Chapter 9

Randal - Chapter 9

"I don't understand." Neither did she, but she waited on Anastasia to tell them again. There was too much going on, and her dad's arrest record was just a tiny part of it. Laney watched her dad as he laid there in the bed, and wanted to ask him again if he was sure that Rosemarie was out of his life. "You're telling me that if I tell you all the things we did together, you'll take my name off that record there and I'll be a free man?"

"Not free. You'll have to do some community service and some work around the town. While you'll be paid for your time, you won't be in jail. And if you're okay with that after a few months, then we'll find you something permanent." He nodded then looked at Laney as Anastasia continued. "This is a good deal for you, Lance. Not only will you be able to see your daughters, but you'll be able to stay healthy and safe. However, Rosemarie is going to prison. If only for the attempted murder of Heather."

"I didn't know she was going to do that." Anastasia said that she knew that too. He looked at Laney. There was sadness there, but she was afraid to believe that it was for her and not a ploy for her to do something for him. "Will you let me see you once in a while? I don't mean all the time. I know that I've messed up badly with you, and Heather, but I'd like to know you some. If you'll let me."

"I don't know." He nodded. Laney wasn't going to go that far with him right now. She was too hurt and too upset with both of them. "You might not have had anything to do with that woman taking Heather, but your plan all along was to take her. And to hurt her."

"Never to hurt. I mean, not in my head, no, never to hurt. And I think, now that I've stepped away from her, I'm beginning to think that a lot of things that she had me believing wasn't true." Laney nodded. "Honey, you have no idea how profoundly sorry I am about all of this. I've had a real eye opener, and I plan to make it my life's work to make it up to you."

"We'll just take this one day at a time, if you don't mind. I have a lot of hurt built up, Dad, and while I know that you're going to try, you hurt me." He said that he understood, and she could see his hurt. But this wasn't about her and him, it was about his release. "Anastasia, you're telling him that all he has to do is tell you everything that they were involved in or heard about with Rosemarie, correct? And then he won't serve any jail time? Are you sure that won't be taken from him once he starts telling you what they did? I mean, I know you're saying that now, but it could be really bad."

"Some of it is." Laney nodded at her. "Some of it would put them both in prison for all their lives. But in this, we're willing to cut a huge deal for two reasons. One, and I know you might not see it that way, but it's for you. Noah and I, and some others, think that you need a chance to have him in your life. The second reason is, we know what they did, both of them, but without help in a physical sense, she'll only get a few years for attempted murder. She'll claim, with her attorney, that she was insane at the time because her lover had been taken from her. It'll work too. No one will believe that she only did this to get back at you. They'll believe her simply because she's nuts."

Laney laughed a little and Anastasia laughed with her. Her dad, however, looked afraid. Not that she blamed him, but there was something so broken about him that she wanted to tell him it would be all right. And maybe it would, but she wasn't going to let him into her heart again only to have him stomp all over it.

"I'll do it. I'll tell you everything that you want to know. Some things you probably don't know about." Anastasia told him that she knew it all because she'd read his mind. "All right then, I'm guessing that you can ask me about it and I'll tell you. But I have to tell you now, some of it I might not be too clear on. I've been a drunk for a long time now."

"And that is why when you started to have the withdrawal symptoms, I helped you. I need to get this information now, and if I have to wait until you're clean, it'll be too late. Rosemarie will be tried on the kidnapping and that is all." He nodded and thanked her again. "You fuck me over, Lance, and not only will I give it back to you, the detox and the sickness, but I'll double it and you'll fucking die from it."

Laney left after Chloe showed up. There wasn't a lot of room in the hospital area for her and the men that were running the camera equipment, as well as the two women. She told her dad that she'd be back to take him home later, and he thanked her. Laney wanted to hug him, feel his strong arms around her again, but was afraid. Not of him, but the hurt of it. Instead, she left.

I was wondering if you'd like to meet me at the house. Laney smiled when Randal spoke to her. I have a powerful need to see you naked, laying out over our bed while I devour you.

You do know that I have a meeting with your mom and grandma at noon, right? He said that he told his mom that she would be late, very late. And what did you tell her was the reason I was going to be late? Surely you didn't tell her what you just told me.

No, God no. I told her that you and I had to talk about your father and some of the things that were going on with him. She asked him if he was in the habit of lying to his mom. No, and she'd murder me either way, telling her the truth or the lie, so I went with the lie. I'll be able to look her in the eye.... Do you think we could not talk about my mom right now?

She laughed. It felt good to do it, and she loved him all the more for it. I'm on my way home now. As soon as I drop off the things at the post office. He told her he'd be in their room. Also, I do have one thing to ask you before you make me forget again. What about my things in Vegas? I do need to go and pick them up.

Damn, I forgot. Trent had someone go in and pack it all up for you, and it's on its way here. He said that he would put it in one of the units that he has in town until we decide to go through it. I'd wait for a bit. Also, he had all the food donated to the local shelter, which he said wasn't much, and your plants aren't going to survive out here so he did the same with them. She'd have to thank him for that. I'm naked and waiting for you.

Christ, the things you make me feel. I have to drive there, so no more naked talk. He laughed and she told him she was not going anywhere but straight home. You make me crazy, you know that?

Yes, but you love me so that's all that matters. And she did. With all her heart. Just be careful, and know that I'm right here, waiting.

Driving home wasn't too bad, but since she was inexperienced in driving in the snow, it was hard for her to keep going. The sidewalks and streets were clear, but the slushy stuff had frozen overnight and she was a little afraid. By the time she made it home, she was not only exhausted, but on edge. Gathering her things, she made her way into the house. Heather was there waiting on her.

"I need forty-six dollars, please." She asked her for what. "There is a girl at school that needs to have a transplant, and they said it would cost forty-six dollars."

"Let me see it." When she ran to get her pad that she'd gotten for Christmas, Randal came down the stairs. She pouted at him when he shrugged.

"She came home about a minute after I talked to you. Trent said that he had an emergency with the pack or he would have kept her all day."

"I'm sorry." He said it was fine, that they'd be together for the rest of their lives. Heather came in with her little computer and showed her the article. "Honey, it says that she needs forty-six thousand. Not forty-six dollars."

She looked so disappointed that it broke her already tender heart. "I thought we could really help her. She's one of my friends I play with at recess."

Randal explained to them both that they were having the pack pay for most of it. And that the rest of it was going to be in charity donations. She wondered if that was what her meeting with the other two women was about, and decided that she would take Heather with her, to be involved.

"Well, if it's all right with you guys, I'm headed to a meeting." She kissed Randal when he pouted like she had. "I'll be back, alone, later. I'm taking Heather with me, if you don't mind."

"No. I'm sure that she might find it fun to hang out with my grandma and mom." He stood up off the step he'd been sitting on. "I'm going to find my grandda and find out what he's up to. He mentioned something about going to find a building to use for a storefront. And he wants me to look over his new camper. Then, I'd like to meet my four favorite ladies in town and take them out to dinner."

When they were in the car again, she asked Heather if she was all right. She shrugged, a sure sign that things were not okay. Laney was still nervous about what had happened to her two days ago, but for now she seemed to be just fine. But it was the extra magic, a great deal of it she'd been told, that was making her little sister a little on edge.

They had decided to keep her dad in the hospital for a few more days. Not that he was ill or anything, but they thought they'd have better control over who came to see him there. He'd been hurting when she'd arrived that morning…the shakes and the pain of withdrawal were horrendous. But with a touch from Anastasia, he not only was better but he didn't hurt any longer. Laney did wonder if he was an immortal like they were, and would have to ask. Heather sighed heavily and spoke, bringing her out of her own thoughts.

"Can I make her better?" Laney said she had no idea really what it was she could do. "If I could, I'd make sure that no kids got hurt or sick anymore. And that they got to live with people that loved them, like you and Randal do with me."

"We love you too." She said thanks, but Laney knew her sister well enough by now to know that there was more to this than just that. But she let her muddle it through before bringing it up again. Instead, she told her what they were doing. "I've decided to work with Grandma on some projects around town. They help with getting presents for the kids that might not get anything if not for them. Also, supplies for school."

"Mom did that, put me on those lists. But I never got to play with the toys and stuff. Her and Dad would take them to sell for their things." If Laney didn't hate her sister before, she certainly did more and more all the time. "And the school supplies were nice too. I got to use them, but I never had no money for fees and stuff. And I wasn't allowed to go on the trips either. Mom said it was a conpursey." She wasn't sure what that was and then it hit her.

"A conspiracy? I doubt very much that there was any sort of thing like that going on. And when the weather gets warmer, we'll go to those places you missed. All right?" Heather said she'd really like that, and asked if she could take a friend. "Of course, so long as her mom is okay with it."

"Aunt Laney, can I call you Mom? You're not really my aunt either, but that's what I always called you." She nearly drove off the road, she'd been so startled by her question. "And Mr. Randal, I know he's not going to be my teacher anymore, and that's really sad, but I want to call him Dad too. Do you think he'll care?"

"No, I don't think he would. You know that we're going to adopt you, correct?" She said that she did and was excited about that. "Your last name will be Calhoun, just like mine, and we'll be your parents. Just like Benson's parents."

"But they're going to let him keep his last name because his mom and dad were really super nice." She said that she'd heard that as well. "He'll be my cousin, and so will Aunt Noelle's babies too."

They talked about the babies on the way to the luncheon, and decided that Heather would like seventy sisters but no brothers. The two of them were still laughing as they entered the nice restaurant and were seated. Laney thought she could get used to this, just hanging out with people that knew how to have fun.

~*~

Rosemarie wasn't sure what was going on. Yes, she was in jail, but for what, she had no idea. The kid, she supposed, but that wasn't that big of a deal. She'd just wanted to spend some time with her granddaughter. Or daughter. However they flew it, that was fine by her.

"Hey, you. When am I gonna get out of here? You do know that you got nothing on me but seeing that kid." The officer said nothing as she passed around the trays with food on them. "Are you deaf? I asked you a question. I want to go and see my husband. He's in the hospital, you know."

"Mr. Price is going to be released today. And when he is, he's been told not to come and see you. Here is your lunch." She thought about tossing it back in her face, but she didn't look like she'd let her get by with it. "You want it or not? It's still six hours before dinner."

"I'll take it. It's crap, just so you know." But it hadn't been for breakfast, so she didn't figure this would be either. "I'll choke it down, I guess."

The bowl of vegetable soup was still steaming hot. And in addition to crackers, there was a thick ham sandwich with mayo on the side. Lettuce and tomato for it were in a large bowl, as well as a plate with cake on it for dessert. Carrot cake, her favorite. To drink she had tea and two cartons of milk, as well as a bottle of water. She hadn't eaten this well in ages.

When she was finished eating, Rosemarie looked around her cell. For the life of her, she could never get over how sparse they were. It was as if they wanted the criminals to be meaner when their time came to be let go. Nothing to show that they were only here for a little bit. Not even a clock or a calendar to mark off the days. She shook her head. They were gonna be real sorry when she was released.

"Ms. Pritchard?" She sat up and looked at the man in front of her cell. "I'm here on behalf of the court systems. You have indicated that you'd like to have legal representation with the state."

"I did?" He handed her a sheet of paper that looked like she'd scratched her name on it. "I don't even know what they're holding me for. I was just wanting to visit with my child."

She was going to leave it up to him on what he called the kid. It was her daughter, yeah, but maybe they all didn't know that. But then, Laney would have told them everything, just so she could keep her away from her dad.

"You took her without permission from her guardians, from their yard. In the process of committing this crime, you hurt her badly enough that she had to have stitches, as well as took her through an area that had been cordoned off by the police. That's not visiting, Ms. Prichard…that's kidnapping with intent to murder." She just waved him off. "I'm here to assure you that I'm going to do everything in my power to get you a reduced sentence for this crime. However—"

"Reduced? I think I should be just let go about that. I told you, I just wanted to visit her and my stepdaughter, Laney something…I didn't catch her last name now, she wasn't allowing it." The man said nothing. "Who the fuck are you anyway? Shouldn't you have me in some kind of nice room where there might be something for me to drink? This isn't the way that we should be talking about how you're getting me out of here."

"I apologize. My name is Chester, Phillip Chester. I work for Miller and Miller Law Firm." She asked him who had hired him. "No one. I'm doing this as pro bono, meaning that there won't be a charge for you."

"I know what that means, moron. Who got you to come here?" He said that he'd been commissioned by the state. "For taking my kid someplace?"

"From what I'm to understand, there are several more charges being levied against you. Not only kidnapping and attempted murder, but there is also a handful of robbery charges. Then there are some charges stemming from your own state of Florida concerning the kidnapping and trafficking of children." She asked him where he'd heard that, and waited while he pulled out a thick assed file. "Christ, is that all the people you have to see today?"

"No, this is your file. Florida was kind enough to send us what they had on you as well. Let me see here. Yes, you and an unnamed male went to the child clinic and took several children with the intent to sell them for profit. There are two witnesses to the kidnapping, as well as enough evidence to convict you."

"That unnamed male is Lance Price. My then live in boyfriend." He asked her who her husband was. "I don't remember his name."

"It was Donald Prichard. He died some time ago under suspicious circumstances as well." She asked him where he was getting all this. "It's in your file. You should also be aware that if they find any of the children have been harmed or killed, they'll convict you for murder in the first degree."

"I thought you was supposed to be helping me, not telling me that I'm going to prison. What will it take for you to get me out of here with nothing more than a smack around or two? I know, I can tell you all about the unnamed male, Lance. He was the one that did all the planning and shit. If I tell you what he did, then I can get out, right?" He was shaking his head even before she finished. "Why the hell not?"

"Because he beat you to it." The lawyer might have still been talking, but all she could think about was that Lance had done her dirty. And not only that, but he was going to be getting off for shit they'd done together. That just wasn't right in her books. "Are you listening to me, Ms. Prichard? I asked you how you wanted to plea."

"I didn't do nothing that he didn't plan out and help me with. I mean, he made me go along with him on these things." He told her that that boat had sailed. Not like that, but that's what he meant. "I don't want you to tell me that. I want you to tell me how I get him into trouble instead of me."

"As I said, that's not going to happen now. He's given his testimony, and that's all there is to it. Now, as for your case, what would you like to plead on all the charges against you?"

"Not guilty." He asked her to be reasonable. "I am. If he can get off by telling lies about me, then I should be able to get out of here for the shit that he's done. And you know as well as I that ain't the least bit fair."

"All right. Not guilty. I'm assuming that you mean to have that as your plea on all the other charges as well." She said that she was fine by that. "You have a court appearance in the morning. Something will be brought for you to wear there. I'm afraid that it won't be anything that you brought with you, as the hotel took that for nonpayment. You'll need to settle up with them when you've been…when this is done."

"Good. When I'm out, then we'll talk about that." He told her not to make that many plans ahead of time. "You'll get me out of here. I have faith in you. I'm going to make all kinds of plans, because I know that I'm not going to prison for shit that he made me do."

None of it was true. She had planned and executed everything. Even going to so far as to go on a couple of things by herself so that she didn't have to share in the bounty. But it hadn't been like this before coming here. They'd been good partners in everything.

"This is all her fault." Rosemarie thought maybe blaming Laney with the death of her daughter was pushing it a little. She hadn't sent her any money to buy the drugs. Hell, she'd not even sent money when she had a birthday or Christmas. Laney was selfish, and she didn't have any heart.

The attorney arranged for her to go to a little room to talk. It wasn't what she wanted. They chained her to the table like she was a dog or something. When he laid out the things that she was in trouble for, she wondered how he was going to get her out. There sure was a lot of shit in his files, and she had to admit, it was a little scary.

As he prattled on about how she was going to be taken to court and that she wasn't to engage in conversation before, during, or after the hearing, she thought about Lance. The fucker was going to have to own up to his part in her plans. Or better yet, she wanted him to take the heat. Rosemarie couldn't be in prison. She was too much of a social person, and she didn't do social in jail. Fuckity fuck fuck.