins, Matthew, here is a new one for you. Once they are used they become a paperweight and are just another semi-collectible.
The boys went off to school, but before they exited through the Foyer Door, Matthew ran back and hugged 'dad' Ken. The man smiled at him and hugged him back, and told him to try to act as if nothing happened.
Once the Cover boys got on the school bus some of the kids immediately asked Matthew if that was his mom who was arrested yesterday. Matthew said that it could have been, but there are lots of Turnsten's out there. He qualified his answer by saying he hadn't seen a picture of the woman who was arrested, so he wasn't 100% sure.
At school, the 5th grade boys who already arrived and knew Matthew, couldn't wait until he arrived, so they could ask him if that was his mom that was arrested yesterday. They figured it was because she has the same last name as he does.
And that was what Matthew's 5th grade classmates did. He wasn't off the school bus yet, when the questions began. Robert yelled out and told them to let his 'brother' get off the bus. The 5th graders were afraid of any 8th grader, so they all pulled back and let Matthew get off the school bus.
Brant, Ryan, Noah, Greg and Aaron surrounded their friend and walked him to their part of the schoolyard. There, Matthew told them they can ask their questions, but he didn't know if he had the answers they wanted.
"Was that your mom they arrested last night?" asked an obnoxious boy, that Matthew never got to know.
"I don't know," quickly started Matthew. "I never saw a picture of the woman they arrested, so I can't say for sure."
"But, what if it is her?" posited the obnoxious lad.
"So, what if it was her? What does that have to do with me?" countered the Cover.
"It means you could be just as crazy as she is," laughed the kid.
"That'll be enough, Max," loudly said Brant. "He says he doesn't know if it was his mom, and won't know until he sees a picture. Now back OFF!"
"Or what?" snickered Max.
"Or, we'll make sure you're classified as a bully, Maaaxxx. And then, and then you'll be attending the school with all the numbnuts where they'll kick your pansy ass. Now leave Matthew alone. If the women is his mom he'll let us know. But, it doesn't matter to us if she is.
"It wasn't Matthew who was there, nor was he the one she tried to kidnap. That building is full of doctor offices and she could have been after a plastic surgeon to change her facial features. None of us know. Now get lost!"
"Thank you Brant. I don't know him, and now I'm glad I don't. He sure is a work of art," laughed Matthew.
When Mr. Chris arrived his first question for his boss was about Grace Turnsten. Mr. Ken told his Estate Manager the whole story including how the coin pinpointed where Matthew was. As the two men drank coffee they talked a little more about what happened yesterday.
Mr. Ken told Chris they had to move on and he could only hope that Matthew and his 'brothers' could keep up the company line that Matthew had no idea why she was there at that building.
Mr. Wayne arrived early that morning instead of his normal noon arrival time. He and Mr. Chris talked some about the Six Flags trip and the logistics. Mr. Chris told his employer that he needed a head count as soon as he could get it. He explained he needed that so he can buy the correct number of admission tickets for the day.
Mr. Ken said he'd send out emails later that day to all the parents asking them to reply to it by Friday if possible, but no later than Monday, so he can make final arrangements for the Six Flags Trip. He added he'd have the boys tell their friends to reply to it or call The Cove.
Mr. Ken told Chris they needed to act on his special project contract and he wanted to make the final decision by Friday at the soonest, and Monday at the latest. He wanted to select the contractor and fine tune the contract with them before he signed on the dotted line. The three men retired to the Study.
Sheriff's Lt. Dan Fischer and Detectives Lt. Brandt Matthias and Sgt. William Roberts were busy that morning, as well. They had two pictures, and one name, of who they thought were probably Lincoln's accomplices. They started a computer facial recognition search for both men and they just needed to wait for the results.
Mr. Wayne asked his boss, Mr. Ken, if he wanted him to take Kevin to his doctor appointment with Doug Jennings after what happened yesterday. Mr. Ken told him there was no way he could have anticipated that Grace was there, and would try to do what she did with Matthew.
Mr. Ken then reminded him about what happened back at Halloween with the twins. He told Mr. Wayne that he knew Julian Hankers was out there, but he never figured the man would try to kidnap them. Then, he asked if he should have let the twins go live somewhere else, so someone else could try to kidnap them from there.
Mr. Wayne understood what his employer was saying. He thanked him for that understanding, and that he wasn't upset at him for letting Matthew go to the restroom by himself. The Estate Master said he'd pick Kevin up at the regular time.
Mr. Ken and Mr. Chris took their time and decided on the contractor for the special project. They went over the fine print as well as the specifications for the original project and the secondary add-ons. When they were satisfied with their selection of the contractor, it was lunchtime. The three men headed to the Kitchen Nook where they knew Momma Maria had a wonderful meal waiting for them.
At lunchtime, over at the school, kids were still asking Matthew questions about his mom. The Cover told them he hadn't seen his mom since he was in the hospital, and the last he knew she was trying to get supervised visits. He added he had no idea why she would have been at that building, and why she was arrested.
The kids seemed happy at Matthew's openness to their questions. By the time lunch was over the questions has subsided substantially, which made Matthew quite happy. Matthew also told Brant he really appreciated him sticking up for him against the bully, Max.
When the after lunch bell rang, the young Cover was glad the school day was half over.
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