Principal Chadwick took a deep breath and let half of it out to try to relax her.
She then said, "Richard … come over here and sit and tell me what happened," a now more calm Principal Chadwick spoke, as she indicated the lad should sit in her chair.
Richard went over to the principal's chair and sat down. The rest of the lads just stood there in the doorway waiting to see what was going to happen.
"Richard, please tell me why you look this way," calmly asked Abigail Chadwick.
Richard swallowed hard and then said, "I was hurrying to catch up with Charles and the rest of my new friends when … when this older teen … he stopped me. When he did, he … he grabbed my shirt and he almost lifted me off the ground when he did that. Then … then he told me I had gotten his friend into trouble and he was mad because of what I had done.
"I told him I didn't get anyone into troubled, but he insisted I had. I then asked him … I asked who it was I got into trouble and then I asked him what his name was. He told me his friend's name was … Leah … and then he told me that his name wasn't important. Then, before he left, he told me to also tell Charles … to stay away from her and … and then he shoved me hard and a button popped off and I think he ripped my shirt," replied the lad, as he looked down at his torn shirt.
"Richard … what did this older teen look like?" asked a still calm Principal Chadwick.
"Ms. Chadwick, the teenager … he was about six feet tall and … and he had lots of acne on his cheeks, and I know and I know he was a student here last year because I remember seeing him from then," answered Richard.
"Do you remember what he was wearing, Rich?" asked Dan Chassen.
"Well … he was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and torn and faded jeans for sure. He had on open laced sneakers and some sort of chain, you know the kind people attach to a wallet, hanging out of the left side of his jeans," remembered Richard, as he described what his attacker wore.
"Did you get all that Sheriff?" asked Principal Chadwick, knowing the phone line was still open from when Dan Chassen entered her office and she was talking to them.
It was then Lieutenant Fischer entered the office.
"Principal Chadwick … what do we have going on here?" asked the newly promoted Sheriff's lieutenant, and the on-scene commander.
It was Charles who spoke up and told the man what had transpired. When the pre-teen was finished telling the story, the Lieutenant asked the adults if there was anything else. The principal told the man that a description of the attacker was already given to the sheriff's office and they were taking it from there.
By then the local news stations, who always monitor police band radios for breaking news, had set up their remote TV vans and cameras outside the school grounds and had already begun reporting from the scene, even though they had nothing to go on other than the school was currently on lock-down.
An APB (All Points Bulletin) with the description of Richard's attacker was sent out over the police band radios and before long a person of interest was being brought to the school for Richard to identify.
They didn't let the teenager see Richard, but the teen knew the youngster was the only one who would know what he looked like. After Richard identified the teenager, the officer, who had brought the teen to the school, told the teen he was being arrested for simple assault. Hearing that, the arrested teen yelled out, "I'll get you, you son-of-a-bitch! Just you wait! I'll get youuu!" could be faintly heard as the teen was taken out of the school.
The school was taken off Lock-Down and there was no immediate information disseminated as to why the Lock-Down was called. The news media did see and record the police taking a teenager into the school and then shortly bringing him out and placing him in the back of a squad car. They could see he was a juvenile, so they knew they couldn't show his face and not knowing why the teen was there they didn't want to speculate. The news crews soon left the area but they did leave a person or two to try to talk to the students to try to find out what the Lock-Down was all about.
Principal Chadwick sent all the boys back to their classrooms, but she kept Richard there while she called the lad's dad. When she got through to the man and explained what happened to Richard, Mr. Longger told the woman he would be right over. The lad and the principal waited for the man to appear.
Lieutenant Fischer also stuck around to wait and talk to Mr. Longger. Also, as being the on-scene commander, he had to brief the media otherwise they'd go ballistic about not being told anything about the Lock-Down.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please let me explain the circumstances behind this morning's Lock-Down," began Dan Fischer. "Just prior to the second bell, a teacher was informed that a student may have been attacked out on the schoolyard. The teacher, seeing the disheveled look of the lad, pressed the 'Lock-Down' button on the transmitter sending the entire school into immediate Lock-Down.
"Principal Chadwick, and her staff, did a fantastic job of implementing the Lock-Down procedures and getting all of the students into their assigned positions. Subsequently, the teacher and the attacked lad arrived at the Administrative Office and told the principal about the attack. Principal Abigail Chadwick interviewed the student while still holding open the phone line to the Sheriff's office. The attacker's description was heard by the officer over the phone and they quickly sent the attacker's details out on the police radios.
"A person of interest was quickly found and detained pending further investigation and identification. After our investigation is completed a recommendation will be given to District Attorney George Morris for possible prosecution, if warranted. Are there any questions?"
"Yes, I have one. I am Rene Vaughn from KBLY-TV and we all saw a deputy take an older teenager into the school and soon thereafter bring him out and place him in the back of his cruiser. Is that the person of interest you were talking about and what crime might eh be guilty of?" asked Rene Vaughn.
"Miss Vaughn, you, as well as your fellow reporters, well know that I cannot comment on ongoing investigations," replied Lieutenant Fischer.
"Lieutenant, we heard over the police radio a description of the supposed attacker and that teenager who was escorted into and out of the school was wearing what I would describe as the exact clothes described over the police band radio. Was that person the attacker and who was the person attacked?" asked a reporter from KCBA TV.
"The person brought to the school and then driven away did match the description of the attacker, but so do many of today's teenagers. The police will continue to search for anyone wearing the clothes and matching the description given to us by the attacked student. And, as you all well know, we cannot give out information on children whether they are the attacker or the person attacked," was how Lieutenant Fischer responded to the question.
And with that last question, Dan Fischer thanked the gathered news reporting people for their cooperation and then walked back into the school. By then a number of parents, who had heard the reports of their school being under Lock-Down, came rushing to the school to get more information. The parents didn't get much further into the school than the news reporters as the Sheriff Deputies had established a perimeter around the school and were not letting anyone inside without the Lieutenant's permission.
One parent was eventually allowed into the school, but was brought in through a side door not being monitored by either the news reporters or the parents. Frank Longger was taken to see both of his sons who he immediately grabbed into a fatherly hug.
"Richard … please tell me what happened to you and what I can do to help you avoid this in the future. Did one of those new friends of yours do this to you? Tell me Richard and tell me the truth," now loudly yelled the boy's father.
"NO, dad, it WASN'T any of my new friends. They … they were the ones who took me to Mr. Chassen to show him what happened to me. They were all around me to protect me in case the teenager came back for me. … But … he might come after me anyway, dad. He yelled out he would get me after they brought him here for me to identify him as the one who attacked me. Dad … I … I'm scared. He was a 9th grader who … he went to school here last year. That is how I knew he didn't go to school here," cried Richard.
"They let you two see one another?" quickly asked Frank Longger.
"NO, sir," spoke up Principal Chadwick. "They brought the teenager into an area that had CCTV cameras and we asked Rickard to tell us if that was his attacker. When Richard said he was, the deputy took him away. The lad did yell he would get Richard, but we don't know how he could see who identified him."
"Richie, were you the only one there when this teenager attacked you?" asked Mr. Longger.
"Yes, dad, I was the only one there," replied Richard.
"That's how his attacker knows who identified him!" exclaimed Frank.
"Dad, there is something else. He told me that I was responsible for getting his friend into trouble, but … but I didn't know who he was talking about. So, I asked him. He told me it was Leah … Leah Hoalmes. He also told me to stay away from her and …and to tell Charles to stay away, too. … Dad, why would he want to come after me like that?" Richard wanted to know.
"I don't know, son, I just don't know," calmly comforted Frank Longger, the boy's father as he hugged the boy to him.
Just then Principal Chadwick told Mr. Longger about the confrontation she and Dan Chassen observed out in the schoolyard between Leah Hoalmes and Charles. The woman told the dad about what was said and how she handled the situation. She told the man she thought that the situation was handled, but that obviously there was something going on off the school grounds she was not aware of. But now that Leah was mentioned, she will be interviewed by the authorities as the attacker has now elevated the circumstances out of her hands.
Frank Longger thanked the principal for her candor and asked Lieutenant Fischer if there was anything else he could tell him. The Sheriff's spokesman told the father that until the investigation was, further along, he didn't have anything he could add at the time.
Frank Longger took both of his sons home after the detectives talked to Richard one last time.
Leah Hoalmes had been brought to the Principal's office and was waiting for her parents to arrive before formal questioning was to begin. They eventually took the girl to the Sheriff's office as her parents insisted they have their attorney handle the questioning.
Later that afternoon, when the Cover lads returned home after school the twins hurried to the Study to tell Mr. Ken what happened at the school.
"'Dad', 'dad', 'Dad Ken'," yelled Kyle, as he ran to the Study.
"'Dad Ken, 'Dad Ken', 'dad' yelled Kevin, as he paced his twin to the Study.
Robert and Charles weren't too far behind.
"Hey there Kyle, what's all the running and yelling all about?" asked 'Dad Ken', already knowing what the twins were about to tell him.
"'Dad', 'dad', we had a Lock-Down' at school today," excitedly said Kyle.
"Is that so? Tell me about it," sort of laughed the man.
"'Dad' they rang all these other bells throughout the school and we had to take cover under our desks and … and our teacher … she locked the door, so nobody can come in," said the still excited Kyle.
"Kevin is that what happened to you too, since you are in a different room?" asked the twins' foster dad, Mr. Ken.
"I don't ever remember having all those bells ringing and us hiding under our desks at our other school, but now that we're in 6th grade, I guess things change," replied Kevin.
Robert and Charles smiled at what Kevin had to say. They had already moved up to beside the twins and 'dad' Ken looked to them for a further accounting of what happened at the school that day.
"Robert, can you tell me any more of what transpired at school today?" said Mr. Ken.
Robert looked at Charles and then back to his 'dad' and said, "'Dad', right after the first bell the Lock-Down alarms went off. We all headed to our homerooms as we were taught and got under our desks. When everyone was in the room our teacher locked the door."
"Charles … the way your 'brother' looked at you, I bet you must have some additional information you can tell me about this morning's Lock-Down," queried Mr. Ken.
Charles looked to his older 'brother' for support and then back to his 'dad'.
"'Dad' … it all started when Richard was attacked," was all Charles got out, when Mr. Ken sat up straight in his chair and said, "Charles start from the beginning and don't leave anything out!"
Charles explained everything as he knew it from the time Richard presented himself to his friends. The twelve-year-old told his 'dad' how they sought out Mr. Chassen and it was he, who touched off the Lock-Down. Charles also told the man how the teacher took all the boys to Principal Chadwick's office and how Richard told the principal what happened and then how he described his attacker and what he wore.
Charles told his 'dad' about Mr. Dan being there and taking control of all the deputies that surrounded the school and the questioning of Richard. The pre-teen also told Mr. Ken how they called for Leah to come to the Principal's Office. I guess so she could tell them what she knew about an older teen attacking Richard and having the teen tell Richard and me to stay away from her.
"Charles … how did you get involved in all this?" asked Mr. Ken.
"'Dad' … don't you remember when I told you about all us kids having to go to the principal's office? Well, it was Leah Hoalmes … she was the one who said something about me … that I was going to find out very soon that I was a nothing. She also said that Richard and/or me will say something to her, or her friends, that will get us into big trouble. Then, she also called us both losers. She also said she knew people who could make Richard's life more miserable than it already was. I guess … I guess she tried to make good on her threat," finished Charles.
"Oh, Charles," said Mr. Ken, as he came around the desk and hugged the lad. "I wish there was something I could do about people like her. 'Son' there are those types of people who will eventually be the ones who get themselves into trouble because of what they say or even do."
Robert then went over to Charles and told him about the girls in his class who practically did the same thing and they even had him attacked at the water park at the beginning of summer. The twins ears perked up upon hearing that and they both looked at one another with surprise.
"Kevin, Kyle … boys … it seems that when a foster kid starts to live here things happen to them. It appears there are children, kids that is, out there who don't like the idea of the new kid living in the 'lap of luxury' and they go out of their way to make their lives miserable. It might not start out that way, but eventually, something happens that causes a problem for my foster kid.
"For Collin, it was a bunch of seniors and juniors that took it upon themselves to disinvite him from 'their´ high school by attacking him at school one day. Then, there was Robert who was attacked at lunch and then later at the water park. Now, it appears that Charles, he might have run afoul of a bunch of kids who are out to make trouble for him even though he only started school at the beginning of the school year.
"Kevin and Kyle … I want you to be vigilant and prepared for anything that can happen at school," started 'Dad Ken'. "I know it isn't fair to tell you this but … well, I figured it was just an anomaly that both Collin and Robert were attacked and injured because of some of the students they went to school with.
"You two are the new kids on the block, so to speak, and now that you are living here you very well might be singled out because some kids think you are the 'rich' kid and are spoiled and get anything you want. But what they do not know is that you are only living here for the time being and will be going back to live with your parents when they get out of the hospital."
"'Dad' should we tell the kids at school that we'll go back to living with our parents when they get out of the hospital?" asked Kyle.
"That might not be a bad idea, Kyle. If the kids know you're not living here permanently then maybe they'll leave you both alone. Let's hope that will be the case. You both do know that you may very well be living here with me and your 'brothers' until school gets out next year. Right?" asked 'Dad Ken'.
"Yes, sir, I think you told us that, or maybe it was Ms. Judy, but we both knew we'd be here a long time," answered Kevin.
"Boys, do you have any questions for me before you go search out Momma and get your after-school snack?" smiled Mr. Ken, as he asked the question. "Oh, and when you're finished I want you all to go up and get your weekend homework done."
"Why 'Dad Ken'?" asked Kevin.
"Well, if you get it done now, you won't have to do it when your 'brothers' are having fun swimming or riding their skateboards. Your friends will be over tomorrow and Sunday and I know you'll be too tired to get your homework done before you go to bed. Plus, what else do you have to do before dinner?" explained Mr. Ken.
Kevin and then Kyle said they understood and Kyle added that he thought it made sense. All four Cover lads then headed to the Kitchen Nook to look for Momma Maria and their snack.
Ken Thomas felt like he was in a quandary. He couldn't get over the fact that every boy who came to live there at Three Fingers Cove, with the exception of the twins, had something, someone, cause trouble for them. He felt there wasn't anything he could do other than home school the lads, but he knew that wouldn't work out because he had to be available to work his projects and, besides, he didn't feel the boys would want to do that. He knew he needed to come up with a plan. But what could he do?
After the Cover lads finished their snacks, they headed up to their bedrooms to get their weekend homework done and over with. Kevin still wasn't all that happy he had to get his homework done, but he knew he had no choice. Kyle just told his twin to get it done because they didn't know what kind of punishment their foster dad would do to them for disobeying him. Kevin relented and took out his books and started his lessons.
The phone rang at Mr. Ken's desk right after the boys left. It was Landon's mom, Laura, calling to confirm the invitation for her son to go over to Three Finger Cove tomorrow. Mr. Ken assured her the invite was genuine and that Landon should bring his skateboard, a swimsuit and towel, and a change of clothes if need be.
The Coves owner told Laura that her son could arrive at about noon and could be expected to stay until about 5 or 6. Mr. Ken also told the woman that he and his 'sons' would feed her lad hot dogs and hamburgers later in the day.
Laura Jennison was very appreciative about her son being invited to Three Finger Cove and she told Mr. Ken that her son had always wanted to try out the new skateboard ramps he had installed last year. She also told The Cove's owner she was totally surprised the man would also feed him. Mr. Ken told Mrs. Jennison that after the kids skated and then swam they'd be extremely hungry, and that he's always made it a point to have something for the boys to eat.
Landon's mom also wanted to know how many other kids would be there for her son to play with. Mr. Ken told her that Kevin and Kyle each invited 2 boys their age, but that Sam and Terran, two other kids in her son's class, would also be there along with their older brothers.
Mr. Ken then told the woman that his other foster sons, Robert and Charles, would also have a few friends over. When Laura persisted to know how many children would be there Mr. Ken told her that along with her son, and the other three lads invited for the day, there could be as many as 20 boys, or more, in ages from 11 to 13.
Mrs. Jennison then became concerned about the large number of children that would be skating on the ramps and then she asked Mr. Ken if he would be watching her son and the other children when they swam. Mr. Ken was ready for that question. He told the woman that he hired four lifeguards to watch over the boys when they swam out in the lagoon and played on the water rafts. He also told Landon's mom that the boys have set up a system to allow each lad to skate without being in the way of the other skaters.
Laura Jennison told Mr. Ken that she was happy with everything that was set up for the day and would get her son over to the estate around twelve noon. Mr. Ken then thought about telling her about the guards, but figured he'd meet the parents up at the Main Gate and explain the reason they are there.
Over the next hour, or so, Mr. Ken received seven more phone calls that went essentially like the one from Landon's mom. The parents all said they'd have their son's over to Three Finger Cove around twelve noon.
At dinner that night, the lads talked some more about what happened to Richard at school that morning and the Lock-Down. The twins then speculated about what might happen to Charles if the big kid came after him. It was Kevin who then wanted to know more about what happened to Robert when he was attacked at school and the water park. After they heard some more about Robert's troubles, Kevin remembered 'Dad Ken' said he'd finish Collin's story so he asked his foster dad if he'd tell the rest of the story after dinner.
"'Dad', isn't Mr. Stewart coming over tonight?" asked Robert.
"No, Robert, he called and told me he and Bill will just have to work harder tomorrow morning. Actually, they wanted to review what Mr. Chris had gathered together about Mildred and how she dealt with the contracts. It looks like she skimmed more money from them than Mr. Chris originally thought. We'll learn more in the morning.
Upon hearing the lady who used to work there took money from 'Dad Ken', the twins asked a few more questions about the woman and what she'd done. Mr. Ken told the boys he'd answer all their questions in his Study as Momma Maria needed to clean up the Kitchen Nook and get home.
"Boys, where do you want me to start? Collin? Mildred? Or, do you want Robert to tell more about his troubles when he started school last year?' spoke up 'dad Ken to the four lads sitting there in his Study.
Kevin and Kyle looked to one another and then they looked to Robert and Charles. It was Robert who told the twins that it was they who wanted to know more about Collin's story and about Mildred, or even more about his story, so they had to decide which story they wanted to know about. Kevin and Kyle looked at one another again and Kyle indicated that Kevin should decide, since he was the one who was asking.
"'Dad Ken', ahh, since your lawyers are talking to you about this Mildred person, can you tell us more about what she did?" asked Kevin.
Mr. Ken looked out at all four lads and then replied, "Sure, I guess since you are living here and this will probably get into the news media, in one form or another, you should know some of what happened."
Right after Mr. Ken said that to the lads, he opened his computer and typed a few characters and when a folder he had hidden on the Private Server opened, he asked all four boys to stand behind him and look over his shoulder. The man then clicked on a video file.
"Boys, I don't think even Robert has seen this video. You're going to see he is the main character in the video. He actually DID experience everything you are about to see in this video. Nothing here is planned or choreographed and the date and time stamp are in the lower right corner for legal issues," explained 'dad' Ken.
As the video started to play, Robert's mouth opened wide at seeing all the things that Mildred Johnston had done to him. Just about every time the old household manager had interacted with the then twelve-year-old seemed to be in the video. It wasn't until near the end of the 25-minute video that the altercation that got Mildred arrested was shown.
"'Dad', did all that stuff happen?" asked an excited Kyle.
"Yes, 'son' what you see is what you get and Robert, well he was the reluctant star in all those videos," replied 'dad' Ken.
"'Dad', how did you get all those videos of Ms. Johnston, you know, of her smacking me and pulling my ear and pushing me around like that?" asked an incredulous Robert.
"'Son', you know I have about 50 cameras all around the property watching certain areas like all the entrance doors, the main hallways and living areas, the garage, the kitchen and the outside areas. After your altercation with Mildred in the kitchen, Ms. Judy and I went through all the video footage from the time you arrived and we collected the video from every time she and you had some sort of interaction," explained 'dad' Ken.
"But why haven't I ever seen this video?" then asked Robert.
"Well, I decided you didn't need to relive all the things she did to you," answered 'dad' Ken.
"But, why now?" quickly asked Robert.
"Well, Robert, we are going to use this video in court when it is our turn to counteract Mildred's assertions," answered Mr. Ken. "But, we had intended to show the video to you tomorrow so you wouldn't be surprised at the trial."
"Dang, Robert," voiced Kevin, "I can't believe she did all those things to you. Why didn't you say something to 'Dad Ken' that she was hitting you?"
Robert looked to Mr. Ken to see if he should answer. Mr. Ken just smiled at the lad and then nodded to indicate it was the boy's decision, not his. Robert knew he was the one who had to answer the question.
"Kevin, Kyle … the reason I didn't tell Mr. Ken at the time was … I didn't want to cause him any more trouble between him and Ms. Johnston. I knew how much he relied on her and so …. I just decided that if I said anything she'd make it out to be I hated her and then I'd be the one who had to leave and not her.
"I … I had begun to enjoy living here and I thought I could deal with … with all the little things she was doing to me, like punching me and pushing me and all the other things, so I could continue to live here. The things she was doing to me weren't all that bad and I never thought she'd go as far as she did that last time with that big spoon.
"I am glad that Chief came running fast and barking up a storm, when she did. Chief was there to stop her, weren't you girl," said Robert, as he stopped to scratched behind Chief's ears. "Then 'dad' came in and took the spoon away from her. He then called Doc Powers who I guess called Officer Dan and Ms. Johnston was arrested."
"Well, what happened to her then?" asked Kyle.
'Dad Ken' took that question and told the twins that Mildred was charged with attacking Robert. That when it came time for her hearing she was given a suspended sentence for her offense to be expunged if after a year she didn't get into any more trouble.
"What does expunged mean, 'dad'?" asked Kyle.
"Well, Kyle, the word 'expunged' means, in this case, that her offense would be completely erased or removed from her criminal record," Mr. Ken started to explain. "She'd have to be good for the year until she could then apply to the courts to have her conviction record 'sealed', or erased, making the record unavailable to people who do any background investigation about her."
"But why did they do that 'dad'?" further asked Kyle.
Hearing Kyle use 'dad' twice in a short period of time, Kevin spoke up and blurted out, "Why do YOU keep calling 'Dad Ken' 'dad' ALL THE TIME, Kyle?"
Kyle was taken aback by the outburst and told his brother, "I didn't realize I called Mr. Ken 'dad', but I don't care if I did. Mr. Ken is OUR 'dad' for now, and he will be until our real dad and mom comes back to get us, and then we'll all go back to living together. But even then he won't be MY REAL DAD because he always does stuff with you and, and he never asks me to go along." With that said, Kyle ran out of the Study crying.
Kevin started to go after his twin but Robert held him back. Mr. Ken, hearing and seeing what just occurred, had also gotten up from his desk and had begun to go after the young twin. After the man was out the door, Robert told Kevin that he should let their 'dad' go after his brother and talk to him and help him as that was what he was good at doing.
Kevin looked at Robert and then to Charles and asked them why they thought his brother would say what he did. Robert and Charles shrugged their shoulders indicating they didn't know why Kyle said what he did. Kevin wasn't ready to 'hear' that and then he started crying and ran out of the room.
Robert and Charles ran after the older twin and caught up to him in the Meeting-Reading-Sitting (MRS) Room and when they caught up to the lad Robert told the twin he had no idea why Kyle said what he did. The teenager also told the twin that Mr. Ken was real good at getting to the bottom of things, and he should let the man and his brother have time to talk. Kevin said he would.
The older twin then asked Robert if he thought if Mr. Ken would continue telling them Collin's story that he'd begun earlier that week. All Robert did was shake his head and then tell Kevin that right then there were more important things to be done than have their 'dad' tell them a story. Robert and Charles then both left the MRS Room and went up to their rooms. Kevin was left standing there all by himself.
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