Chapter 23: You're an Odd Duck!

September 16, 2002, Chicago, Illinois

🎤 Steve

"Steve, I have a Detective Shanahan on the phone for you," Kimmy announced over the intercom on Monday afternoon.

I groaned inwardly because I didn't believe in coincidences, and that made the caller Katelyn's dad.

"Put him through, please."

A few seconds later, the phone buzzed, and I picked up the handset.

"Steve Adams."

"Mr. Adams, this is Detective Joe Shanahan. Do you have a moment to speak with me?"

His tone indicated it was actually police business, not personal, which didn't allay my concerns in the least.

"I have a firm rule about not speaking to law enforcement without an attorney present," I said.

"We can do that if you insist, but you aren't the subject of an investigation. May I tell you why I'm calling before you decide to lawyer up?"

"You may."

"I'm investigating a team of vice cops," he said.

"Julie Richman and her partners, right?" I asked.

"It appears I found the right guy," the detective said. "Still want to lawyer up?"

"I'd be more comfortable with my Consigliere listening," I replied.

He laughed, "Are you inviting an investigation, Don Adams?"

"He was on Get Smart," I chuckled. "It would be Don Stefano! I use the phrase because the people who get it will take it in the way I mean it. Let me switch phones so I can put the call on speaker in her office."

"OK."

I put the call on hold and got up.

"Now what?" Penny asked.

"I'm not sure, but the CPD might be after the cop who tried to set me up."

I left my office and went to Liz's, quickly explained what I needed, then had Kimmy transfer the call.

"Detective Joe Shanahan, you're on speaker with Liz Crane, my attorney. She's going to listen, but she and I agreed I can answer any questions you ask. She'll only interrupt if she feels you're misleading me or not being honest."

"Understood. What can you tell me about your interactions with Officer Richman?"

I described the incident in Union Station where she and her partners had tried to entrap me in their phony prostitution sting, earning a frown from Liz for using 'entrap' and 'phony', but I was confident in my assessment of the situation. Once I'd described that, I described the other interactions over the phone and my suspicions that they were trying to shake me down.

"Did they actually make any requests for payment?" Detective Shanahan asked.

"No," I replied. "But based on my reading of the situation, that was because I twigged to their scheme before they could put me in a position where they could extort me to prevent criminal charges."

"Going back to that, what exactly tipped you off?"

"As I said, it was obvious to me that Officer Richman was much older than she claimed. I'm a karate instructor and work with teens all the time, and I have several of my own, and her eyes telegraphed she was much older. After thinking about it, I also deduced she had been undercover at Kenwood Academy, which means she very likely met one of my kids, and it just seemed too much of a coïncidence that I was randomly targeted."

"Do you have any suspicions as to why they might target you?"

My primary thought was that it was either my predilection for teenage girls or my polyamorous relationships. I couldn't say anything about the first, but I could mention the second.

"At one point in the past, CPD and the State's Attorney took an interest in my relationships with the mothers of my children."

"Mind telling me about that?"

Liz gave me a look that said 'caution', and I nodded in acknowledgment.

"I have children by four different women, and we're all on good terms, and that includes my legal wife, to whom I've been married for almost seventeen years. Three of those women live either in my house or on the same property."

"Bigamy investigation?"

"Either that or adultery or fornication, both of which are still on the books but haven't been enforced for over two decades. That, of course, wouldn't prevent charges from being brought by the police with the attendant bad publicity. I suspect, but I don't know, that they knew about my situation and felt that gave them an 'in', which led them to target me."

"Did you have any other interaction with Officer Richman and her partners?"

"No."

"Then I think that's all the questions I have for you. If I think of any other questions, I'll call you. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Have a nice day, Mr. Adams."

"You, too, Detective."

I disconnected the call by pressing the button on the speakerphone.

"You really didn't have anything that helped him," Liz observed. "You caught their scheme before they could execute it. He's looking for someone they actually extorted."

"I agree. There is one thing you should know."

"What's that?" Liz asked.

"I'm sleeping with his seventeen-year-old daughter."

🎤 Birgit

When the dismissal bell rang after our last class, Fangsu and I walked to the room where the Photography Club met, then she continued to the one where the Math Club had their meeting.

"Hi!" Bob said when I stepped into the room.

"Hi!" I replied with a smile.

"I have your photos," he said, handing me an envelope. "They're very good."

"Thanks!" I replied. "How much do I owe you?"

"Let's discuss payment after the club meeting!"

"OK," I agreed, wondering what he might suggest.

We sat down, and I looked through the bridge and L photos and was happy with them. A few minutes later, Mr. Tavares came in.

"I have your photos from last week," he said. "I'll hand them to you with an evaluation form. Please do NOT take this as anything other than constructive criticism. All of you did well, taking into account your level of experience. The cost for developing the film is $4.50. If you don't have it, you can bring it on Wednesday. When I hand you your photos, you can hand me either film or photos from your assignment last week."

He handed out envelopes with the photos and an evaluation form stapled to the flap of the envelope. I looked it over before looking at the photos.

Adams, B.

Composition: 4/5
Technical: 3/5
Total: 7/10

Comments:

Good choice of an interesting subject.
The pictures appear random; you need to decide on a pattern and follow it.
Lighting of some of the photos was such that it's difficult to discern the subject. Use your light meter.
Overall, very good work for a first effort.

That didn't surprise me, really, because I had been completely clueless about how to take good photos, and Bob had only helped a little bit because Mr. Tavares hadn't allowed more than that. I was much more confident with the pictures from the Loop, especially after having seen them. I looked over my pictures of the classroom and saw exactly what Mr. Tavares meant.

Mr. Tavares asked for a volunteer to share their photos and evaluation, and I was the first to raise my hand. He showed the class the photos on a special projector and discussed what was good and what could be improved. After me, he did the same for Greg.

"Your next assignment is to photograph a person. I want you to shoot two rolls of film, and every picture needs to be different in some way. I'm not looking for a model's portfolio, but that idea is not off-limits. The photos or films are due a week from today. On Wednesday, we'll see a photo exhibition here on campus, and we'll discuss what we've seen."

Club ended, and Bob and I left the classroom together.

"So," I said, "how do you want me to pay for my photos?"

"Be my subject for the next assignment!"

"I can do that!" I agreed.

"Cool! Do you think you could come to my house on Saturday?"

"Sure. I have karate at 10:00am, but we're done by 11:00am. I could be in Bridgeport by 1:00pm for sure, maybe a little earlier."

"After the shoot, want to get some ice cream or something?"

"Sure!"

"OK. I have to go meet my mom! See you on Wednesday!"

"See you!"

He left, and I went to wait for Fangsu, who came out of her meeting about ten minutes later. We left the school and headed to my house to do homework.

🎤 Steve

"Don't you think you should have mentioned that before the call rather than after?"

"No, because he obviously doesn't know, and it would have colored your response."

"Of course it would!" Liz declared. "You have no idea what he knows or doesn't know!"

"Katelyn would have called me if he had somehow discovered our relationship."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Positive. And she was seventeen before we got together, which was before I put the new rule in place."

"It's still risky, Steve. A cop's daughter?"

"I didn't know she was a cop's daughter when we met, which was right after I went off the propranolol. The 'vibe' was in full force, and when I went to Potbelly's for a salad, she waited on me and asked for my card."

"You thought Officer Richman was a setup, but you didn't think this was?"

"No, and it obviously wasn't."

"You're still seeing her?"

"Today, after work."

"No," Liz said firmly.

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"The risk is too great."

"I'll counter that it's not, and in fact, breaking it off now, because of her dad, would run the greater risk. I don't think she's the 'woman scorned' type, but why find out when there's no good reason to run that risk? And, as I said, I started this relationship before I made my new rule. And, I reiterate, she's over the age of consent."

"I still think it was poor judgment to start it and poor judgment to continue it."

"I know you do; I don't. Jess is fully aware and agrees it fits within my rules."

"And Kara?"

"I didn't mention her because you believe she lets me get away with murder. You believe that's true for Suzanne, but not to the same degree."

"I've warned you about risky behavior."

"Yes, you have. And this conforms to the parameters you set. Remember, I didn't have to tell you about it at all because she's not going to try to apply for a role at NIKA, and she's over the age of consent. I chose to tell you. Frankly, if you're going to give me grief about outside relationships which conform to the rules to which you agreed, I won't share that information with you."

"You don't like being told 'no' any more than Birgit does!"

"I accept that statement as true, but then again, you don't like me telling you 'no' any more than Birgit likes Kara telling her 'no'."

"I still say it's unwise."

"And I accept your opinion but choose not to follow your prescription in this case. I'll note that I have not in any way violated our agreement."

"You do remember what you pay me for, right?"

"I do. Do you remember the parameters you set?"

"I do."

"Then that's the answer. I need to finish what I was working on before the end of the day, so I'm going back to my office. I love you, Liz."

Liz smiled, "I know. You are also the most frustrating man I know!"

"Thank you," I replied with a grin.

I winked, then left her office and went back to mine.

"Aaaaaand?" Penny asked.

"Not much because I figured out their scheme before it was sprung, so I can't really testify to anything other than a suspicion."

"Bummer. There are WAY too many corrupt cops in this town!"

"Sadly," I replied.

[Oswego, Illinois]
🎤 Matthew

"I think we need to practice the kiss to make sure we got it right!" Maggie teased.

"OK," I smirked. "You practice with Mark, and I'll practice with Chelsea!"

"That's not what I meant, you goofball!"

"Well, you can be sure I'm not going to practice with Mark while you practice with Chelsea!"

"Oh, gross!" Maggie exclaimed.

"I guess that's out, then, too!"

"You wouldn't, would you?"

"No, because I'm straight. But what other people do is up to them, not me. I know you have a different opinion, and I don't have a problem with your opinion, so long as you don't try to force anyone to behave the way you want them to."

"What about laws against murder and stuff?"

"Someone is being harmed, so it's OK to have laws like that. Nobody is hurt if Jesse's moms kiss! If you don't want to do it, don't do it. Just don't make laws which say nobody can do it."

"You know why I believe what I believe."

"Of course. And I still love you!"

Maggie laughed, "And if Chelsea heard you say that?"

"She knows it's platonic, just as both of us do."

"Shall we rehearse?"

"Yes."

[Chicago, Illinois]
🎤 Steve

"Your dad called me today," I said to Katelyn when I picked her up at Starbucks after work.

"Shit! Now what?"

"Nothing! He called because he's investigating a group of corrupt cops."

"That narrows it down to the entire force, minus a few!"

"It's the same cops who tried to entrap me a few years ago, but as I told you, I figured out what they were up to right away, so I didn't have any information for your dad."

"He doesn't talk about active investigations."

"Which makes sense. It's easier to just not talk to anyone except the people working the case with you. That prevents mistakes or inadvertent leaks."

"You think those cops who harassed you were dirty?"

"Very. It felt like a shakedown."

"Were you worried when he called?"

"No, because you're seventeen, so we aren't breaking any laws. Was I suspicious? Of course. But he used an 'investigator' voice, not an 'angry dad' voice, so as soon as he spoke, I knew it was Internal Affairs. There wasn't a hint of anything else, and I'm pretty good at detecting things like that."

"Good! I don't want to end this until I go to college!"

"What about Prom?"

"I'm sure I'll be invited, and you said it was OK with you."

"It is so long as you follow the STI test and birth control rules. You also can't mislead the guy about your relationship status. If he wants to be exclusive, you'll have to decide between us."

"You don't strike me as the jealous type!"

"I'm not. It's that I won't cheat or be a party to cheating."

"How can a guy in an open marriage cheat?"

"It's complicated," I chuckled. "But there are a few women of whom my wives would not approve, and given I know who those women are, it would be cheating to be with them because the 'open marriage', as you called it, isn't that open. Remember, too, there are rules about nobody from anywhere we work, and no students who have Kara or Jessica as a professor or teacher. And, of course, the age of consent for the locality where I am."

"Just out of curiosity, assuming a low age of consent, what's the youngest you would consider?"

"Fifteen," I replied. "But at this point, being almost forty, most fifteen-year-olds are going to think a guy my age is gross or creepy. Heck, I suspect most girls under eighteen and quite a few under twenty-one would feel that way."

"You don't seem that old! You look a lot younger, and you're in fantastic shape."

"Thanks! But the age factor is limiting."

"I'm positive there are other girls like me."

"Yes, of course! I did say 'most', not 'all'."

"Well, this girl is very much NOT concerned with your age, only your expert ability to make her cum!"

"Then I shall endeavor to do so!"

September 17, 2002, Chicago, Illinois

🎤 Birgit

"I need to take photos of a person for my next Photography Club project," I said as I cuddled with Dad on Tuesday morning after he, Suzanne, and I had run and showered. "I want you to be the subject."

"What kind of photos?" Dad asked.

"Just different situations or poses, but I don't want to do poses. I just want normal, everyday situations, like you eating breakfast, or reading the paper, or whatever."

"That's fine with me," I replied. "Just be careful with my wives."

"Society needs to get a grip, Dad!" I protested. "But I understand. Bob asked me to model for him for his project. I was planning to go to his house on Saturday. He has a studio and a darkroom."

"Just remember that you're under eighteen," Dad said.

I laughed, "What? No nudes?"

"You know my take on that," Dad replied, "but you could both get into very serious trouble. Even if it were tasteful and non-sexual, they'd charge you both with creating and distributing child pornography."

"Distributing?" I asked. "How?"

"In the government's thinking, if Bob takes the pictures and develops them and hands them to you, that's both 'production' and 'distribution'. And then they'd add 'possession' as well."

"Give me a break!" I protested. "How dumb is that?"

"While philosophically I agree with you," Dad said, "don't you think most situations such as that would be exploitation?"

"Uh, huh? Like me, being with an older guy is 'exploitation'!"

"I wasn't referring to you, Pumpkin, but in general. Think about some of your friends or maybe Ashley's friends. Your group might have self-selected for attitude!"

"Might?" I giggled. "Nobody can be part of our group if they're prudish, dumb, or a Bible thumper!"

"Your mom was a Bible thumper!"

"Until you fucked some sense into her!" I giggled. "The only thing that thumps now is the headboard of the bed!"

Dad laughed, "Cute, Pumpkin."

"Can I ask a serious question?"

"Sure."

"What is 'tasteful'? I'm not saying we'll take nude pictures because of what you said before, but I'm wondering what that means."