Someone To Watch Over Me
by Purple Lacey
Part Six
Vin looked around and said what he had been waiting for an opportunity to say all afternoon but couldn’t since he didn’t want to bring up the subject while Ezra was around.
“We arrested the step-father.”
Buck’s head jerked around to stare at the blond policeman who had spoken so quietly.
“Who is he?” the low voiced growl came from the man now watching Vin with a dangerous eyes.
“His name is Howard Sawyer. He owns a chain of car dealerships in the area.”
Buck’s jaw clinched as he tried to rein in his rage and he said, “I never met him, but I know of him. He’s a good friend of a few of this city’s elected officials, most significantly the mayor. He contributed big to his last re-election campaign.”
“Yeah, I know,” Vin returned ruefully.
“I take it you’re already getting flack from the mayor’s office?” Josiah said solemnly.
“I swear the guy must have called the mayor before he even called his lawyer,” Vin told them and with his voice full of disgust said, “The mayor himself showed up in my captain’s office almost before the ink on his fingerprints was dry. The mayor didn’t seem to care that we arrested Sawyer for beating up on a kid. He just wanted him sprung and the charges dropped.”
“Tell me they didn’t cut that guy loose,” Nathan said angrily.
Vin gave an unamused grin and his eyes glittered with ire as he answered, “Sawyer will be spending time in lockup, at least until he’s arraigned and the judge sets bail. It was amazing how fast the big slimeball the public elected to City Hall caved when faced with the possibility of having to explain to the media why he chose to shield an accused child abuser from due process, and why he was being investigated by the state Attorney General for malfeasance in office. ”
“You didn’t!” Nathan gave a choked laugh. “You threatened the Mayor!”
Vin seriously replied, “Nope. Wasn’t a threat. I meant every word, and he knew it.”
“Will this make things difficult for you at work, Vin?” Josiah asked him with concern.
The blond shrugged and looked unworried as he answered, “Don’t matter if it does. The day I back down and let a dirtbag like Sawyer walk is the day I turn in my gun and shield. I took this job because I wanted to get the scum like Sawyer off the streets so innocent folks would be safe. It don’t matter if they’re rich or poor, scum is scum and they need to be dealt with. I can handle a little hardball if that’s the way they want to play it.”
“Let me know if they come down on you too hard,” Buck threw in with a grim grin. “If we need to, I can trump Sawyer’s mayor with a governor. He owes me a few favors.”
Vin laughed and expressed his appreciation of the offer.
“Ezra may have to testify,” Josiah said watching Buck closely for his reaction.
The grin was instantly wiped from his face and replaced with a deep scowl as his protective instincts surged forward.
“Is that really necessary? He’s already been through so much,” Buck asked worriedly. “I don’t want him to have to sit in a courtroom and face the man that hurt him. Isn’t there someway to avoid that? Couldn’t he just give his statement?”
“Because he’s a child, the DA could petition the court to allow him to be questioned while being video taped then the tape could be shown in court instead of Ezra having to actually testify,” Josiah informed them. “It’s been done before in cases where it could be shown that the child would suffer further emotional damage from the trauma of testifying in open court. The defense would have to be allowed to give the interviewer their own list of questions to ask, though. ”
“Which brings up something else you need to consider,” Nathan said and waiting until he had Buck’s full attention before continuing. “Ezra needs to see a good children's therapist. He’s going to need help in dealing with the abuse and neglect he’s suffered. And he needs to start seeing someone as soon as possible before he starts having any more problems because of it. Something like this could affect him for the rest of his life. I’ve seen what can happen to children that don’t get that kind of help. Believe me, Buck, you don’t want that happening to Ezra.”
Buck looked at the black doctor’s grave expression and saw the raw knowledge behind the words. He nodded, trusting in Nathan’s professional judgment.
“Give me the name of someone good, if you have it, and I’ll call and make an appointment tomorrow,” Buck assured him.”
“Dr. Nancy Calder works out of our hospital and she’s amazing with kids. She also does a lot of work with abused children. If I had to pick someone for my own child, she would be it,” Nathan said. “She’s usually pretty booked, but I’ll give her a call later if you’d like and see if she could squeeze you in as a favor to me. I’m sure after hearing about Ezra and talking to him she’d be willing to verify that testifying in open court wouldn’t be in his best interest. ”
“Thanks Nate,” Buck said with a grateful look, “I’d appreciate it.”
“It’s not a problem,” the doctor assured him. “I care about that boy too. I only want to make sure he has everything he needs to grow up happy and healthy.”
“Ezra’s going to have to be told,” Larabee threw in quietly, bringing the conversation back on its original track.
Buck sighed in reluctant acceptance of that sad fact and then looked determined when he said, “I’ll tell him, but not today. This is his first day here and I don’t want that spoiled by bringing up anything to do with that son of a bitch. This is a time for celebration. Let him enjoy himself tonight. We’ll all face what has to be done tomorrow. Agreed?”
He waited until he had received the other’s acknowledgement then stood up and announced, “Now that we’ve taken care of that, why don’t y’all come inside and we’ll see what Nettie has come up with for us to nibble on before dinner.”
“Throw in a beer with that and I think you’ve got yourself a deal,” Josiah joked as he rose from his own chair and stretched.
“Nope, sorry.” Buck looked at him and stated resolutely, “For the time being there will be no alcohol served in this house. I don’t have all the particulars about what went on when that son of a bitch went after Ezra. I don’t know if he was drunk when he hurt him or not, but I won’t chance triggering bad memories for Ezra by exposing him to any kind of booze right now, not even beer. Soft drinks or ice tea will have to do for you guys for awhile.”
“Ice tea sounds pretty good,” Josiah informed him agreeably, silently impressed with how far Buck was willing to go to insure Ezra felt secure in his new home.
“I could go for a Coke to wash down the dust from that ride,” Vin said and grinned.
“Come on in then.” Buck waved them toward the terrace doors and into the den.
The group of five was seated comfortably in the den talking and munching on the platters of nachos that Nettie had made as an appetizer when a chattering Ezra led a grinning Raine back downstairs later.
“I do believe you made Santa’s job a lot harder this year, Buck,” Raine teased as she sank onto the sofa beside her husband and smiled at their host. “He’s going to have a hard time coming up with something Ezra doesn’t already have in the way of toys now.”
Buck grinned back unrepentantly and replied, “Oh, Santa’s a clever guy. I’m sure he’ll be able to think of something.”
Ezra paused in picking out a nacho, and looked over at the adults with big, wondering eyes.
“Santa will come here? He’ll bring me something?” he asked in surprise.
“Well, sure he will,” Buck told him confidently. “Didn’t Santa come visit you at your old house?”
Ezra’s head hung down with shame and he reluctantly admitted, “He never came to see me. Mother said I was a bad boy and he didn’t bring presents to bad boys.”
The room went completely silent as the adults absorbed his statement. Buck rose from his seat and went to kneel beside the little boy. He drew him into his arms and hugged him tightly.
“You are not and never have been a bad little boy. You just ask Chris. He wouldn’t come down to be the Angel of somebody that’s bad.
Sometimes Santa doesn’t come to a house because the adults in it are too mean and won’t let him. It sounds like your Mother was just being mean and didn’t let Santa in. Don’t you worry though. Santa has always been welcome in this house. Now that he knows you’re living here, I can just about guarantee that he’ll leave presents for you under the Christmas tree this year.”
“Really?” the little boy looked up and said hopefully, hardly daring to believe.
“Absolutely,” Buck told him firmly.
“But we don’t have a Christmas tree.” Ezra worried his bottom lip as he considered this snag in the man’s logic.
“We will,” Buck assured him. “Just as soon as JD gets home the three of us will go and pick one out. Then we’ll bring it home and have a decorating party. How’s that sound?”
Relieved to have Buck remove that perceived obstacle, the child threw his arms around Buck and hugged tightly.
“That sounds good to me,” Ezra told him happily.
“It’s a date then,” Buck laughed.