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jesterladyficThis chapter's title comes from an old hymn
Meg felt completely helpless and horrified. She loved her parents but they were being unreasonable. They kept talking about responsibility and doing the right thing.
All she wanted to do was have her baby, was that so wrong?
“Honey, you know we love you and we’ll love the baby. It’s not like you won’t be the mother or not see it.”
“Dad, I want to be able to decide what to do with my own baby. It’s Duncan’s and my decision, not yours!”
“You and Duncan obviously aren’t reliable in the area of making capable decisions. Don’t you think you should let us handle it until you’re old enough? Think about college, think about your future.”
“I have been. What do you think I do here all day?”
“Sweetie,” her mom interjected, “don’t overreact. This isn’t a battle. You’ll be the baby’s mother and we’ll even allow Duncan visitation rights, but we would be responsible for the decisions. Let us help you.”
“I love you both,” Meg finally said after hours of the same conversation. “I respect you both. But if you try to take my baby, I will sue you.”
“You’re underage, Meg,” her mom said with a tight lipped smile. “Who do you think the court will side with?”
Her parents soon left and Meg called Duncan. They needed to talk and they needed help.
***
Veronica was catching up on some homework when Duncan called. She didn’t know how she managed to do it and work as a private detective and be available to her friends 24/7.
“What’s up?”
“Meg and I have a problem.”
“Of course you do. I’ll be right there.” Veronica gathered up her civics homework with a sigh and put it away. She drove to the hospital and was issued into Meg’s room. “Hey, kids, how’s it hanging?”
“Needs the Veronica touch,” Meg admitted.
Veronica walked to the bed and pulled herself up a chair.
“Spill.”
“We might need to start some legal proceedings.”
“For?” she prompted.
“My parents want to adopt the baby. Duncan and I want to make sure we remain the parents.”
“You two aren’t…?”
“We don’t really know where we stand exactly,” Duncan put in. “But Meg gets to keep the baby. That’s undisputed.”
“Except by her parents, apparently.”
“Do you know any good lawyers?”
“I know a lawyer. I’ll give him a call and see what he comes up with.”
“Thank you.”
Meg grabbed her hand, squeezing it in gratitude.
“This could get tricky,” Veronica warned. “You guys aren’t exactly the best candidates for parenthood in the eyes of the government. But I’ll dig around. I don’t really know what I can do else. This doesn’t exactly call for espionage work.”
“You’ll find a way,” Duncan said wryly.
“Probably,” she agreed. “Anyhow, I gotta go, but keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
***
Wallace sank his head into his hands. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this to his mother. She was going to kill him for sure.
“Why so glum, chum?”
Veronica sat down on the gym floor next to him.
“I just got kicked off the team.”
“You been doing drugs again?”
“No. It’s not funny.”
“Notice the absence of laughter. Wallace, what happened?”
Veronica leaned forward, looking scared by the defeat in his tone.
“You won’t like it.”
“I like everything you do.”
“Not this. I got into a fight with Larry Jacobs. He’s on the team.”
“So…?”
“He was being a real jerk. Using all sorts of racial terminology. Ragging on my mom, you. I think you must’ve busted him for something. I lost my temper.”
“Completely understandable so far.”
“I locked him in his locker.”
“I probably would have too.”
“He almost suffocated, Veronica.” Wallace banged his head against the wall. “He almost died because of me. Clemmons said he wouldn’t press charges, but I got kicked off the team and put on probation. My mom will ground me for the rest of my life and my only chance at getting into Hearst was a basketball scholarship.”
“Wallace…”
“I know. It’s my own fault.”
“You’re not usually prone to bursts of temper like that.”
“Not normally, no. I guess I’m changing or something.”
“Or something.”
Veronica laid her hand on his shoulder and they sat there a while.
***
Logan walked into the bathroom and noticed that it was empty. Dick followed him in and started preening in the mirror.
Logan leaned against the sink.
“Hey, listen, I need you to do me a favor.”
“It's not that favor Bobby Brown does for Whitney, is it?”
“No.”
“Yeah, then whatev.”
“It’s slightly odd, but I want you to bribe a PCHer.”
“Yeah, no sweat. I'm like this...” he crossed his fingers, “with those guys.”
“What I need to know is if they’re open to bribes, one, and if they’ve accepted any bribes before from anyone influential. Anyone who has money.”
“Sounds like I’m the perfect guy for the job.”
“I thought of you at once.”
“Sweet. It’s almost like I’m working, even though I totally don’t have to.”
Logan smiled.
“You're not real complicated, are you, Dick?”
He shrugged.
“Try not to be.”
Dick finished his grooming and left. Logan pushed open the closed stall door to his left.
“Will that do?”
“So long as his missing brain don’t get him killed,” Weevil scoffed.
***
“What can I possibly do for you today?” Cliff asked as he slapped his briefcase down across the desk from Veronica.
“Oh, something right up your alley. High affairs, death throes, innocent struggles against cruel overlords.”
“Sounds more like a bad novel, but I’m listening.”
“Custody case.”
“Whom are we trying to get?”
“Duncan Kane and Meg Manning might need to sue her parents for custody of their child.”
“Will I ever be able to stop dealing with the Kanes on your behalf?”
“If they would stop needing it.”
“Right, so you want me to defend them?”
“I just need to know the practical side of the legal proceedings. What are their chances, what’s the procedure; the usual stuff. If they want you when the time comes, I’ll give you a buzz.”
“Sometimes I feel so used,” Cliff sighed, but started jotting down notes.
***
“Hey, what’s the word?” asked Logan.
“Well, several of them threatened me bodily harm and seemed upset I would even ask. Bootsy, in particular, went on to suggest I perform sexual intercourse on my own person.”
“Morals of the rabble.” Logan sighed. “What about Hector or Thumper?”
“Hector seemed quite anxious for some extra cash and assured me that he’d be willing to do anything anyone else with money would like. All while abusing my status and my personality.”
“Thanks, Dick. This helps.”
“Helps with what? Like nothing.”
Dick wandered off and Logan made eye contact with Weevil.
Later that day, Weevil snuck over to the hotel and Logan informed him about Dick’s foray into the PCHers.
“I might have to have a little talk with Hector.”
“Don’t arouse suspicion, brain trust. We don’t have any real information.”
“I won’t be specific. I just need to feel him out.”
“If you don’t show up to school tomorrow, I won’t cry.”
“Like I’d expect you to.”
***
“I talked to Cliff today,” Keith said casually.
“How’s the old man doing?”
Veronica got up to put some more salad on her plate.
“Seems like you should know since you talked with him this morning.”
“I just needed his help with a case. No sweat.”
“A case involving a custody battle?”
“Your point’s sorta going over my head, Dad.”
“This won’t be pretty, Veronica. I already have misgivings about you working on your own and being able to do your schoolwork. Don’t go adding extra work to your load.”
“I’m not. This is just a favor and I don’t really have to do anything. I just got them in touch with Cliff.”
“No espionage?”
“Doesn’t seem likely.”
“Fine, but promise me you’ll let me know if this turns sour. What if the Kanes get involved?”
Veronica shuddered involuntarily.
***
Weevil stood facing down Hector and felt in his bones that things were very wrong in the PCH Bike Club.
“I know you did it, Hector.”
“What’s wrong with that? I made some money off a dumb, rich boy, who cares?”
“After everything that’s happened, you expect me to believe you don’t know anything about paying off witnesses or having friends in high places?”
“It was just for the cash, Weevil. All he wanted was for me to stand watch while he snuck a girl past her parents. Not illegal and hardly unsafe. What’s the problem?”
“The problem could be that mono attitude you got. What happened to loyalty to the group? What happened to letting me call the shots?”
“You’re still in charge, man.”
“Then why are you sneaking around behind my back!”
“It wasn’t that. I was just living. You don’t own me.”
“Since when did I try?”
“You’re plenty high and mighty, Weevil. Live a little.”
“I’ll live plenty fine, but you got to start remembering who’s in charge. You got it, dawg?”
Hector stared at him defiantly before blinking and giving the barest of nods. Weevil breathed an inward sigh of relief. This was a slight victory, but things would come to a head again soon. Next time he might not end up top of the food chain.
Meg felt completely helpless and horrified. She loved her parents but they were being unreasonable. They kept talking about responsibility and doing the right thing.
All she wanted to do was have her baby, was that so wrong?
“Honey, you know we love you and we’ll love the baby. It’s not like you won’t be the mother or not see it.”
“Dad, I want to be able to decide what to do with my own baby. It’s Duncan’s and my decision, not yours!”
“You and Duncan obviously aren’t reliable in the area of making capable decisions. Don’t you think you should let us handle it until you’re old enough? Think about college, think about your future.”
“I have been. What do you think I do here all day?”
“Sweetie,” her mom interjected, “don’t overreact. This isn’t a battle. You’ll be the baby’s mother and we’ll even allow Duncan visitation rights, but we would be responsible for the decisions. Let us help you.”
“I love you both,” Meg finally said after hours of the same conversation. “I respect you both. But if you try to take my baby, I will sue you.”
“You’re underage, Meg,” her mom said with a tight lipped smile. “Who do you think the court will side with?”
Her parents soon left and Meg called Duncan. They needed to talk and they needed help.
***
Veronica was catching up on some homework when Duncan called. She didn’t know how she managed to do it and work as a private detective and be available to her friends 24/7.
“What’s up?”
“Meg and I have a problem.”
“Of course you do. I’ll be right there.” Veronica gathered up her civics homework with a sigh and put it away. She drove to the hospital and was issued into Meg’s room. “Hey, kids, how’s it hanging?”
“Needs the Veronica touch,” Meg admitted.
Veronica walked to the bed and pulled herself up a chair.
“Spill.”
“We might need to start some legal proceedings.”
“For?” she prompted.
“My parents want to adopt the baby. Duncan and I want to make sure we remain the parents.”
“You two aren’t…?”
“We don’t really know where we stand exactly,” Duncan put in. “But Meg gets to keep the baby. That’s undisputed.”
“Except by her parents, apparently.”
“Do you know any good lawyers?”
“I know a lawyer. I’ll give him a call and see what he comes up with.”
“Thank you.”
Meg grabbed her hand, squeezing it in gratitude.
“This could get tricky,” Veronica warned. “You guys aren’t exactly the best candidates for parenthood in the eyes of the government. But I’ll dig around. I don’t really know what I can do else. This doesn’t exactly call for espionage work.”
“You’ll find a way,” Duncan said wryly.
“Probably,” she agreed. “Anyhow, I gotta go, but keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
***
Wallace sank his head into his hands. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this to his mother. She was going to kill him for sure.
“Why so glum, chum?”
Veronica sat down on the gym floor next to him.
“I just got kicked off the team.”
“You been doing drugs again?”
“No. It’s not funny.”
“Notice the absence of laughter. Wallace, what happened?”
Veronica leaned forward, looking scared by the defeat in his tone.
“You won’t like it.”
“I like everything you do.”
“Not this. I got into a fight with Larry Jacobs. He’s on the team.”
“So…?”
“He was being a real jerk. Using all sorts of racial terminology. Ragging on my mom, you. I think you must’ve busted him for something. I lost my temper.”
“Completely understandable so far.”
“I locked him in his locker.”
“I probably would have too.”
“He almost suffocated, Veronica.” Wallace banged his head against the wall. “He almost died because of me. Clemmons said he wouldn’t press charges, but I got kicked off the team and put on probation. My mom will ground me for the rest of my life and my only chance at getting into Hearst was a basketball scholarship.”
“Wallace…”
“I know. It’s my own fault.”
“You’re not usually prone to bursts of temper like that.”
“Not normally, no. I guess I’m changing or something.”
“Or something.”
Veronica laid her hand on his shoulder and they sat there a while.
***
Logan walked into the bathroom and noticed that it was empty. Dick followed him in and started preening in the mirror.
Logan leaned against the sink.
“Hey, listen, I need you to do me a favor.”
“It's not that favor Bobby Brown does for Whitney, is it?”
“No.”
“Yeah, then whatev.”
“It’s slightly odd, but I want you to bribe a PCHer.”
“Yeah, no sweat. I'm like this...” he crossed his fingers, “with those guys.”
“What I need to know is if they’re open to bribes, one, and if they’ve accepted any bribes before from anyone influential. Anyone who has money.”
“Sounds like I’m the perfect guy for the job.”
“I thought of you at once.”
“Sweet. It’s almost like I’m working, even though I totally don’t have to.”
Logan smiled.
“You're not real complicated, are you, Dick?”
He shrugged.
“Try not to be.”
Dick finished his grooming and left. Logan pushed open the closed stall door to his left.
“Will that do?”
“So long as his missing brain don’t get him killed,” Weevil scoffed.
***
“What can I possibly do for you today?” Cliff asked as he slapped his briefcase down across the desk from Veronica.
“Oh, something right up your alley. High affairs, death throes, innocent struggles against cruel overlords.”
“Sounds more like a bad novel, but I’m listening.”
“Custody case.”
“Whom are we trying to get?”
“Duncan Kane and Meg Manning might need to sue her parents for custody of their child.”
“Will I ever be able to stop dealing with the Kanes on your behalf?”
“If they would stop needing it.”
“Right, so you want me to defend them?”
“I just need to know the practical side of the legal proceedings. What are their chances, what’s the procedure; the usual stuff. If they want you when the time comes, I’ll give you a buzz.”
“Sometimes I feel so used,” Cliff sighed, but started jotting down notes.
***
“Hey, what’s the word?” asked Logan.
“Well, several of them threatened me bodily harm and seemed upset I would even ask. Bootsy, in particular, went on to suggest I perform sexual intercourse on my own person.”
“Morals of the rabble.” Logan sighed. “What about Hector or Thumper?”
“Hector seemed quite anxious for some extra cash and assured me that he’d be willing to do anything anyone else with money would like. All while abusing my status and my personality.”
“Thanks, Dick. This helps.”
“Helps with what? Like nothing.”
Dick wandered off and Logan made eye contact with Weevil.
Later that day, Weevil snuck over to the hotel and Logan informed him about Dick’s foray into the PCHers.
“I might have to have a little talk with Hector.”
“Don’t arouse suspicion, brain trust. We don’t have any real information.”
“I won’t be specific. I just need to feel him out.”
“If you don’t show up to school tomorrow, I won’t cry.”
“Like I’d expect you to.”
***
“I talked to Cliff today,” Keith said casually.
“How’s the old man doing?”
Veronica got up to put some more salad on her plate.
“Seems like you should know since you talked with him this morning.”
“I just needed his help with a case. No sweat.”
“A case involving a custody battle?”
“Your point’s sorta going over my head, Dad.”
“This won’t be pretty, Veronica. I already have misgivings about you working on your own and being able to do your schoolwork. Don’t go adding extra work to your load.”
“I’m not. This is just a favor and I don’t really have to do anything. I just got them in touch with Cliff.”
“No espionage?”
“Doesn’t seem likely.”
“Fine, but promise me you’ll let me know if this turns sour. What if the Kanes get involved?”
Veronica shuddered involuntarily.
***
Weevil stood facing down Hector and felt in his bones that things were very wrong in the PCH Bike Club.
“I know you did it, Hector.”
“What’s wrong with that? I made some money off a dumb, rich boy, who cares?”
“After everything that’s happened, you expect me to believe you don’t know anything about paying off witnesses or having friends in high places?”
“It was just for the cash, Weevil. All he wanted was for me to stand watch while he snuck a girl past her parents. Not illegal and hardly unsafe. What’s the problem?”
“The problem could be that mono attitude you got. What happened to loyalty to the group? What happened to letting me call the shots?”
“You’re still in charge, man.”
“Then why are you sneaking around behind my back!”
“It wasn’t that. I was just living. You don’t own me.”
“Since when did I try?”
“You’re plenty high and mighty, Weevil. Live a little.”
“I’ll live plenty fine, but you got to start remembering who’s in charge. You got it, dawg?”
Hector stared at him defiantly before blinking and giving the barest of nods. Weevil breathed an inward sigh of relief. This was a slight victory, but things would come to a head again soon. Next time he might not end up top of the food chain.
