Part 19 (2/2)
Mike had grumbled a few obscenities, as much a complaint about being awakened before dawn as a judgment on the situation.
”To complicate matters even more, you personally know four of the kids.”
”s.h.i.+t. Just tell me.”
”Cathy's son, Seth. But he wasn't drinking or smoking, according to the others. Then there's the Harper sisters, whose father is the minister at First Baptist-”
”Lorie's cousin John Earl's daughters?”
”Yep. And Melissa Hovater, whose father is the Church of Christ preacher.”
”I'll be there as soon as I can. I've got to call my mom and ask her to come over to stay with the kids. Have you let all of them contact their parents?”
”I wanted to talk to you first and see if we can't work something out so we can let these kids go home with their parents and maybe not charge them. Well, except Ricky, who provided the beer and the pot. And Seth has asked if he can call his mother instead of his grandparents.”
”His grandparents are his legal guardians,” Mike had reminded him.
”I know, but the boy's scared to death about how his grandfather will react. I thought Cathy could-”
”h.e.l.l, we'll work it all out when I get there.”
It had taken Mike thirty minutes to arrange for his mother to babysit and for him to get dressed and make it to the office. That had been twenty minutes ago, and they were still trying to ”work it out.”
Neal Prater's parents were the first to arrive. His mother was in tears and his burly, bl.u.s.tering father was cursing a blue streak until Mike spoke to him privately. He calmed down instantly. Lacey Sims's mother, a divorcee who worked the night s.h.i.+ft at the Tyson plant, sent Lacey's aunt to the station. Aunt Bree had accused them all of hara.s.sing her niece and bringing her in on trumped-up charges. Ricky had been booked, put behind bars and was waiting for his lawyer.
When Cathy arrived, she searched the crowd, looking for Seth. Jack went to her and took her aside for a couple of minutes.
”He wasn't drinking or smoking pot,” Jack said. ”I don't think Mike is going to charge him with anything, but he is going to talk pretty rough to all of them. The boy who brought the beer and pot is nineteen, and he's been arrested.”
”Why would Seth do something like this? He's never-”
”I think he went along to keep watch over Missy Hovater,” Jack said. ”I got the impression he likes her.”
Cathy glanced at the teenagers huddled together across the room, Seth with his arm around Missy's shoulders. Charity Harper was wiping the black mascara-streaked tears from her sister's face.
”Did you call J.B. and Mona?” she asked.
”No,” Jack said. ”Mike and I aren't in agreement on this, and he may call them yet, but Seth seems genuinely terrified of how his grandfather will react.”
”J.B. doesn't allow for human frailties. He demanded perfection from Mark, and he expects no less from Seth.”
”You realize your lawyer could use this incident against the Cantrells,” Jack told her. ”If you-”
”I'd never subject Seth to the humiliation. If Mike can find a way not to charge Seth...I know J.B. will have to be told. But it will be easier for Seth if he can tell him himself later and not have to face his grandfather here at the sheriff's office.” She laid her hand on Jack's arm. ”Thank you for letting him call me. Now I need to see my son.”
Just as Cathy walked toward Seth, John Earl and Ruth Ann Harper arrived. The moment she saw her parents, Felicity ran straight into her father's open arms.
”Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry,” she cried. ”I swear I'll never do anything this stupid again. Please don't let them put me in jail. I just took one or two little puffs. I swear, I swear.”
John Earl wrapped his arms around his younger child and whispered something to her. She laid her head on his shoulder and clung to him. Quietly, Charity came over to her parents and looked from one to the other.
”I tried to stop her,” Charity said. ”But she listened to Lacey and Neal, and when they all left, I couldn't let her go without me. And I couldn't tell on her.” She glanced back at Seth. ”Seth and I didn't drink anything or smoke anything. We just went along to keep an eye on Felicity and Missy.”
John Earl offered his elder daughter a weak smile. ”Thank you, sweetheart, for trying to look after your sister.”
Ruth Ann wrapped her arm around Charity's shoulder. ”This is not your fault, and I don't want you to worry that we blame you in any way.”
Felicity raised her head, pulled out of her father's embrace and faced her parents. ”It's all my fault. I'm the one who talked Missy into going. I told her Neal and Lacey were going to meet up with Ricky and wouldn't it be fun if we went, too. I'm sorry. I'm such an idiot.”
”You certainly acted foolishly tonight,” John Earl said.
”What are they going to do to me?” Felicity asked, a note of fear in her trembling voice.
”I don't know, honey,” Ruth Ann said. ”You're seventeen and were caught drinking beer and smoking marijuana.”
Felicity burst into tears again.
Cathy walked over to Seth where he stood beside a subdued Missy Hovater, her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the floor. When he saw his mother, Seth stared directly at her, a silent plea for understanding in his blue eyes.
”I'm sorry about this, Mom.”
”Are you all right?” she asked.
He nodded.
”What about you, Missy?”
When the girl lifted her head, Cathy saw tears in her eyes and remorse in her expression.
”Seth didn't do anything wrong. He tried to convince me not to go, but I wouldn't listen to him. He just went with me to make sure...” Her voice broke.
Cathy could tell from the imploring look in Seth's eyes that he wanted her to comfort Missy. She laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. ”We all make mistakes. You've learned a valuable lesson tonight, and we're fortunate that Sheriff Birkett is trying his best to sort through the facts and keep most of you from winding up in juvenile court.”
”I wish my father would see it that way. You're being so nice, and so are Felicity and Charity's parents.” Tears streamed down Missy's face.
Cathy gave her shoulder a squeeze. ”I'm sure your father will be disappointed in your actions, but I have no doubt that he'll be glad things didn't turn out much worse.”
A voice called out from across the room. ”Where's my daughter?” All heads turned to locate the source of the booming voice.
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