Special Needs

Chapter 67: The Prep

That same afternoon, Nathan came to meet us at the hotel, once again because Anne had to stay out of the public eye. I hoped that she wouldn't suffer too much from cabin fever, having to be cooped up here again. I knew it was a nice reprieve to be able to celebrate Christmas with us, but even there, she had to stay at the house for most of the visit, since the trial was big news in my hometown, too.

We told Nathan about Dr. Alton's examination. Then he sat us down and prepared us for what would happen during the trial. First he read a list of the charges that were being brought against Theodore, and it was an impressive one.

"Theodore Michael Blake will be tried with five counts of attempted murder, multiple counts of falsifying legal documents, several counts of forcible confinement, criminal child neglect, failure to educate a minor, illegal possession and distribution of prescription drugs, child endangerment through use of prescription drugs, several counts of assault and battery, sexual harassment, multiple counts of coercion, and theft."

We all sat there, dumbfounded. We knew we was evil, but to have all of the charges read at one time, it was mind-boggling.

"I...uh...wow," I finally said. "I knew I had a bad feeling about this guy when I first started. Which reminds me," I said, pulling out my phone. "I have the original contract that Theodore emailed me, as well as the copy I signed." I pulled it out of my purse and handed the paper contract and my phone to Nathan.

He perused the contract and commented, "You said that he was very adamant about requiring you to adhere to the contract, is that correct?"

"Yes, I thought he had either changed the wording or I read it wrong. But he insisted I fulfill my end of the contract. And he raised my pay to $150,000 for one year."

"How much of that money did you see?" He asked.

"He paid me three times, so a total of $37,500. But when we tried to escape, he stole about $6000 from our backpacks."

He pulled out his calculator and tapped a few buttons. "All right," he said. "The way I see it, he owes you $118,500."

"Holy shit," I breathed and everyone laughed.

Nathan turned to Anne and said, "The estate is being returned to you in its entirety once the accountants can figure out how much, if any, of Theodore's personal funds are accounted for in the estate. That doesn't include the $5 million in damages we're suing for. And Harry," he said, "As you know, we're seeking a settlement of another $5 million against Theodore for damages, including the cost of your education. I personally think he owes you much more, but are you still okay with that number?"

"Yes," Harry nodded definitively. He had specifically asked Nathan to calculate how much it should have cost to raise him like a normal kid and to set aside a college fund for him and Nathan calculated it as close to $1 million. But even then, Nathan assured us that it would be reasonable to sue for $5 million, and he was fairly certain he could get much more, but Harry was unwilling to go any higher. I knew Harry was never about the money or the power, as Theodore had feared. Of course, we would have wanted to bring him to justice, but Harry was never blinded by dollar signs. He simply wanted the freedom any person deserves, to direct his own life and to make a difference in the world.

"Now," Nathan said. "It's important for you to be ready for the counter arguments that Theodore and his attorney might raise. As of this today, he is claiming that he believed Harry to be intellectually disabled all this time. He stated that a pediatrician saw him in 2003 and suggested that Harry be tested for an intellectual disability. When he couldn't find a doctor who would agree with him, he sought a 'second opinion' from his brother, Dr. Benjamin Blake. It was Dr. Blake who determined Harry to be intellectually disabled and Theodore only followed Dr. Blake's advice."

"That piece of shit," Clive muttered. "Throwing his own brother under the bus."

Nathan shook his head in sad agreement and continued. "Jules, you know he's going to try to prove that you took advantage of Harry--" He glanced around, hesitating momentarily. "--sexually. And that you manipulated him to turn him against Theodore."

"He won't be able to prove any of that, right?" I asked, feeling a slight panic rise in my throat. If I was charged with any kind of sexual misconduct at all, my career as a teacher would be over. "I mean, the last time he paid me was in August!"

"This is true," Nathan agreed. "By that standard alone, he did break the contract, but his lawyer will try to argue that you were the first to violate the contract because you didn't do what was required to care for Harry-"

"-he wasn't even his son!" I snapped. "Why did he even fucking care?"

"I know," Nathan continued, "but he's going to strike out at you in any way he can," Nathan said much too calmly. "But the report from Dr. Alton should prove definitively that Harry never had a mental disability and that he was of sound mind and consent when the two of you engaged in consensual sexual activity."

Well that was a fun thing to talk about in front of my future mother-in-law. I was sure my cheeks were flaming red.

"Still, why does it matter?" I asked desperately.

"Well, sexual activity with a child or a person with a disability or-"

"-I know that!" I cut Nathan off again. "But that's not what happened. It was long after the contract was broken, while Theodore was holding us hostage, for crying out loud, before Harry and I even kissed."

"I know," Nathan assured me again. "But lawyers cant twist things in their clients' favor. Theodore knows he's going down. He just wants to drag you down with him in any way he can," he concluded apologetically.

Harry put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me, saying, "Don't worry, Jules. Everything will be fine."

We finished up with a few more questions and arranged to meet with Nathan again, later in the week so we could go through a formal deposition with each of us and prepare us for the questions the defense attorney might ask us.

My anxiety was rising again and I wished I had asked Dr. Alton for some fucking Valium or something. This trial couldn't be over fast enough.

* * * * *

Here we go babes! Do you think Theodore is going to get what's coming to him???