The Covers woke to a beautiful July morning. The heat and humidity had returned, but that was to be expected for July. Mr. Ken was fully rested after getting through the grueling 9-day amusement park trip, Bill's 3-day trip and the 4th of July Picnic. He was now sitting in the Kitchen Nook reading his morning newspaper and drinking his hot cup of coffee.
He knew Kevin would soon be down soon for breakfast, as he had to go to Doctor Doug's for 10 a.m. He figured the rest of the boys wouldn't be too far behind and Momma would get the morning meal started for them.
When Kevin arrived at the Kitchen Nook, he was dressed in school clothes and had on a happy face. Momma Maria saw him and knew she needed to get some breakfast in him as he had an appointment to get to. As she fixed the youngster his breakfast, she also fixed Mr. Ken something, as well.
As those two Cover's ate, the rest of the boys arrived at the Nook and said good morning to their 'dad', Momma Maria and Chief and then sat down at the Kitchen table. Billy went and fixed Chief's fresh water and kibble before taking his seat at the table.
Momma began fixing the boys their breakfast, as Mr. Ken and Kevin finished theirs. Mr. Ken asked Kevin to wash his face and hands, and since he'd taken his shower, he needn't wash all the way up to his elbows. He then asked the older twin to meet him in the garage and he'd take him to his appointment.
The other boys all giggled when they heard their 'dad' tell Kevin he didn't need to wash his hands up to his elbows. That was truly different than what he used to say. They knew they had something funny to tell their friends later.
Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris arrived, just before their employer was to take Kevin to Doctor Doug's. Wayne asked his boss if he wanted him to take him, but Mr. Ken said he was ready and wanted to talk to Doctor Jennings anyway, so it was best he went. The man did tell his Estate Master he could plan to take Kevin on Friday morning.
When the two employees arrived in the Kitchen Nook, Momma told them to sit and she would bring them a short stack and some coffee. The men smiled and did what she asked.
The boys' portion of the conversation at the table, centered on what their 'dad' had planned for them that first week of August. Mr. Chris could only tell them that his boss told him to plan on them going back to the amusement parks those first nine or ten days of August and leaving on the first.
Mr. Wayne said there wasn't anything else that he knew of that Mr. Ken had planned for them. Charles then spoke up and said he found a barge that he hopes his dad would buy, so that he could take all of them and their friends out on the lake and over to the water park.
That was news to both Mr. Wayne and especially Mr. Chris. Mr. Chris asked Charles more about the barge, particularly when it came to the price, condition and location. Charles said he could show him on his computer later. Mr. Chris said he would appreciate that.
By then the adults had their short stack of pancakes in front of them. The boys were finished, so they rinsed their dirty dishes, gave Momma a thank you hug and headed upstairs to get ready for their day.
The boys' friends began arriving around eleven, as they were allowed to do, now that it was summertime. The Covers were up there, meeting and greeting them. Billy had some poster boards with him that Mr. Chris brought with him that morning. There were four different colors to differentiate them for the four games.
Billy began to explain to the boys what the schedules would look like. He told them he'd have to use both sides of the board as there were so many of them going to compete. He explained how the double eliminations would work and that when someone lost, they would play against someone else who lost. The winner would then be kept alive in the competition.
Billy had printed out the schedules that he needed to transfer to the big poster boards. He asked Robert and Charles to help him and that he needed one other person to make the boards look like the printed sheets he brought. Both Kyle and Matthew begged out saying their printing was way too small for anyone to read. Asher jumped up and volunteered.
Mr. Ken and Kevin returned to The Cove around 11:30. The man dropped the twelve-year-old off at the top of the estate and he joined his friends. Mr. Ken then drove down to the parking Coral and then parked the truck in the garage.
The owner of The Cove grabbed a fresh cup of coffee before heading to his Study. When he arrived, he was met by Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris. They both had a sour look on their faces that told him that something was wrong.
“Men … by the looks on your faces … I'd say there is something wrong. So … let me get settled first and then tell me. OK?“ said Mr. Ken, before he sat behind his desk.
When the man was ready to hear what he needed to hear, Mr. Ken asked Mr. Wayne to tell him what was wrong and not to hold back anything or sugar coat it.
Mr. Wayne looked at Chris. The Estate Master then told his employer to listen to the answering machine message.
It was then Mr. Ken remembered seeing the light flashing last night before going up to see the boys. He had told Wayne that there wasn't anything he could do about what the person wanted last night, so he would listen to it in the morning. But he decided that morning to wait until he came back from Kevin's appointment before getting into any Three Finger Cove business.
Now, Mr. Wayne wanted him to listen to it, and hear what it had to say. Mr. Ken pressed the replay button and waited for the message to play.
“Mister high and mighty,“ began the deep voice of a man, “I'm calling to tell you that your handsome, drug dealing foster son is still up to his old tricks. I have it on good authority … that young Billy Dirketson has drugs hidden in his room, and is waiting for his time … that he can get back to dealing like his mom and step-dad once did. Those drugs can be found hidden behind a false panel in his walk-in closet. I trust when you search the closet you will find those drugs. Have a nice day.“
Mr. Ken sat there, dumbfounded. He just couldn't believe what he was hearing. He asked the two men if they had searched Bill's room. Wayne Mitchell said he and Chris had and then he brought out a small baggie of what looked like marijuana. The Estate Master then placed the baggie on the desk.
Mr. Ken looked at the small bag and shook his head. He just couldn't believe what he was seeing. And what struck him even more odd was what Bill said just a day or two ago that he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his staying there at The Cove.
After a few more minutes of contemplation, Mr. Ken picked up the phone and began making a call. Mr. Chris asked him if he was calling Mr. Dan. The employer said he was calling Ms. Judy. He said she'd need to find another foster home for Bill before the end of the day. Both men looked at one another with a shocked expression on their faces.
When Mr. Ken hung up from his quick phone call to the Director of Children's Protective Services, Mr. Chris asked him if he wasn't making a rash decision before getting all the facts.
Ken Thomas pointed at the baggie of drugs at the edge of his desk and said that was all the facts he needed. He then asked Wayne to take a golf cart up to the Pavilion and bring Bill down there. He told the Estate Master not to bring any of the boys 'brothers', nor any of Bill's friends with him.
When Mr. Wayne arrived at the Pavilion the boys were curious as to why he was there. The man went over to Billy and talked to the teenager and then the two got into the golf cart. Mr. Wayne called Robert and Charles over and told them not to come down to the house. The two then drove away. Charles and Robert quickly got together and talked about what that was all about. The other boys came over to them and asked them the same question.
When Billy walked into the Study, he was getting scared. Mr. Wayne wouldn't tell him anything about why he was being brought down to the house, and why none of his 'brothers' nor his friends could come with him.
“Bill, have a seat,“ said a stern-sounding Mr. Ken.
“I want you to listen to something,“ spoke Mr. Ken, who then hit the PLAY button on the answering machine.
Billy listened to the twenty-five-second message and didn't know what to think. He began to ask what it was all about, but Mr. Ken put up his hand to stop him.
“Bill … this bag of what looks like marijuana … was found behind that small panel in your closet as the voice on the message indicated. What can you tell me about it?“ practically demanded Mr. Ken.
“Mr. Ken …I have no idea where that came from. When I first arrived here Mr. Wayne … he told me to flush any drugs I brought here with me because … because if I hadn't, and they were found, the Sheriff's office would be called and that would be the last day I'd spend here at The Cove. And, Mr. Ken … that is what I did. I swear.
“Yes, I had drugs with me when I came here that first day, but when Mr. Wayne … when he warned me about the drugs and told me what you could do for me, and my future, I knew I needed to get clean and get rid of those drugs. And … and that's what I did. I have NO idea where that baggie came from.
“And how did they know it was there? How? I sure didn't put it there, but after you all touched and handled that baggie there … there is no way you can check to even see if MY fingerprints are on it. I'm being framed here, Mr. Ken.
“Why … why would I jeopardize what I have here for what? A small bag of what looks like marijuana? Have you had it tested to make sure that is what it is? It could be something else to make it look like it just to get me into trouble for some reason,“ argued Billy.
Mr. Ken picked up his desk phone and punched in a number. He told Bill that someone would be there in a few minutes to tell them if what they thought was in that bag was what they thought it was. He told everyone to just wait.
Momma came to the Study to tell everyone that lunch was ready, but Mr. Chris saw her and told her that Mr. Ken was extremely busy right now and wouldn't be able to eat just yet. He asked her if she could set it aside and he'd tell her when Mr. Ken was available.
Momma saw the look on Mr. Ken's face as he paced back and forth. She also saw that Bill was seated in front of the desk, and that he didn't look happy at all. She knew something bad had to have happened and now wasn't the time to go barging in there. She told Chris she'd hold lunch for them.
The boys saw Lieutenant Fischer arrive in his Sheriff's vehicle, and head directly to the front of the house. They also saw he was dressed in his uniform, so they knew he had to be on duty. They then watched as Mr. Dan used his key to enter the house.
As Mr. Dan entered the Study, Mr. Ken greeted him and then said, “Dan, you remember Bill. The reason I asked you to stop by is that … well, I want you to listen to a message left on my answering machine yesterday, but we didn't know about it until today,“ said Mr. Ken.
After Dan Fischer listened to the message, he and his friend Ken talked and then Dan made a phone call. Soon, thereafter, a K-9 unit came to the Main Gate and was let in and it too drove down to the house.
Mr. Wayne greeted the K-9 officer and his partner at the Foyer Door and then brought them to the Study where Lt. Fischer introduced the new additions.
The boys saw Mr. Wayne open the Foyer Door for the K-9 officer and his dog and be let into the house. All the boys were now speculating that they must have found some drugs in the house, and if Billy was taken down there, it had to have been his.
The lieutenant asked the officer to run his partner through the office to see if there were any drugs in there. The officer gave the dog some instructions and they began the search of the Study. In about thirty seconds, the dog alerted, to where the baggie had been placed. The lieutenant brought out the baggie and the officer praised the dog for finding the drugs and gave the dog's favorite squishy toy to his partner.
Mr. Ken and the lieutenant thanked the officer and his partner for coming to The Cove and doing that simple demonstration for them. The officer and his partner were shown out by Mr. Wayne. The boys saw the K-9 unit leave The Cove about twenty minutes after they arrived, but Mr. Dan still remained.
“Bill … is there any doubt that what's in this baggie is some sort of drug and in particular marijuana, as the K-9 officer indicated it was?“ asked Mr. Ken.
“No, sir. But it isn't mine! I don't know how it got to where you found it, and you wouldn't have found my fingerprints on it if you all hadn't touched it so much!“ again argued Billy.
“Someone put it there. How else did they know where to tell you to look? Huh? … Mr. Ken … ever since I've began living here, I've never even thought about using drugs. You've kept me so busy with doing such awesome things that …that I didn't need to get away from my old humdrum life, as I did when I lived with my mom and step-dad.
“And, why now? What happened, that this anonymous person … that he calls you out of the blue and tells you about a bag of drugs, that I don't even know about, is hidden in my closet? Who …who did I piss off? Yes, I did get Principal Stanley fired … but he hasn't been by here to plant those drugs, has he?
“And those other guys … the ones who tried to frame me haven't been by, either. But I'd bet they would love to have done it, if they could pull it off. They would stop at nothing to get back at me for what was done to them. Then there are the two guys that I didn't make nice with in school, but I don't even know if they know where I live.
“And, I haven't been out of your or Mr. Wayne's sight since I got here. I mean really. When would I have had the chance to get some drugs to hide in my room? And, I'd ask you to do a drug test on me to see if I've been doing drugs. And, I'll tell you that you won't even find an aspirin in my system.
“But, Mr. Ken … I'm telling you … those drugs … they aren't mine! I'm being set up here … and I don't know by whom,“ declared Billy, once more, as some tears began to fall off his cheeks.
Mr. Ken asked the three men to step out of the Study to talk. He wanted their take on the circumstances, the message, what Billy had to say and their gut feeling on the whole affair.
Mr. Chris said the drugs being found was fact and it being found in Billy's closet only pointed to him and none of the other boys. The Estate Manager said the message was suspect, but they must have known Billy well enough that he would eventually want to follow in his parent's footsteps.
Mr. Wayne said he wanted to believe Bill. He added that the message was suspect in that someone had to have known about the drugs, or put them there, and waited for this time to drop the 'dime' for some reason.
The Estate Master said he didn't know of anyone who, other than those people Billy just mentioned, who would have a grudge against him. But he too said that the fact that the drugs were found in his room only cements it that he has to be responsible.
Mr. Ken looked to his friend Dan, to get his take on what little he knew. Dan said, if he had the authority, he'd put Matthias and Roberts on it, he'd let them see if they could back trace where the phone call came from and see if they could identify the person.
The lieutenant said there was something fishy about the whole thing, but the fact that there were drugs found in Billy's room couldn't be discounted. Dan said he would take the drugs with him and have them destroyed, and that was all he could do for now. He told his friend, Ken, that he was glad he didn't have to make the decision he was contemplating he was going to make.
Mr. Ken thanked the men for their input and then walked back into the Study. The three men followed.
“Bill … you knew … you knew that I wanted no drugs brought into The Cove. I had you ask your friends about them and their use. If anyone had been found with drugs on their person when they arrived on the estate, the Sheriff's office would have been called and they would have been taken away.
“But … I am not going to have Mr. Dan, here, take you away. But, Bill, what I am going to do is … I have called Ms. Judy … and she is looking for another foster home for … for you to go to. I … I cannot have someone who brought drugs into my house … continue to stay here with me and my 'boys'.
“For now … I want you to go up to your room … and pack all of your clothes in the suitcases I bought you. You can take everything … except your computer. I'll tell you when Ms. Judy gets here,“ announced Mr. Ken.
Billy, with tears in his eyes, slowly got out of the chair. He couldn't believe what was happening to him. He knew those drugs weren't his. He had no idea who could have put them there. He didn't even know about that false panel in the closet.
The teenager didn't say anything to or make any sort of recognition to any of the men as he shuffled out of the study and up the stairs to his room. The tears still fell as he went to his room to pack. What he thought was going to be the last place he would ever live, he was now losing because someone was screwing him over, and he had no idea who it could be.
When Robert and Charles saw Mr. Dan leave, they quickly headed down to the house to talk to their dad. When they looked into the study, they saw their dad, Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris talking. They weren't sure they should interrupt them. But Charles told Robert they needed to know what was going on.
Robert knocked on the doorframe then said, “Dad … can you tell us … tell us what's happening with Billy?“
Mr. Ken wiped his face with both hands when he saw his two sons standing there. He had to decide what he wanted to tell them, and if he wanted to tell them anything right now. But he knew they would find out eventually, so he asked them to have a seat. The two men stood by as their employer talked to his two sons.
“Boys … what I am going to tell you … won't be easy to hear. … Robert, Charles … ahh we, I … I received a phone message telling me … telling me that Bill had … that Bill had drugs hidden up in his room. Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris … they went up there together … and found them.
“I had Mr. Dan come over to listen to our story and he brought the K-9 Officer and his partner to see if they could find the baggie to see if it actually was drugs. The dog found the baggie full of … marijuana.
“Boys … you know that ever since Bill arrived, I've … I've been concerned about illegal drugs coming onto the estate. Today … today we found some … and in Bill's room. And … and I've called Ms. Judy … for her to find another foster home for him to live,“ explained the teen's dad.
“No, dad, you can't!“ loudly called out Robert. “Billy wouldn't have done that. Someone has to be setting him up, somehow!“
“That's what he thinks,“ replied their dad.
“But dad … can't you give him at least the benefit of the doubt, and, and put him on some sort of probation, or something like that?“ asked Charles.
“But if that is what he thinks, and that is what I think, then there is the possibility that it could be happening? Right dad?“ came back Robert.
“Robert … that is what I would like to believe … but … but there is no evidence to support that. If I let him stay … then I become the hypocrite. I speak out about illegal drugs, but then I allow someone to continue to live here after I caught them with illegal drugs in my house? I don't think that would go over too well in the community,“ reasoned the teen's dad.
“So … so what are you going to do, dad?“ asked Charles.
“Well, Bill is up in his room packing. I told him he could take everything … except the computer,“ replied Mr. Ken.
“Can we go up and … and can we talk to him?“ asked Robert.
Mr. Ken was hesitant to let them go up there. But he knew it would be wrong to keep them from talking with the teenager, as this might be the last time, they would get to talk to him before he leaves.
Just as the two Cover teens walked up the stairs, the three younger Covers quickly came into the house looking for their 'brothers'. Kevin's Team was on the schedule for lunch and he wanted to know if his 'dad', Mr. Wayne and Mr. Chris were coming up for lunch. The other two were curious to know what was happening with the police coming and Billy being brought to the house and never being seen again.
“'Dad', where's Billy and my other 'brothers'?“ timidly asked Matthew.
“Yea, 'dad', and … are you coming up to eat with us?“ hesitantly asked Kevin.
“Boys … sit down. I have some sad news to tell you. … Ahh, where do I begin? Boys … the short story is … Bill is leaving us. Robert and Charles … they are upstairs talking to him.“ That was all 'dad' Ken got out before all three boys jumped out of their seats and ran up the stairs.
“Billy, Billy, Billy,“ the three boys yelled as they ran to his room. “'Dad' told us you're leaving. Why?' asked a tearful Matthew.
“Mr. Ken … he didn't tell you?“ asked Billy.
“No, all he said was that you were leaving us,“ replied Kevin.
“Well, they found … they found … drugs in my room. So … so, I'm being sent away,“ matter-of-factly replied Billy.
“No, no, he can't do that,' cried Matthew, who ran to his big 'brother' and hugged him tight. Kevin and Kyle joined the two Covers.
“Boys … let Bill pack. Ms. Judy will be here soon,“ said Mr. Ken, from the doorway.
“You can't send him away, 'dad'“, said Matthew, with tears in his eyes. “He didn't do anything wrong. I know he didn't.“
Kevin and Kyle joined in what Mathew was saying, but 'dad' Ken told them he would explain it all to them later tonight, and for now they needed to go back out to the Pavilion.
All five boys, with tears streaming down their cheeks, hugged Billy before leaving his room. They all said goodbye to the teenager and said they hoped to see him out and about at Four Corners sometime, riding the Go-Karts or playing miniature golf or maybe eating ice cream at Mr. Ken's Kreamy Kone.
Billy, too, had big tears streaming down his cheeks as his five 'brothers' individually hugged him and told him goodbye. Even Chief knew something was going on and she too gave Billy one last doggie kiss before following the other boys out the bedroom door.
As the five Cover boys started back up to the Pavilion in a golf cart, they passed Ms. Judy as she drove into the estate and down towards the front door. When the boys arrived at the Pavilion, they called all of the boys together and told them what they knew about Billy and his leaving.
Ms. Judy was met at the Foyer Door by Mr. Wayne. He escorted her into the Study and told her that Bill was packing and that Mr. Ken was upstairs with him. The Estate Master asked her if Bill was going to a good home. Ms. Judy said it wasn't going to be as good as the one he would be leaving, but he would have a younger 'brother', who was looking forward to having the older 'big brother' he never had.
Mr. Ken helped Bill carry his suitcases down to the Foyer. They were stuffed with all his clothes and shoes and toiletries. Everything he'd been given and collected ever since he arrived at The Cove. The two walked into the Study where Ms. Judy and Mr. Wayne were waiting.
“Bill, Mr. Ken told me why he is having me move you. It is the foster parent's prerogative when … when the foster child is removed from the residence. All we at CPS can do is honor their request and … and find the foster boy or girl another fine foster home to go to.
“Bill, I found you a home that I know will be a good fit for you, after living here with five 'brothers'. Where you're going … the almost ten-year-old there has been wanting an older 'brother' for so long. So … with your experience here, you should fit in very well there,“ offered Judy Turner.
“Bill … you were a good fit here at The Cove. But you knew my feelings about illegal drugs and it is because of that that I cannot allow you to stay here any longer. I wish you well,“ offered Mr. Ken, and he offered his hand to shake the teens.
Billy looked at the outstretched hand. Then, he looked up into the man's eyes. The teen then burst out crying and jumped in the man's arms.
“Mr. Ken … those aren't my drugs. I don't know what happened, but … but someone must have planted them. How … how else would that caller know where to tell you to look for them? My … my fingerprints. You … you would never have found my fingerprints on that baggie if … if you all hadn't handled it,“ stammered out the crying teenager.
Mr. Ken hugged the teen back, still wondering if he was making the right decision. But he had already put the actions in motion, and he had to stand by his decision.
Mr. Wayne carried Bill's suitcases out to Ms. Judy's car. Bill shook Mr. Chris' hand and then thanked Mr. Ken for everything he'd done for him. The teen told the man that he hoped that he could move back someday, when the truth was finally found out.
As Ms. Judy, with Billy as her passenger, drove out of The Cove, the boys were lined up along either side of the driveway and they waved to their friend as he left The Cove for the last time. Robert waved for Ms. Judy to stop.
Robert had Billy's skateboard and he wanted his older 'brother' to have it. Ms. Judy did stop and Billy took the board from his 'brother'. They shook hands and then Ms. Judy continued to drive out through the Main Gate.
Matthew was crying as he waved the last time to his older 'brother', and he burst out even louder as the Main Gate closed when the car was outside the estate. Robert quickly grabbed his younger 'brother' and hugged him. The teen knew how much Matthew looked up to Billy, and he knew the boy would feel the loss more than anyone else.
It was still early enough in the afternoon that the boys wouldn't necessarily be leaving yet. Some of the boys asked if they shouldn't leave because of what just happened. Others asked if they would still have the competitions now that Billy was gone.
Robert told everyone to head over to the Pavilion, as he had something he wanted to say. As the boys walked over there, the teen told Matthew that they will all miss Billy, and he had to give their 'dad' a chance to explain everything tonight, so he could understand why Billy was sent away.
Matthew wiped his tears and then thanked Robert for hugging him and talking to him. The youngster said he didn't understand and hoped that their 'dad' would make it simple enough that he would be able to accept why it had to happen.
When Robert arrived at the Pavilion, he stood where Billy stood when he showed them why the tables and benches were on an angle. Now Robert was going to use that to his advantage.
“Look … our older 'brother' … he might be gone because of something none of us truly understand … but … but that doesn't mean we should change what we do here at The Cove. We'll still expect you to come over at eleven and leave by six. We'll skate, swim, burn the burgers and dogs and share the barbeque duties.
“As for the competitions, Billy set it up for us, so I don't see that we should just forget all about it. All we need to do is continue to finish the boards and come Sunday, or Monday, start the challenges. Charles, Logan, Cooper and I will be the ones who will monitor the winner and loser standings. Any questions?
“As for what happened to Billy … well, our dad …he told us he'd sit down with us tonight and explain why it happened. When we knew; you'll know. So, hopefully tomorrow … the full story will come out.
“Charles and I … we sort of know some of what it is all about, but … well, we don't want to get it mixed up and then tell you something that is not true. So, give us until tomorrow. OK?
“Now, I'll need someone else to take over finishing Billy's board. So, who's got good steady handwriting? I need someone to step up and help us out. It doesn't have to be finished today. That was why Billy said Sunday or Monday to start, as there is a lot to be put on these boards, front and back,“ encouraged Robert.
Lonnie, Gabe and Jamie went over to Robert to ask about their status now that they didn't have a sponsor, as the Cover was called. Robert said he didn't know about Lonnie and Brett, but according to the new Rule Gabe and Jamie could still come by when their brothers were there.
Robert said he'd try to remember to ask his dad that question tonight, and he'd call or at least text him. The Cover made sure he had Lonnie's cell phone number.
Some of the boys did skate after Robert's little talk. Others just sat around and talked about what happened and how quickly Billy was sent packing. That was the second boy banned from The Cove. The boys knew that if they messed up, they'd be banned from The Cove just as quick, but none of them ever imagined that one of the Covers would ever be banned themselves.
Mr. Ken didn't show his face at the Main Gate that evening when the parents came to pick up their sons. The boys quickly told their moms and dads about Billy being sent away and the parents looked for Mr. Ken to ask him about it. Their boys told them that Robert said their dad would tell them more tonight and they would explain it to them tomorrow. The parents didn't have anyone else to ask, so they put their boys in their vehicles and went home.
Dinner that night was a very somber occasion. Mr. Ken briefed Momma Maria earlier and even she had tears streaking down her face as she served the Covers their dinner. None of the boys said anything while they ate.
After dinner, the Covers all headed to the Study, where Mr. Ken said he'd explain everything about Bill's removal from The Cove to them.
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