Chapter22
Trouble Finds Me.
With the party winding down, I thought I would feel cheated for losing that hour and a half and not being able to have sex with Fran. Yet I had no regrets just more worries about how I was going to juggle one more thing onto my already full plate. The other worries I had were once more I was angry because of Shawn and once more I was cleaning up his mess.
Once again, I questioned how many boys have they raped before they were stopped? I doubted I would ever get the answer out of him, even if I beat it out of him. But the idea did intrigue me as I thought about breaking every bone in his body and hearing his bones snap like a twig and his screams echoing as I rammed that hot poker up his butt, for payment due to what he and his friends had done.
The other question I had was if Jeff was still helping me. If so, why hasn't he told me in person? It has been over two years since I had a face-to-face conversation with the guy or ghost. Yet I had the feeling that something bad was coming and had had it for a very long time. I questioned if it was Jeff contacting me by putting these boys in my path to see if I could help them when I could barely help myself. Or keep my head above the water as if I was slowly drowning.
Again, just for a quick moment, I felt like the world was spinning out of control. I took a seat to catch my breath when I realized my mother still hadn't come back. I grew angry at myself for not even to think for a single moment that my mother could be in danger and angered me because I didn't think to ask.
I searched the crowd, finding no hint of my mother. I began to panic even more, finding she hadn't even come back, and it had been over three hours. Not even the Cranny's were here, knowing they had left about the same time Mom and Dad had. Jody saw the panic in my eyes as she saw how white and scared, I was.
Watching me searching for someone. She knew something was wrong by the way I was shaking as I quickly dressed with the phone in one hand, dressing myself with the other. The only thing I didn't have access to be my shoes and socks being locked inside Greg's room and there was no time in hunting down the key so I could get them. It's not the first time I had run around town barefoot and most likely would never be my last.
The phone at my mother's house kept ringing, and my panic grew even more. I cursed and said. "Jody, take me home. Something's wrong. My mother hasn't returned, and no one is picking up the phone." She gave me a worried look and nodded and dressed quickly. I found Stringham and Bishop Earl and told them where I was going. I saw them cringe and realizing like me they hadn't noticed my mother missing.
How could they when they had a million other things to attend to? Bishop Earl wasted no time, and neither did Mr. Stringham. They didn't bother with clothing as they each grabbed a robe from the closet as Bishop Earl grabbed the car keys. Telling his wife that my mother was missing had been for over three hours. She said Aaron too wasn't here that the Cranny's had taken him with them when they left with all their kids.
My panic grew even more. Now finding Aaron too was missing. Bishop Earl peeled out of the driveway as we headed for my mother's house. When we arrived, the front door was wide open, and the lights were out and only my mother's car sat in the driveway.
Not even a police car was in sight, which said something bad had happened. True, I wasn't home. I was at the party, and they knew no harm would come to me there. Bishop Earl and Mr. Stringham told me to stay in the car.
Jody stated the obvious asking me if the Cranny's were spending the weekend here with my mother. I shrugged my shoulder said. "Far as I knew they were, but I had thought that Paul and his boys were staying overnight, and his wife and two children were going home. And he was planning to bring my mother with him on Monday."
She asked me if I knew where they lived. I shook my head as I watched Mr. Stringham run back out of the house. He looked scared. He grabbed my wrist where my watch was and hit the panic button. Telling me my mother wasn't inside only Paul was. He'd been tranquilized and tied up, and his two boys and my brother were locked inside my room.
I breathed a sigh of relief finding my brother safe, watching Bishop Earl walking out completely naked as the three boys were only dressed in a pair of boxers and a shirt, bringing the boys out had them sit in the car as we waited for help. First thing I noticed was the blindfolds around their eyes. That Bishop Earl had ripped strips of his robe to create them, and Paul wasn't among them. As I watched Bishop Earl removed their blindfolds, I could hear the sirens making their way into the neighborhood.
Bishop Earl was shaking as I watched his hands tremble to make a quick waist-robe out of what was left of his robe. Then I noticed the blood on his arms and hands and his knees. Even the boys had blood on their clothes. I was about to get out when Stringham told me not to get out of the car for any reason. Asking me the same questions Jody did regarding the Cranny's stay.
The Cranny boys filled in the missing pieces. That they had been here maybe thirty minutes after their mother dropped them off when all hell broke loose. Just long enough to find out that my sisters weren't home, and my mother went to find out why watching someone pick her up and drive off. That in itself brought up a question. Why would my mother call for a ride rather than take her car? Aaron's said when they asked that the car had broken down and Paul was fixing it but was waiting on parts that wouldn't be in until sometime next week.
Robert and Michael continued on to what else had happened and said there was a loud banging on the door as men wearing black ski masks kicked in the front door. Their Dad told them to run to my room and lock the door, knowing it was the safest place in the house. They heard fighting as their Dad yelled, telling them not to open the door for any reason. Then he slumped against the door.
The other question I had but didn't ask was how they unlocked my bedroom door when I was the only one in the house that had a key. I knew Stringham and Bishop Earl had a key and so did the police officers and Officer Kenly. Stringham and Bishop Earl were at the party and Officer Kenly and family were out of town and wouldn't be back until Monday night.
Soon after there were noises everywhere in the house, they opened the bedroom to see what was going on after not hearing anything from their Dad, but when they opened the door, he fell in the doorway. He was out cold and tied up and naked covered with blood, not his.
It took all three of them to bring him inside the room. As the men in black ski mask yelled to their friends to help them open my door, demanding them to open the door or they would break it open. Also wanting to know where I was and Jake, as well as his brother Billy and Adam. That if they came out no harm would come to them. They just wanted them. So, they could deal with our demon souls and send us back to hell where we belonged.
Aaron told them they weren't here and far as he knew they were at the party, and that there was no way they could break into my room once the door was locked. They tried everything to get in, but just in case they moved the dresser and the bed against the door. Before they could break down the door, unsure if it would really hold them out. The window was shatterproof as they watched men trying to break it unsuccessful. They left quickly hearing police sirens soon after Aaron had picked up the phone and dialed for help.
It was soon after when we came, and Mr. Stringham unlocked the door, telling them the coast was clear. Their Dad was still out cold, and they couldn't untie the knots in the dark because the power was out, and they had nothing in the room to cut them with. It wasn't long before the police started to line up in front of the house as Mr. Stringham and Bishop Earl repeated everything the boys said.
I watched as Officer Walter Kane pulled up with his partner Officer Knox, both officers I knew. Well, I knew Officer Knox more than Officer Kane who I had briefly met the last time I was home. He quickly got the jest what had happened. I did too as the headlights shone against the house. I cringed seeing the graffiti spray painted with satanic markers. Just like the ones that had been painted on my Rothwells home, and throughout my little neighborhood.
Bishop Earl tossed Jody the keys to the car and told her to take us back to his house and tie me down if she had to. Yeah, like that was going to happen, as I quickly got out of the car only to be shoved inside a police car by three policemen one of them being officer Knox. Warning me if I even thought about going inside the house, they would make damn sure that wasn't going to happen as Officer Knox and his partner spun the handcuffs around their fingers. Telling me I don't want to see the mess inside the house that would give me more nightmares than I already had, and besides my mother wasn't home and neither were my sisters.
Which was true, as I slumped down into my seat and listened to the police scanner as Officer Knox put an all-points bulletin (APB) out on my mother. And sending someone to contact Mrs. Cranny regarding her whereabouts and inform her they had their husband and her boys, and both were safe at the moment, as they waited for the paramedics to attend to their Dad. Who was still out cold, but on a stretcher untied and covered with a blood-soaked sheet?
I really didn't need to know more than that. I knew without a doubt that Crawford was behind it. I knew they had all the information about where I lived. After all, it was no secret. Anyone could have figured that out with a little digging. Hell, it was on my church records and on my school records, besides the phone book. It seemed it didn't matter where I went trouble would always find me.
After the boys had given their statements and Bishop Earl rode in the ambulance with Paul, telling Officer Knox and Kane to take me back to his house for safekeeping. Stringham climbed in beside me, smiling as if it was just a joy ride in a police car. The fact that my watch was still blink said that they didn't really care if my adoptive parent's phone was ringing off the hook or that my caseworker had been alerted and also my grandmother.
All I could do was watch Jody follow us from behind. I suggested several spots where my mother might be, but nothing would get them to refrain from their destination. Telling me they'll send others to go look for my mother the second I was secured where no one could get to me or my brother and my friends.
It still didn't make me feel any better because of not knowing where my mother was. I could have cared less about my father or my sisters. Mostly it was Susan and my father I didn't care about, providing that Becky wasn't putting on a show stating she was on the verge of turning over a new leaf. Yet I still questioned my mother regarding that as well. Trust is earned, and so far, my mother has earned some. Becky hadn't, not yet anyway.
The first thing I noticed was the police cars blocking off the street. The moment we had arrived they opened the barricade and let us through and re-closed it. All I heard was that so far there was no trouble, and they were only letting people out not in. Why would there be? Providing if they were stupid enough to show up here in the first place? When there are lots of people here, that could most likely stop them.
Besides the fact by the time, they would have gotten here, the place would have been surrounded by police in a matter of minutes. It wasn't long before we pulled into Bishop Earl's driveway. I could hear the music still echoing in the backyard as I was quickly ushered in and told to sit on the couch. Having Jody and Cindy babysit me, as well as Mr. Stringham. He smiled as he patted me on the knee, pretending to be unconcern other than to make sure I didn't move.
I had been informed that my caseworker was on her way and so were my adoptive parents and each of the boy's parents. As Officer Knox removed my watch with his pocketknife and took it off me. I cringed when he took his baton and beat the living hell out of it. Complaining that it was a worthless piece of crap, the fact that it was new meant nothing, that an anti-tranquilizer was running through my veins made the watch useless, anyway. True, the anti-tranquilizer could be replaced easily enough and Dad had extra just in case this happened.
The only thing I knew it worked, and I cringed as he smashed it into a million pieces, just because they didn't have the key or the code to reset it. If only we had cell phones where all they had to do was call my Dad and get the code, but no. All they could do was get the satisfaction that it worked. Instead, pounding on the neighbor's door in the middle of the night to call for help.
They pushed the panic button to bring in the Calvary to my unneeded rescue as I sat there safe and secure inside Bishop Earl's car. While those same neighbors were wakened up, anyway. True, who's not to say if they weren't the ones that called the police in the first place, and they were already enroute to save me?
Not that I am complaining other than the fact I liked my new watch and now it would be a least a week if not longer before I got a new one. They aren't cheap, and I knew money didn't grow on trees. Dad always made sure I had one whenever I visited my mother. Now once again we were counting on that my father wouldn't take advantage of it and try to do something stupid. Well, that might be a little too late. Considering no one has found him or my sisters or my mother, for that matter. At least no one is saying anything. Other than I am told to sit on the couch until further notice, as my brother Aaron and the Cranny boys are being cleaned up and re-questioned.
It wasn't long before my caseworker arrived, seeing me sitting like a prisoner. She didn't ask if I was harmed. She only asked if they found my mother and asked to please let me call my grandmother before she went out of her mind with worry.
I had to admit that was the least they could have done the moment I walked into the house, but no, here I sat and told not to move a single inch from the couch. Personally, they could have let me join my friends out on the patio, but they didn't want me to frighten them with the news that our troubles had followed us here. Again, I had to admit that was the best idea as of yet.
I quickly picked up the phone and called my grandmother who had picked up on the first ring regardless of if it was a little after two in the morning. She breathed a sigh of relief hearing my voice before she laid into me for not calling her the very moment my watch notified her, letting her know that the panic button had been pushed.
Several times, I had to pull the phone away from my ear before she caused me to go deaf. I waited for her to get it out of her system as I watched our guests leave out the side gate the moment. They were handed back their clothes and dressed, while someone took over handing them a flyer about the next party on the list. The party was officially over, and I didn't really get the opportunity to dance with anyone on my list or use my tent. If my father was standing in front of me, I would deck him for ruining everything.
I had learned from my grandmother that my mother had called her to inform her that he and my sisters were missing and had been since nine a.m. when she dropped them both off at the church house. Knowing he had come home because he had searched my room and the house while his daughters packed a suitcase. Finding them missing out of their closets when she came home to find out why Becky didn't show up to the party, with Evan or Jim Bob and their sisters that Bishop Earl was throwing.
That was when she talked to them. They had found the church house locked and as well as nobody home. So, they came to the party without her. By that time, it was nearly eight p.m. and now it was past two in the morning. We all questioned if this was all connected or if this was something entirely different.
Grandma said to call her when we knew more, giving a list of relatives that my father has contacted in the past who lived out of state. Stating if she finds them before she does, she'll call us. Then when we bring them home, he was going to get a hell of a butt kicking. That he'd be lucky if he sat down for a year. Like I said before Grandma seldom leaves the house anymore and the fact she doesn't drive doesn't help.
It was almost three-thirty a.m. when Bishop Earl came home with Paul, both wearing hospital scrubs and barefoot. He said Paul would live with a mild headache from the animal tranquilizer they used on him and asked if we had heard anything from his wife or my mother.
We all shook our heads as Greg's mother updated them. Only to have to repeat everything when my adoptive parents and my friend's parents walked in the door, asking what the hell was going on. Watching Mom quickly lifted off my shirt and had me turn around so she and Dad could inspect me.
The fact that Bishop Earl said I was fine wasn't good enough until they saw it for themselves. They didn't apologize, just handed me back my shirt so I could put it back on as they repeated all that had transpired. Which wasn't much other than the fact they were unsure if it was all connected. Something told me it wasn't. After all, it's not the first time my father has tried something like this.
Mrs. Earl made up sleeping arrangements for the Cranny boys and my brother down in the basement where they wouldn't be disturbed. Dad was having Kerry and her husband watch my three brothers and the house while he and Mom rushed back here only to find out that I wasn't the one in trouble. He cringed when Officer Knox handed him the watch inside a plastic sandwich bag. Telling him it had malfunctioned well that was what the report was going to say. So, the company would simply replace it for free. Dad said. "You have no idea how many times I have given that line to them do you?"
Mr. Stringham said. "Tell them if they don't replace it, you will be taking your business elsewhere?"
Dad gave a tired, heavy sigh, mumbling. "He only had it for three days."
My caseworker said as she plumped down in the nearest seat. "Well, now that you're here Mr. Mrs. Rothwell, my services are no longer needed. Considering you are his parents, and he is certainly in no danger and is unharmed … Physically," she paused and cringed when she saw me, noting it was in poor taste. Stating the fact, that I was physically ok, it was the mental part they were unsure of.
According to her, I wasn't her problem anymore; I was the Rothwell's problem considering they had adopted me and signed on the dotted line. The only reason she was here was because neither of my parents was at the time of the crisis. Even the Cranny boys had at least one parent here, and my brother wasn't her concern when my mother had in the past let my adoptive parents step in where needed.
She quickly picked up her briefcase and made her way to the door and turned around and said. "Perhaps, Mr. Rothwell, maybe we should discontinue the use of the monitoring devices on your son. He hasn't yet really needed it in over the last two years as often it has malfunctioned, causing everyone to panic for no reason."
Bishop Earl, Dad, Mr. Stringham, and I all said at the same time. "That's not going to happen."
Mr. Stringham stood up and said. "And I can guarantee he'll have a new one before he even leaves this house if I have anything to do with it. Or he is put somewhere safe."
She nodded and said. "Very well then, good night, gentlemen."