Chapter 8

We sat quietly for a few minutes, and then Mother spoke.

"I guess I'll start. After you left, Ginger told me all about what happened this morning. She is very upset. She is afraid you are in deep trouble and that she will lose you. She blames herself for everything. She was still crying the last I checked. Mary heard what was going on, and she stayed home to support Ginger. It turns out she knew a lot more than any of us guessed.

"When Jennie arrived she was hysterical. It's a wonder she was able to drive over here. All she would tell me was that you are a monster, that she beat you up, and that she thinks she may have killed four boys. That's about it.

"Now I think we need to hear from Ginger." Mother turned her head toward the hall and raised her voice. "Mary, please bring Ginger out here."

While we waited for Mary to bring Ginger out I turned to Jennie.

"You didn't do any real damage to me, Jennie, though I can still feel where you hit me. I cleared it with everyone by saying you didn't know it was me and reacted by instinct while you were defending yourself. As for the boys, they will all recover. One with a concussion, one with a broken arm, one who may never have children and one with multiple injuries that are not life threatening.

When Ginger and Mary came into the room, I was heartbroken by what I saw. Ginger was still sobbing, and she looked like the end of the world had hit her. She started to run to me, but Mother stopped her with a word.

"No! Ginger, you and Mary sit over there on the other couch. That's right. Now, Ginger, I want you to tell us all about you and Sam and what has been going on with you."

Ginger hesitated for a moment and looked at me. I nodded, and she began. She told all about how we met, about my saving her, how Cheryl had brought us together and how she had seduced me. She made it clear that I had resisted but finally gave in to her. She told about how she almost died after Cheryl was killed and how I had saved her again. She ended by saying that she was very, very sorry that she had caused me all this trouble.

"Now, Jennifer, it's your turn to speak. Tell us what you think and what you want to do about it."

Jennie sat up and glanced at me then looked away quickly. She turned to look at Ginger.

"First of all, Ginger, I'm sorry I pulled a gun on you and kicked you out of the bed. You surprised me, and I reacted without thinking. As to what you just said, you are wrong! You are not to blame for any of this mess. Mr. Knight is to blame. He is the adult and so is responsible for all that happened. He could have stopped it at any time, and he didn't until he was found out. I repeat, you are not to blame. I'm very sorry you have to go through all this, but I have no choice. Mr. Knight must be punished."

Mother was about to speak again, but Mary jumped in before she could get started.

"You're wrong about Sam. He is a wonderful man. He has saved many, many little girls. He would never hurt any of us. I'll confess right now that if I didn't know that he was in love with Ginger and she was in love with him, I'd have made a move on him myself. Do you even have any idea what it means for we girls, who have been raped and abused, to find a loving relationship with a man who can show us that sex with love is still possible after what we went through? I doubt it. According to society, what Sam did was wrong and illegal. You are stuck with that idea and are prepared to ruin the lives of both Sam and Ginger. If you do, you will also damage the lives of the rest of us too. What about Rose? She'll think she is to blame. If she hadn't come to me and if I hadn't taken her to Sam, this would never have happened. And what will happen the next time some little girl needs help? Who will be there for them that they can trust? The people of this town know they can trust Sam. Who else has done as much as he has to protect and to save little girls from harm? Nobody. I think you should just let them alone."

That made us all pause for a moment. I never expected Mary to go on like that. I had no idea she felt that way about me. My eyes teared up.

Mother spoke next. "I've known Sam for a very long time. I can't approve of what he has done, but I can understand it. I have seen what he has done for the girls and how they adore him. I saw what happened to Ginger when she thought he didn't want her after Cheryl died. I would hate to see that again. I love Sam and respect him and what he has done. He is partly responsible for me being able to maintain this home for the girls. Without his help, I would have had to close long ago. I don't know what should happen to him, but I do not think he should go to jail or even be charged. If he was, all the people who work for him would be affected as well. I have no doubt that the company would fold. There would be such a scandal that nobody would dare use his service, even if he was not there. So I guess it is your turn, Sam. What do you have to say?"

"Jennie is right. It was my responsibility to protect all the girls, including Ginger. I have failed at that, and so I will have to pay the price. I agree that my going to jail would adversely effect a lot of people. I have what I think is a solution if Jennie agrees.

"First, I will retire and have no further contact with the company. I will sell my interest in the company to Mike and Grace for a small amount. I have enough to live on for a long time, so that is not a problem. I am still healthy, so I can find a job elsewhere. I will move away from this city and state. I will have no contact with any of the girls ever again. I will also make a large payment to Dr. Webber to fund counseling for any of the girls who need it. I'm sure she will be able to help them. I only ask that you not mention this matter to anyone, ever, so that the girls are not forced to face questions over and over again. If you agree, I'll start taking steps right away. Is that satisfactory, Jennie?"

Ginger screamed, "Noooooooooooooooo!" and tried to come to me, but Mary knew it was a bad idea and held her back, hugging her.

I could see that Jennie was having a hard time deciding. After a few minutes she answered. "I can see all your points, Mother, and you too, Mary. I will agree to this but want to make it perfectly clear that if I ever hear of you being involved with an underage girl, I will hunt you down and see that you pay dearly. I hope I am making the right decision."

"I do too, Jennie. Now I'm going to the office to start things moving. Jennie, you need to go in and make your report. I expect Wilson will be there, and he will take your statement. You did go a little overboard, but you were acting in self-defense and there is proof. There was a camera in that hall, and we have the audio from your bug. I'm sure you will be okay.

"Mother, I think you and Mary should take Ginger to my house and remove all her things. She may take anything she wants. I will not be taking much with me. When I leave, I'll send you papers deeding the house to you. You can keep it or sell it to help fund your work here. Your choice. If there's nothing else, I'll leave now."

Mother rushed over to help Mary hold Ginger, who was struggling desperately to get free and run to me, as she screamed with tears running down her face. "NO! NOT AGAIN! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! Jennie, make him stay! Pleeeaase?"

I got up, and watched her collapse into Mother's arms. I wanted so much to hold her and tell her it would be okay. Instead, I turned and walked out the door. I got in my car and drove away. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I cried all the way to the office. This was going to be very hard. As I walked into our building I stopped at the reception desk.

"I'm going to my office. Would you please call Mr. Asherton (our company lawyer) and ask him to meet me there right away, then call Grace, Mike and Beth and tell them to come to my office in thirty minutes?"

"Will do, Sam."

I stopped off in the rest room to clean up before I went to my office. I didn't want anyone to see I had been crying. Asherton was waiting when I got there. I closed the door behind me, waved him to a seat, and sat down behind my desk. I saw he didn't have anything with him, so I pushed a pad and pencil over to him.

"Please take notes. I have several things I want you to do for me. I want no questions that are not required to complete the tasks at hand, and I want it all done ASAP. Understood?"

"Sure, Sam. If that's what you want, that's what you'll get. Go ahead."

"I want you to draw up papers selling my interest in this company to Mike, Grace, and Beth. I want to retain ten percent. You will make up a limited Power of Attorney giving you control of that ten percent and any and all profits that may derive from it. You will hold all that in confidence until I contact you later. The sale price will be decided when the others get here shortly. Pending finalization of the sale, I want you to have all my privileges as an owner blocked at the close of business today. By close of business today, I do not want to be able to get in here, get a vehicle, or sign any documents or checks.

"Next, I want you to draw up a transfer of the deed to my house. I want it to go to Mother Mable, with no restrictions on what she may do with it.

"I want you to draw up papers with me withdrawing as Ginger's guardian and recommending that Mother be allowed to care for her.

"I don't expect it, but there could be some trouble for Jennie about what she did to those boys today. As company lawyer, you will represent her anyway, but if there are any conflicts of interest or costs outside what you do for the company, I want to be billed for it personally.

"Can you represent me separately if it doesn't involve the company?"

"Yes. If there is a conflict, I can farm out your case to another trusted firm."

"Then make out papers stating that you are representing me and decide on a retainer. I'll have it for you when you bring me the papers."

There was a knock on the door, and I told them to come in. As I expected, it was Grace, Mike, and Beth. I motioned for them to sit on the couch. They did as I asked, and I began their part of the solution.