The Many and the One

by Donald Wells

  “Where is Jenny?”

  “Jenny?” A look of relief comes over Derek, but then he feels Rollins’ strong hands upon him as the Chief pushes his face into the wall and puts the cuffs on, and as his rights are read to him, Senator Derek Stern feels his life slipping away.

  * * *

  A short time later, at the cabin, Jason shuts off the TV and begins kissing Lindsay. Kissing turns to fondling as they lie on the sofa and Jason’s hands find their way beneath her blouse.

  Lindsay says breathlessly. “Not here, bed,”

  “All right,” Jason says. “but I’ll race you.”

  “No!” Lindsay chides. “That’s so childish.” She then rudely shoves Jason onto the floor and heads for the stairs, giggling as she runs.

  “Cheater!” Jason calls as he chases after her, then, from outside, comes a familiar sound.

  Lindsay stops halfway up the stairs. “That’s the gates opening.”

  Jason opens the door and finds two cars parking in the driveway. Paul and Simone get out of the silver BMW and in the police car behind them is Rollins, with a woman Jason doesn’t recognize.

  “Paul, Simone, how are you? Is everything all right?” Jason asks.

  His friends look at him oddly. Next, Jason asks Rollins, “Bob, what’s this all about?” Rollins offers Jason a weak smile.

  “You’re all starting to scare me. Why are you here so late?” Lindsay asks. “And who are you? I don’t think I know you.” Lindsay says, speaking to the woman standing next to Rollins.

  Simone takes Lindsay’s wrist and calculates her pulse rate. “How do you feel?”

  “I’m fine, Simone what is this all about?”

  “Do either of you feel groggy?”

  Jason and Lindsay shake their heads no and Simone smiles at Paul with a look of relief. She then leads Jason and Lindsay over to the sofa, where they sit amid a palpable tension.

  Simone gestures at the woman beside her. “Lindsay, Jason, this is Mrs. Webb. She works with me at the Child Welfare Agency.”

  Despite her granny glasses and small frame, Mrs. Webb looks as no-nonsense as a Marine boot camp Sergeant.

  “Why is she here Simone? What’s this all about?” Lindsay asks.

  “I’ve come for the child.” Mrs. Webb says.

  “Paul, Bob, what is this?” Jason asks.

  Paul lets out a sigh. “Maybe Simone should do the talking, honey?”

  But before Simone can speak, Mrs. Webb says. “We have proof the child has been abused.”

  “Abused?” Lindsay says. “That’s absurd. Matt’s one of the most loved children on the Island, I—”

  Jason holds up a hand. “Wait a minute; you’re not talking about Matt are you? You’re talking about Jennifer.”

  “Jenny abused? By whom?” Lindsay asks Simone.

  “Lindsay, it was Derek, and… and the abuse was sexual.”

  “Sexual? Her own father?” Lindsay’s features twist in disgust. “No, he’s not that low, even Derek couldn’t be that low. Oh God my Little Girl, all those years, all those years,”

  Jason puts his arm around Lindsay. “You said you had proof, what proof?”

  “A videotape was sent anonymously to Simone.” Paul says. “We don’t know who made it and Derek’s not talking. He called his lawyer as soon as he was arrested.”

  Lindsay wipes away tears. “Jenny’s sleeping. Do you have to take her now?”

  “It’s procedure.” Mrs. Webb says. “Specialists who can help her must see the child.”

  “But couldn’t we bring Jenny down in the morning? Do we have to wake her up now?”

  “I’m sorry. We find it best for the child if we talk to them as soon as possible, procedure dictates it.”

  Lindsay stands suddenly. “Her name is Jenny, Mrs. Webb, not the child.”

  Mrs. Webb blinks rapidly. “I’m sorry, I meant nothing by it.”

  Lindsay sighs. “No, I’m sorry, I’m very upset and I’m very angry and I’m scared. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

  “Mrs. Webb, it might be best if Mrs. Reynolds went up alone to wake her.” Rollins says.

  “That would be fine.” Mrs. Webb says, acquiescing to the voice of authority, although her expression reveals that she thinks it’s anything but fine.

  Lindsay and Jason embrace, afterward, Lindsay goes upstairs to get Jenny.

  “Simone,” Jason says. “Is it bad?” And Simone nods her head yes.

  Looks of pain and anger converge on Jason’s face, but are immediately replaced by a frown of concern as he hears Lindsay shout down.

  “Jason help! Oh God everybody help!”

  * * *

  Lindsay found the suicide note and the empty pill bottle and tried to wake Jenny without success.

  Rollins arrives in the room and looks at the bottle. He says, “Oh no,” under his breath and tells them that if Jenny has any chance to survive they will have to make her vomit immediately.

  “If she’s unconscious we can’t induce vomiting, it would be too dangerous. I have to wake her if possible. Please understand, I am not trying to hurt her but she must wake up.”

  With that said, he turns and slaps Jenny hard across the face.

  Jenny utters a soft sound, but doesn’t wake. Rollins slaps her three more times, but harder.

  Jenny’s eyes flicker open and she moans. “Stop, that hurts.”

  “Let’s get her on her feet and into the bathroom.” Rollins says.

  They are able to induce vomiting; afterward, Jason picks up Jenny and heads downstairs. As Jason is leaving with Rollins, Lindsay tells him that she’ll wake up Matt and follow.

  Lindsay sits on the bed and looks around the room. Jenny’s clothes are on a chair; they’re neatly folded and stacked in a tidy bundle.

  * * *

  Jason gets in the back seat of the patrol car with Jenny. The iron gates are barely open when Rollins, with lights on and siren blaring, heads for the road. He talks to dispatch, telling them to alert the hospital that they’ll be arriving, E.T.A. four minutes.

  Jenny is still barely awake, as Jason cradles her in his arms and speaks to her.

  “Jennifer why? Why would you do something like this to yourself? Oh baby nothing that’s happened has been your fault. You’re a victim honey. Jennifer, Lindsay and I love you so much. Don’t go away. Please don’t go away like Simona. Please Jennifer we love you honey. We love you so much.”

  Jenny speaks, in the smallest of voices, barely heard over the siren.

  “I’m no good, let me die.”

  Jason’s heart breaks at hearing this. “No good? Jennifer you’re priceless, you’re everything to Lindsay and I, you’re—” Jenny lets out a choked sob and goes limp in Jason’s arms.

  “Bob!” Jason screams. “She’s unconscious, hurry!”

  Minutes later the car screeches to a halt outside the emergency entrance. A gurney is rushed out and Jason and the Chief watch in silence as Jenny is whisked away.

  Jason turns to Rollins. “You don’t know how much I so want to kill Derek. First he rapes Lindsay and now this, this abomination. What sort of man hurts a child like that, that way?”

  “Probably, a man who was abused as a child himself,” Rollins says.

  Jason makes a face. “You don’t mean—Charlotte? Good God!”

  Soon, Lindsay runs in with Matt sleeping in her arms, Simone, Paul and Mrs. Webb follow her. “How is she? Jason how is she?”

  “We don’t know yet honey, we just have to wait, and pray.”

  “Jason read her note, I have it here.” Lindsay passes him the note.

  To my loving parents,

  That’s what you guys have been to me, parents, like the mommy and daddy I never had. I’m sorry if what I’m about to do hurts you, but it’s for the best, I can’t go on as I am. I dreamed of being with you again for so long and now it’s finally come true. I always told myself that one more day with you would be enough, it’s not. A million days wouldn’t be enough.


  So much has happened in the years I’ve been gone. Lindsay I’m no longer the little girl you loved. If you ever found out what I am it would disgust you.

  I ask you and Jason to please accept what I do and don’t look for answers. I couldn’t stand it if you knew. Call it my last request of you if you want, but please, please, I beg of you please, don’t look for answers for what I’m about to do.

  I’ve decided to kill myself. It’s best, really. I can’t imagine living the rest of my life as what I am. Jason, Lindsay, I love you both to the depths of my soul, please never doubt that. Tell little Matt that his big sister loved him very much; he’s so dear to me.

  I also have reason to believe Matt could be harmed. Please take this seriously and don’t let him out of your sight ever. It’s probably best if you hire someone to watch over him. I cannot tell you how I know this, but trust that it’s true and please keep him safe.

  I don’t know what happens when you die. I don’t know if I’ll go to hell or if there’s simply nothing. Maybe for some reason, God will take me into heaven. If I find myself in heaven I know what it will be like. It’ll be a cabin in the sky and I’ll sit on a granite bench overlooking the sea and wait for you. Please remember that I love you both so very much.

  Your Little Girl,

  Jennifer

  As Jason finishes reading the note he wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

  “That poor little girl,”

  Paul places a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be concerned about the threat she mentions against Matt. Simone believes it was only Derek’s way of intimidating and controlling Jenny.”

  Jason moans in disgust. “That miserable son of a bitch,”

  A doctor emerges through a set of swinging doors and walks down the corridor. He has shoulder-length black hair tied back in a ponytail and a two day growth of beard. To Jason, the doctor appears very young and extremely tired.

  After introductions, Lindsay asks. “How is she doctor?”

  “Well, her heart stopped beating and—”

  Lindsay leans into Jason while moaning. “No no no…”

  The doctor quickly puts up a hand. “I’m sorry, she’ll be fine. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m still a little shaken myself. I’m not used to young girls trying to kill themselves. She’ll sleep all night and experience some weakness for a while, but she’ll be back to normal in a few days. We’ve got her on an IV for hydration and have administered activated charcoal to absorb the toxins, but I think whoever got her to vomit saved her life.”

  “What about her full body examination?” Simone asks.

  “Ahhh… she shows obvious signs of sexual activity, and there’s vaginal scarring, not recent. She’s been abused for years, I’m sorry.” The doctor then offers a sympathetic look and leaves.

  Lindsay turns to Jason. “We let her go away with him. We should have taken her then. No matter what, we should have taken her then.”

  “Lindsay stop!” Simone cries. “This is not your fault. Jenny needs you to be strong now.”

  “Simone’s right honey, let’s just concentrate on what we can do for Jennifer.” Jason says.

  “What about that, what happens to Jenny now Simone?” Lindsay asks.

  “She’ll need a massive amount of therapy to counter the abuse, and love, she needs to be loved and not judged. Understand, that right now Jenny feels like the lowest thing on earth. She’s filled with self-revulsion, which is why she tried to commit suicide.”

  “We want her Simone, Bob, Mrs. Webb; whatever it takes we want her in our home. We can love her and take care of her.” Lindsay pleads, but afterward she looks to Jason with questioning eyes, wondering if she’s asking too much.

  Jason takes her hand. “You don’t need to ask. I love her as much as you do.”

  Mrs. Webb steps forward. “What you want may not be possible, there are procedures in place which—”

  “Mrs. Webb!” Simone says. “These are the finest people I know and they love Jenny to death. We’re going to do all we can to facilitate them gaining custody. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes Doctor Martinez, absolutely,” Mrs. Webb says.

  Rollins nods his head. “I may be of some help there also.”

  “Guys, let us take Matt tonight and tomorrow we’ll bring him home.”

  “Paul, thank you, Jason and I will be here all night and Matt’s too young to understand this.” Lindsay transfers Matt into Paul’s arms. Matt stirs, but doesn’t wake up. Lindsay turns to Simone. “Just tell him his sister had a small accident. Do you still have your key?”

  “Yes, I’ll take him to school and then bring him home in the afternoon.” Simone says, then the two friends embrace and Paul and Simone leave.

  Rollins takes Jason’s hand. “I’ll do what I can to help. I’m going to make a few calls and look into it.” After giving Lindsay a kiss on the cheek, the Chief leaves.

  Mrs. Webb remains.

  “I have to stay in case the child—Jenny—wakes up early, I have to talk to her first.” With that said, Mrs. Webb stands there, looking awkward.

  Lindsay walks over and hugs her. “God bless you and your rules Mrs. Webb. I wanted to let Jenny sleep. If you hadn’t made me go and wake her she would have died. God bless you.”

  The two women hold each other and cry.

  43

  Jenny awakens, and the parade of doctors, law-enforcement and social workers continues past noon.

  Jason and Lindsay find her sitting up in bed looking miserable; she’s in a hospital ward that’s quiet, nearly empty.

  Lindsay takes a seat on the side of the bed. “How are you baby? Oh, you scared us to death.”

  Jenny looks down and says nothing; her hands are in her lap, clutched tightly together.

  “Jennifer we love you honey. Never forget that, we love you.”

  Jenny winces as if Jason had struck her and speaks in a small voice.

  “They told me that you know what I’ve done, what I am. How can you love me? How?”

  As Jenny begins to cry, Lindsay reaches over and grasps her hands.

  “How can we not Little Girl? You’re so precious to us. We’re trying everything in our power to get you placed in our custody. We want you home with us.”

  “Really?”

  “Absolutely,” Jason says.

  The ward nurse enters. She’s a stern-faced woman in a starched, white uniform.

  “I’m sorry; you’ll have to leave now.”

  Lindsay nods to the nurse and then turns back to Jenny. “We’ll see you tomorrow baby and don’t ever scare us like this again, please?”

  They bend over the bed and kiss Jenny goodbye. As they’re leaving, Jenny calls to them.

  “I, I love you guys.”

  “We love you too Jennifer, you just get better and mind the doctors, they’re here to help.”

  “I will Jason. What’s going to happen to father?”

  “We don’t know yet honey, but he’ll never hurt you again.” Lindsay says.

  * * *

  Later, they return home to find Simone watching TV with Matt.

  “Mommy where’s Jenny? Aunt Simone says she had an accident.”

  Lindsay picks Matt up and kisses him, while realizing that he’s dressed in some of Paul Jr.’s old clothes. In her anxiety over Jenny, she had totally forgotten that Matt had on only his pajamas beneath his coat, as she handed him to Paul last night.

  “Honey, Jenny will be fine, oh and she may be living with us soon, would you like that?”

  “You mean all the time, like a real sister?”

  “That’s right honey, all the time.” Lindsay says.

  Matt smiles. “Cool, I like Jenny, she can make pizza.” And all three adults have their first laugh of the day.

  “Mommy can I go play video games?”

  “Sure honey, mommy will call you when dinner’s ready.”

  “Okay,” Matt says, he then slides to the floor and runs upstairs.

  “Di
d you see Jenny? I left instructions to let you in.” Simone says.

  “Yes, and she’s so depressed. Are we going to be able to bring her home?” Lindsay asks.

  “Bob and I are working on that. Bob’s better connected than I knew. He called the Governor’s office and got right through, apparently they’re old college friends. Also, I hear Derek and the Governor are not friendly at all.”

  “Thanks so much for helping. How did you get the tape?” Jason asks.

  “It came by FedEx yesterday. I had no idea what it was and tossed it into my briefcase. For some reason it nagged at me all evening and I placed it in the VCR before going to bed. Derek is so sick. On the tape, he instructs Jenny to come over here and seduce you Jason.”

  “Good God Simone, why?” Lindsay asks.

  “He wanted to frame Jason for child molestation and blackmail him so you could never use the tape recording of your rape against him. Jenny tells him that Jason would never touch her like that, that’s when he gave her the pills. Jenny was supposed to drug you two and then take incriminating pictures with Jason, in Derek’s perverted mind it all made sense.”

  “How soon until Jennifer can leave the hospital?” Jason asks.

  “Soon, too soon I think, she really needs intensive therapy. There’s a counseling center in New York State that’s excellent, but it’s expensive.”

  Lindsay nods. “If you arrange it, we’ll pay for it, whatever you think is best for her.”

  “I’ll call tomorrow and make arrangements. While she’s there you won’t be able to see her, it’s intense and the patients aren’t allowed visitors, not even phone calls.”

  “How long will she have to stay there?” Jason asks.

  “I believe it’s a nine-day protocol, I’ll have more details tomorrow.”

  “Thank you Simone, and thank Paul for everything also.”

  Simone smiles, “You don’t have to thank us Lindsay, Jenny’s one of the family.”

  * * *

  Later, after Simone has left, they sit in the kitchen watching television.

  “The Senator is said to deny all charges. Recapping our top story, in Israel today—Click!”