The Advocate's Illusion

by Teresa Burrell

  “Can you make him stay away from me?”

  “Gibbs?”

  “Yes, I don’t want to even see him.”

  “Have you seen Gibbs since you’ve been in foster care?”

  “I saw him walk by the school a couple of times, and once when my foster parents brought me home from school, I saw him in his car near their house.”

  “Did you tell anyone?”

  “No.”

  “We have grounds now to get a restraining order against him, so he won’t have the right to come near you, your home, or your school. In the meantime, you’ll be safe at Polinsky. But you need to promise me that if you ever see him again, you’ll report it to the nearest adult in charge and have them call me or the social worker. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “I have a few more uncomfortable questions, but I need to ask.” Sabre glanced at Mary Margaret. When she didn’t object, Sabre said. “I know you told Penny that Gibbs did something to you before the wedding. She never would’ve said anything except she was worried about you. Can you tell me what happened?”

  Mary Margaret was silent for a few seconds before she spoke. “Brother Gibbs touched me down there.” She glanced toward her crotch. “But I didn’t want him to. He just did it anyway.”

  “Did it happen more than once?”

  “Yes, whenever we were alone, he would do it. I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t. It just kept getting worse.”

  “And what about your mother? Did you tell her?”

  “I didn’t tell Papa or Mama because Brother Gibbs said I was a bad girl and I would be kicked out of the church. He said my parents would be shamed and they would hate me and send me away. I was afraid I’d never see my brothers again.” She looked up. “I don’t know how they found out, but that’s when Papa said I would have to marry him to save my soul because I was soiled.”

  “Soiled?” Sabre spurted. Then she bit her lip to keep from saying what she wanted to say.

  “But I didn’t want him to touch me. He just did it anyway.”

  Sabre took a breath and spoke softly again. “Did you tell your father that?”

  “Yes, but he said if I didn’t really want him to I could’ve stopped him, and that if I was a good girl, I would’ve asked God for help. And now, the only way to fix it was to get married.”

  Her gaze turned downward.

  “It’s going to get better,” Sabre said. “I promise you.” She didn’t usually make promises to kids when dealing with the law because she knew she couldn’t be certain of the outcome, but she had to give this little girl some hope. She didn’t know for certain what ruling she would get on the validity of the marriage, but she had enough now to get Gibbs for the molestation charges with or without a marriage. And she was determined to see that happen.

  Chapter 46

  Irene and Sabre sat outside of Department Four waiting for the special hearing that was set to inform the court about Mary Margaret’s return.

  “How’s Candace doing?” Sabre asked.

  “She’s afraid of what will happen when her husband finds out she defied him,” Irene said. “Her word, not mine.”

  “Have you seen the special hearing report?”

  “No, I didn’t see anything in my mailbox.”

  Sabre handed her a single sheet of paper. Irene turned it over as if she was looking for more, then said, “This is it?”

  “Yup.”

  “All this says is that Mary Margaret ran away from the church while her supervisor was in the bathroom and that she turned herself in.”

  “That’s what happened, right?” Sabre smiled.

  “That’s what happened.”

  “If this goes to trial, we won’t be able to keep it from the court, but for now at least, we’re good.”

  Bob walked up with his client, Seth Fowler. “We’re ready,” Bob said.

  The social worker, who approached behind Bob, said, “You might want to see this first.” She handed them each a blue document, which the attorneys all knew was the paper used for a petition. She also gave them another report. “We amended the petition to include the dates three weeks prior to the wedding when Lester Gibbs was molesting Mary Margaret.”

  Seth Fowler grabbed the paperwork from Bob. “That’s disgusting!”

  “If that’s so disgusting, why would you let him marry her?” Sabre muttered.

  “That was God’s way of saving her. Besides, my daughter wouldn’t do that.”

  “Your daughter didn’t do anything.” Sabre spoke loudly and clearly this time. “Gibbs did.”

  “Okay,” Bob said waving his hand. “I need to speak to my client.” Bob directed Seth away from the group.

  ~~~

  The parties were all seated at the counsel table with their attorneys and the case was called to order. Introductions were made for the record.

  “I’m glad to see Mary Margaret is back,” Judge Hekman said. “Is she at Polinsky?”

  “Yes, Your Honor,” Deputy County Counsel Linda Farris said. “However, the foster parents are willing to take her back into their home, and Mary Margaret would like to go there.”

  The judge turned to Sabre.

  “I agree, Your Honor.”

  Bob said, “Our first choice would be home with the parents, but short of that, we have no objection to the foster home.”

  Irene said, “No objection, Your Honor.”

  “How do your clients plead on the amended petition?”

  The parents both entered denials and kept the original trial date.

  “I’ve made my decision on the demurrer,” Judge Hekman began. “Obviously, with the amended petition, the demurrer does not apply to Count II of the petition stating molest took place prior to the wedding. I’m sure no one in this courtroom would make that argument.” The judge glared at Bob for a brief second.

  “That’s correct, Your Honor, but we would still contest Count I. Of course, your decision on the demurrer will make a great deal of difference on how we proceed at trial.”

  “I understand that, Mr. Clark, and therefore, I’ve made a decision. As you all know, even if this practice of marrying in the church without a state-issued license or, in the case of a minor, court approval, were a valid religious one, the First Amendment is not absolute. The state has compelling reasons for requiring court involvement. In addition, I’m not convinced the child’s agreement was obtained without duress or coercion. Marriage is defined as a voluntary agreement, making the child’s consent paramount. It appears this child did not want to marry at all. Any countervailing religious interest here does not measure up to the state’s interest or the ‘best interest of the child’ standard. Therefore, I’m denying the demurrer and ruling the marriage invalid.”

  Sabre looked at Candace to see her reaction. She saw her mouth curl up ever so slightly on the sides. She fought the smile and quickly looked blank, a look she had probably practiced many times.

  Chapter 47

  Sabre, JP, Ron, Beverly, Bob, and Marilee walked up to the Sports Arena. Ron and his mother were at the back of the pack.

  “I’ve always wanted to see this guy,” Ron said. He gave his mother a quick squeeze. “I’m glad you came, Mom. It’ll be fun.”

  “You just want to keep an eye on me. I know your tricks.”

  “There is that, but I also didn’t want to be a fifth wheel. You make a great date.”

  “You need to find yourself a nice girl. How am I ever going to have grandchildren if you don’t find someone soon?”

  “Sabre could have children too, you know.”

  “I’m not holding my breath for that. I’ve always thought I stood a better chance with you, Ronnie. Sabre’s always been so career-minded.”

  “She has a career, and I don’t even have a real job. I guess I’d better get one of those before I think about having kids.”

  “I didn’t mean that, Ronnie. I’m sorry.”

  Ron forced a smile. “I know you didn’t, Mom. It is what it is. I
’ll find something soon.”

  They walked into the arena and took their seats in the front row. “Wow, we couldn’t ask for better seats,” Bob said. “It helps to have connections.”

  “For sure,” Sabre said.

  The lights dimmed and music blared from the stage. With the curtain still closed, a deep voice announced, “The Greatest magician in the world, the one and only, the Great Silent Thunder.” A thunderous sound and the opening of the curtain revealed the magician with his black tails and hat, his face painted half white and half kelly-green. He lifted both arms in the air and then slowly took a bow. The crowd roared.

  When the noise died down, the great magician did a few sleight-of-hand tricks that required no words and then turned to his female assistant. He pointed at her and then at someone in the audience. The assistant walked down the steps and toward the person. The assistant raised her hand above the man’s head and pointed at him. The magician put his hand out, palm up, and raised it up in a rising motion. A young man about six feet tall stood up. The magician nodded, and the assistant escorted the man to the stage. He then signaled for the crew to bring out a tiger in a cage. They rolled it out on a platform, so the distance from the floor to the top of the cage was about seven feet.

  He pointed at the man and then at the cage as if he were signaling him to get inside with the tiger. The man shook his head. The crowd laughed. Silent Thunder motioned as if he were cradling something and petting it. Then he pointed to the man and the tiger again. The man shook his head once more. Finally, the magician put his hands out in front of him, palms up, and shrugged.

  Silent Thunder walked the man over to the cage and showed him the only opening to the cage was in the front. The tiger roared and the man jumped back. When the magician directed him to stand near the edge of the cage, the man took a step away so he wasn’t so close. The crowd laughed and applauded. The magician positioned the volunteer so his back was to the cage, just off to the side.

  The assistant brought out a curtain on a cable, and both of the men inspected it. They moved it around and fluffed it out showing the crowd it was an ordinary curtain. Silent Thunder handed one end of the cable to the man, placing it in his right hand, and made a motion with his hand to raise it up, which the man did. Silent Thunder pointed at his eyes with his index and middle finger and then at the audience. He motioned twice. The man nodded that he understood.

  The magician took the other end of the cable, and proceeded to encircle the cage with the curtain, which completely engulfed it. He paused next to the man for about one second, then he dashed back around the cage, dropped the curtain, and the tiger was gone. He opened the cage door, reached in, and removed a little orange kitten, which he handed to his helper. The crowd roared.

  As the volunteer walked to his seat, Silent Thunder wrapped himself in the curtain and suddenly he was on the other end of the stage. The curtain dropped to the floor in an empty heap.

  When the applause died down, Silent Thunder indicated he needed another volunteer. He pointed toward Sabre and her group and sent his assistant into the crowd. As she got closer to the group, he pointed at JP. The young woman stood next to JP and pointed at him. The Great Silent Thunder nodded. JP protested.

  “Come on,” Bob said. “Don’t be chicken.”

  “No, I’m not going up there.”

  “Do it,” Ron said.

  “I’d rather be beat with a sack of wet catfish.”

  The woman looked confused.

  “That’s a ‘no’,” Bob said.

  The assistant stepped back and pointed at Sabre. The magician nodded. Sabre stood up and followed her onto the stage. The stage hands rolled out a 4 x 4 x 6-foot windowless box with a door on the front. Sabre inspected it for openings and trap doors. She found none.

  Silent Thunder took two ropes from a table and handed them to his assistant. He clasped his hands in front of himself and she tied them together. Then he cocked his head to one side, looking at Sabre. The assistant held up the rope. Sabre put her hands out like the magician had and the assistant tied them together.

  “I don’t like that,” JP said.

  “You don’t like other men tying up your woman?” Bob teased. “Imagine that.”

  “No, I guess I don’t.”

  “It’s just a show,” Ron said. “They’ll go in the box, and in a few minutes, they’ll both reappear somewhere else in the room. I’ve seen this trick on YouTube, but I have no idea how he does it.”

  “Still don’t like it,” JP muttered.

  The assistant opened the door to the box. Sabre stepped inside first and then the Great Silent Thunder. A scrambling noise came from the box and then silence. All eyes were fixed on the box.

  “What’s taking so long?” JP asked.

  “It’s a show,” Bob said. “The longer he makes the audience wait, the more the anticipation builds.”

  Another minute passed and JP shifted in his seat as if he was going to stand.

  “Where are you going?”

  “On stage, to see what’s going on. This is taking way too long.”

  “You’re going to ruin the trick.”

  “I’m supposed to care?”

  Bob glanced at a huge security guard standing near the exit. He nodded toward him. “You may want to care about him?”

  JP shot a quick glimpse his way. “If he wants a fight, he better pack a lunch and bring a flashlight.”

  As JP stood, the assistant walked to the opposite end of the stage toward the Great Silent Thunder, who was sitting on the wall by the steps. Surprise emanated from the crowd followed by loud applause.

  The magician stood up and looked around. He stretched his hands out in a swooping motion, then scanned the audience. He looked back at the stage and out into the audience again.

  “Where is Sabre?” JP asked.

  “Will you relax? She’s going to pop up any minute now.”

  The magician swooped his arms out again. The spotlight scanned the room. The assistant moved back toward the box, but before she got there, JP had run up the six steps and onto the stage.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Getting my girlfriend.”

  “Stop. You’ll ruin the trick.”

  “Does it always take this long?”

  “No, but we were told to wait.”

  “Then you do that,” JP said and opened the door of the box.

  Sabre was lying on the floor in a heap, her hands still tied together. Scattered on the floor were a rope, a top hat, and a pair of white gloves.

  Chapter 48

  “We need the paramedics,” JP yelled.

  JP checked her pulse. It was light, but she was breathing. Before he could do much else, two men in uniform appeared and asked him to step out. The box was too small for all of them. JP wanted to pick her up and bring her out, but without knowing what had happened, he didn’t want to risk hurting her.

  Bob and Ron were already on stage when JP came out. The murmur from the crowd seemed extra loud, and security guards were running onto the stage. JP hurried over to where the magician was standing, his mouth agape. Bob followed him. Ron stayed near his sister.

  “What happened?” JP asked.

  He didn’t respond, keeping in character. He nodded his head toward the side of the stage, then stepped back behind the curtain. JP and Bob followed.

  JP reached up and grabbed the magician’s collar. “If you can talk, you better start now.”

  Bob reached out and touched his friend on the shoulder. “JP.”

  The magician took a deep breath. “I don’t know,” he said with a heavy accent.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? You were in there with her.”

  “Actually, I wasn’t.”

  “I saw you go inside.”

  “No, you saw someone dressed like me go inside. There are two of us.”

  “Where’s the other one?”

  “He should be in the dressing room, but I don’t know for s
ure. I’ve been here the whole time. Your friend should have reappeared in the audience shortly after I did, but she didn’t.”

  “Check on Sabre,” JP said to Bob as he saw a policeman approaching them. “I’ll be back.”

  JP went through the back curtain where he encountered a very young security guard. JP would have guessed he was still in high school if he had seen him on the street.

  “You can’t be back here. You need to take your seat.”

  “That’s my girlfriend out there. I just want to know what’s going on.”

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “Look.” JP raised his voice. “There’s another magician dressed like Silent Thunder in the dressing room. You can be the hero here. Let’s find him and see what he has to say.”

  The kid hesitated, but only for a second. “Right this way.” They stepped around the corner and the young man knocked on a door. No one answered.

  “Open it,” JP said, and started to reach for the knob.

  “I’ll do it.”

  He opened the door. Lying on the floor was another magician in tails, wearing a green and white face mask. His top hat was across the floor. He moaned. The young security guard stood there dumbfounded. JP took advantage of the moment and dropped down to check on him. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.” He sat partway up and reached for the back of his head. “My head hurts.”

  “What happened?”

  “I think Thunder hit me with something.”

  “Thunder?”

  “My partner—the other magician.”

  The young security guard suddenly thought he should be in charge. “We’d better call the paramedics, and…and…I should radio this in.”

  “You should do that,” JP said.

  While the guard got on the radio, JP remained with the magician. “What happened to the woman inside the box?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean?” JP raised his voice.

  “I was never in the box. This happened before I could go do it.”

  Just then the paramedics walked in with two security guards and a uniformed policeman.