Cabin Boys - 10. Chapter 10

I picked up the book I was reading, then I realized I didn’t have a place to sit. I brought the chair we removed back into their room. I was wondering who was going to sleep on top, it was Joey. I read until then boys started to yawn. I hugged them, wished them goodnight, then went to close up. The next morning, two wide eyes boys had to tell me about sleeping in the bunk beds. I’m not sure if it was the bed as much as it reminded them of the farm. I figured it was like a little piece of home brought to their room.

Lenny showed up two weeks later, as he promised. The boys showed him their room. We had pictures on the walls, I had to buy frames. Lenny thought the place looked fine. We didn’t get a visit that week. So we were on our toes knowing they would be coming. It was Thursday night, Lenny just left. He hadn’t pulled out of the driveway when they showed up. The boys were in bed, I was about to lock up. Lenny accompanied them to the door. The woman wasn’t happy to see Lenny, the police officer who was with her, knew Lenny and they exchange pleasantries. I introduced myself to the Child Service’s lady. She never said her name, Lenny shrugged his shoulder. I showed her around the first floor, she wanted to see where the boys slept. I showed her the room, cautioning her the boys were sleeping. Didn’t matter, she turned on the light, waking the boys.

Pete, threw off his blanket, “Dad, is she from Child Services?”

“Yes, Pete, go back to sleep.”

Pete got back in bed, I saw Joey looking over the railing. I smiled and winked at him. I showed her the rest of the second floor. She acted like she was disappointed. When she was ready to leave I asked her if she had any questions, she said she had seen enough. I looked at Lenny, he smiled. After they left, “I taped everything. Earlier I taped the rooms, the tape shows the date and time. This isn’t the first time I have dealt with Child’s Services.”

I locked up and went to bed

In the morning Pete wanted to know what was next. I told him the lady would issue a report then we’ll probably have to go to court. “We’ll let Mr. Alderson handle that. He’ll keep us informed.”

We had just finished lunch when Lenny called. “Jim, it seems a petition was filed claiming the boys as their relatives.”

“When you traced their family did you find any living relatives.”

“No, that’s what is so strange. As far as I was able to check their grandparents were the last living relatives.”

“When they were placed with their grandparents didn’t Child Services do a check before placing them?”

“According to my records, yes.”

“Then how did this person not have been identified at that time? Does this sound kosher to you? This comes out after they checked the house. I don’t know about you, but I want to fight this. Can you get a profile on this person or persons?”

“I’m working on it right now. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have something. I suggest you don’t mention this to the boys.”

I needed to think about this. Nothing is said until Lenny files for the insurance. I called Lenny, “Lenny, the boys' money from the insurance, is there a way to protect it until Pete reaches 21? I was thinking all of this has happened after we investigate their parents and the insurance policy, someone may be after the money."

“Jim, maybe you could do something through your investments. I’ll see what I can do from a legal point. Between us, we can remove the money as an incentive.”

A week later Lenny called, “Jim, we have an appointment with a judge concerning your guardianship. I expect Child Services will be there and maybe the people who are claiming kinship with the boys. We need to talk.”

“Lenny, meet me at my office tomorrow.”

I started to look at investment offers for the boys. Investments are risky but if I structure it correctly, no one will be able to touch it except Pete when he is 21. If someone thinks it will be easy to get it, they will be disappointed.

On the day of the meeting with the judge, I had the boys in their suits. They looked sharp. Lenny met us at the Court House, he had a room for us. “Pete, as your lawyer there are a few things you need to know. But first I have a question for you. Is there any possibility that your father had any living relatives?”

“No Sir, grandfather, and grandmother told us they were our only living relatives and they were glad because they didn’t have to share us.”

“Today, when the judge asks you that question, answer just like you did.”

We sat in the room about 15 minutes before the bailiff called us.

Walking into the room, I saw our Child Service’s lady sitting at the table along with a man I didn’t know. Pete started to tug on my jacket. I looked at him, he pulled me down to whisper in my ear. “That is the man who told us we had to get off the property.”

So now some blocks started to fall in place. It wasn’t the insurance money but the lawsuit against selling off the farm. I jotted a quick note to Lenny, telling him the boys knew that man.

The judge came in, we stood, when he sat we did as well. The judge asked who we all were, Lenny introduced us, the woman from Child Service introduced herself and the man who claimed to be a relative of the boys, introduced himself. Lenny had his cell phone in his lap and quickly typed in a message and sent it.

The judge mentioned the petition for guardianship, ask the woman if she conducted a home inspection, she said she did and handed a report to the judge. Lenny asked the judge for a copy of the report since she hadn’t given him one. The judge handed the report to the bailiff to make a copy. When he returned with the copy, Lenny asked for a 15-minute recess so he could read the report. The judge agreed and said we would reconvene in 30 minutes. We left and returned to the room where we had waited to be called.

As Lenny read the report, he began to laugh. “Jim, as an unwed man you are likely to render sexual abuse upon these boys. She has listed several statements concerning your behavior around the boys. Even the wink you gave boys as we left the room.”

“Did you bring the recording with you?”

“Yes, I had Lois type it and notarize it.”

“Pete, you recognized that man?”

“Yes, sir, he was the man who came and told us we had to leave. He put a lock on the door.”

“Lenny, he’s after the money from the lawsuit you filed concerning the farm and the will.”

“I have a feeling he’s the one who bought the farm. I’ll bet he paid less than 10 cents on the dollar. I had the farm appraised and that is what I used when I filed the lawsuit against the county.”