Chapter 15

In the morning I called David's mother and assured her I was safe, but not at home. Jack reported that Sanderson had spent the night drinking, cursing, and generally acting like a moron, before passing out in the bar, and being poured into a taxi, and dropped off at a nearby low priced motel.

The other news was far more appealing. The Sanford judge was in federal custody, screaming like a mental case, and facing twenty years for accepting bribes. Mr. Bell informed Judge Jones, when he called, that he would be filing a civil action, as well as several criminal actions against the judge, and the City of Deland. Judge Jones laughed, and told him to bring the cases in Federal Court, and use federal racketeering statutes to support his filing.

Mr. Bell and Judge Jones sounded very pleased with themselves, doing what they do best, using the law to get things done.

With the corrupt judge out of the way, Jack notified us that Tim Sanderson had been rearrested, processed, and arraigned. Further, murder conspiracy and bribery charges were added to the original laundry list ... He was remanded to custody until trial, with no bail, due to violating the earlier orders.

Just like that, as we had a late breakfast, we knew it was over. Colleen and Mr. Bell strategized the next steps as far as Carol was concerned, and then I made a call to her.

"Hey," I said, happily. We talked about their night, the trouble yesterday, and how scary it all was, then I said, "I just got a call. Dad was arrested for hiring those guys to come kill us, and he's in jail without bail until the trial. The lawyer I told you about, her name is Colleen Bell, says the trial won't come up for at least a year because the docket is too full. Mom, you need to know that she is REALLY on our side. She came by our house to be sure she knew where it was, and when she saw the police, stepped in and acted as OUR attorney to protect MY rights. She says she has an appointment to meet you later today, at home.

"I'm going to go home now. I'll see you and the girls when you get there." Carol sounded overjoyed and anxious to come home. I was anxious for her and Colleen to get together. Mr. and Mrs. Bell, and Rebecca were heading home, and I was about to recapture my old life.

It was the best day ever. So Far.

I was drying my hair, having showered, when Carol came in followed by Jill, and Joan. They ran straight to their bedrooms to make sure nothing was disturbed in their absence, and then they called their friends. Carol came straight to me. "Are you Ok?" She asked, almost in tears. "I was so scared. The men in the white van took us to Daytona and checked us into a hotel on the beach. They said you were safe, but wouldn't tell us anything else. Later, they came in and said that you stopped two men Tim sent to kill us, and they were in all jail.

"Then they said that Tim was out on bail, and you were going to a safe place, in case he tried to hurt you again.

"I haven't slept a wink. I sat up all night worrying about what we were going to do. And then I thought about how calm you were yesterday, and how you thought to get us away where we would be safe but stayed to deal with your father.

"You were so strong ... and grown up ... and, I don't know ... serious about protecting us. It made me realize how you have had to pretty much raise yourself, because every time I tried to be a mother to you, Tim would lose his temper and take it out on all of us.

"You must really hate me for neglecting you all these years, and I don't blame you one bit. I really don't ... blame you.

"But, David, I don't see any trace of resentment, anger, hate, or even indifference in you. I see a grown man, not a sixteen-year-old boy. When did you stop being a boy and start being a bigger man than your father?

"I am such a stupid fool! I should have defied him from the start and sent him on his way. While your granddad was alive, Tim mostly behaved. After he died, things got bad pretty fast.

"What I'm trying to say is ... Can You Ever Forgive Me? I know you want to go away to this college, and that's fine. We'll find the money, somehow. I owe you that much. I'll call your school and tell them to let you take their tests and graduate, now. It's what you want. I understand but please, let's stay in touch. Don't go away and never look back, Please?"

She was sincere and tearful. Her heart was in this apology, and I didn't have the desire or the heart to rub it in, so I held her and said, "It's Ok. I'm not mad. I don't resent you. I hate him, and that's not going to change. Do not call me someday and say you two worked it out, and I should come home because all is forgiven. It's not. He's never going to hear from me again until I can spit on his grave.

"You're my mother and I love you. That's never going to change, but I am going away. There's a wonderful opportunity to make something out of myself, and these people are willing to give me a chance.

"She'll be here soon. How about sending Jill and Joan to the mall for a movie and lunch on me? I'll give them some cash and drop them off. Joan can call when they get tired, and I'll pick them up.

"By the way, the Toyota mini-van out at the curb? That's yours. I used my trust fund and traded in the Camry, I was afraid Dad would look for it and come hurt us. It's really nice. I'll take the RAV 4, and you can have the van. What do you say? Let's go look it over."

She smiled, confused, but passive enough from the stress of the last two days, to go along with me. I told the girls to grab their purses, and I'd spring for lunch and a movie, with some spending money on top of it. They jumped at the chance, after being cooped up in a hotel room. While Carol finished checking out her new wheels, I used the RAV4 to take the girls and drop them at Sanford Towne Center Mall, telling them to call when they are ready to come home.