Timothy - 66. Chapter 66

Rich was waiting for us, and we didn’t even come to a complete stop before he opened the back door and jumped in.

“Anxious, are we?”

“Yes, I spoke to Robert. He said if this story is what he thinks it is, it’ll be a blockbuster.”

“I am not interested in it being a blockbuster. I’m more concerned about justice being served. If we are successful, this type of behavior will be frowned on, and the people in power will step up to the plate and make changes. It’s hard for me to believe that no one on the faculty knew this wasn’t going on.”

Stephen held up the report we made for him, and I nodded yes. Handing it to Rich, “This is what Tim is talking about.”

Rich leafed through the report. Stephen watched as he began to read the information in earnest. He would read and then look at Stephen. He must have read that report at least three times.

“Tim, is this really true? I’m having a hard time with this. Where were the faculty? They must have known, and they knew about the harassment we gave you and Donnie. I can’t count the number of times I sat in the principal’s office because of that harassment.”

“I believe that your article will bring this to the public’s attention. I’m hoping others will come and testify about the molestation of other girls who were my sister’s classmates. I told you that I will go after those boys and make them pay for what they did.”

“Tim, that was twenty years ago. Wouldn’t the statute of limitations prevent the police from taking action?”

“Yes, in this State, but there isn’t anything to prevent me from taking those culprits to court and sue them for every penny they have.”

“Can you do that?”

“Yes, there is a difference between civil and legal suits.”

“If you do that and win, what are you going to do with the money.”

“After expenses, the money will go to those who were molested.”

As we were pulling into the University, “Tim, isn’t this the university you attended?”

“Yes, Stephen and I both met here and were married here. Where did you go?”

“I went to Regent University. I have a degree in communications with the idea of being a reporter or a news broadcaster. Coming home on breaks, I worked at the newspaper. When I completed my studies, they offered me a full-time position.”

Walking into the guard station, Benny was waiting for us. I would introduce Benny to Rich, but they already knew each other.

“Hi Benny, we wonder where you went when you left the police force.”

“Angie got a job here in the library, so I followed along.”

“Benny, you were in high school with my sister. I was telling Rich that there were a lot of girls being molested there, and Rich is going to write a story about these molestations. You know my sister was molested, and I think I know by who.”

“Yes, I knew Bruce Stevens molested your sister. I think Bruce dated most of the pretty girls, and we would listen to his tales of conquest in the locker room.”

“The coach must have heard his boasting. Why didn’t he do something?”

“I don’t know. There was one girl who he was obsessed over. Her name was Mary Jo Winters. She was dating this big guy, Carlos Jimenez. We were walking to our next class when Carlos approached us. He grabbed Bruce by the collar and lifted him off the floor. Bruce turned white, and he told Bruce if he even looked at Mary Jo, he would break his arms. From that time on, Bruce avoided Mary Jo. But I know other girls that didn’t have a Carlos to protect them.”

I looked at Rich as Benny was telling his story, and I got the impression he didn’t believe what he was hearing. “Rich, get the yearbook for that year, bring it here for Benny to look at, and maybe he can identify the girls that Bruce took an interest in.”

“I have my yearbook at home, and I can go and get it. I want to get this over as soon as possible.”

We went to the University’s cafeteria to wait for Benny. While there, we had a cup of coffee, and one of Stephen’s professors was there. He went to chat with him, Rich and I discussed his article.

“Rich, I’d like to review your piece for the newspaper before it is printed. I may need to use it for the trial.”

Benny came back with his class book. For the next few hours, we went through the book with Benny making comments about the girls that Bruce took advantage of. There weren’t only senior girls; several were from the junior class and one from the sophomore class. “He would tell the juniors and sophomore girls that he had a fan club that they could join after an initiation.”

“Was the initiation what I’m thinking?”

“Yes, they had to have sex with him. Once they did that, he told them they would have to make themselves available whenever he wanted them. He had naked photos of the girls.”

“Have you seen these photos?”

“Yes”

Rich asked to borrow the class yearbook. I looked at Benny and nodded yes.

On the way back home, “Tim, that was unbelievable. Where were the teachers and the parents of these girls?”

“I don’t know, the girls may have never told their parents, but the teachers must have heard something. They knew about you harassing Donnie and me.”