You Can Run
but
 You Can’t Hide
 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2007 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Since I’d shot the morning working I decided to take everyone over to Ft. Sam and spend the day at the pool. Before I left, I took some steaks out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. The adults got a serious workout with 3 very playful and energetic teens. After a couple hours in water, Bryce, Oliver and I were pooped and needed a little rest. By 4, everyone was ready to call it a day so we headed home for a good cookout.

Chapter 24

The boys scooted upstairs and took a shower to get the chlorine off of their bodies. Hans and I quickly did the same thing then we let Oliver and Bryce use our shower. The 4 of us took less time than the boys but I have a feeling what was going on. I stepped outside and lit the gas grill. The adults started talking when we were soon joined by the boys in all their natural beauty. Hans looked at them and giggled. “Did you guys forget we have company?”

Jamie looked at Oliver and Bryce then back to Hans. “Gee Dad, they’re guys. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

Bryce giggled. “No guys, it’s not a big deal. But before you just appear in the buff, you might want to ask first, just in case.

The boys gave everyone a quick hug then went back upstairs to play video games. Hans was deep in thought when he looked up. “How difficult will it be for us to adopt?”

Oliver looked to my lover. “Texas in not like some states, Hans. They are real backwards in some areas. Adoptions by gay guys are one of them. Most of the cops that know we’re a couple are cool about it and will protect us by keeping our secret when we’re confronted.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Well, Tom is on our side here so that will help.”

Bryce nodded. “Yeah, that will go a long way but unless he’s the director, he could get overruled. It wouldn’t hurt to have a lawyer either. But don’t be surprised if someone tries to derail your plans.”

Hans looked at Bryce with a surprised look on his face. “What do you mean? I thought these were closed cases as far as the public went.”

Oliver nodded his head. “Yeah, as a rule they are unless someone knows when the hearing will be. Now, you heard Sgt. Homophobe. I’ll lay odds he will try and block this even though his Mom expressed her desires prior to her death.”

“That’s just it,” Hans continued. “That one really can’t be contested.”

“Anything can be contested love. It’s just weather or not the judge will allow him to be heard. With the stunt he pulled trying to implicate Sonny in his mother’s death will go a long way to discredit his ramblings too.”

Oliver then went on. “Also guys, we don’t know what the boys are doing sexually and personally we don’t care but if they’re having intercourse, they’re going to have to cool it.”

“Shit guys, you’re right. Doctors will be on the lookout for any signs of sexual abuse.”

I got up and went to the stairs. “Boys, will you all come down here please?”

I wasn’t back to the kitchen as I heard 6 feet come bounding down the stairs. “Yeah Dad, what’s up?”

“Have a seat boys,” I said then waited for them to sit down. “Here’s the deal. You know I’ll be adopting Sonny now that his Mom is dead and that is what she requested.”

“Yeah Dad,” Kevin said smiling as he rubbed Sonny’s hair.

“Well, Hans and I have also started the ball rolling on adopting you guys as well.”

Kevin and Jamie jumped up and started hugging us. “That’s great, now you’ll be our Dads forever.”

Hans kissed Jamie as he cuddled his boy. “Now here’s the deal. From this point forward, no more anal sex.”

I was about to continue when Kevin moaned. “Aww Dad why, I thought that didn’t bother you and Papa Hans.”

I kissed Kevin on the head and hugged him. “It doesn’t son but you both will have to get medical exams and doctors will be looking closely for any signs of sexual abuse. We have a feeling that us trying to adopt you boys is going to meet with a lot of resistance so we’re going to have to fight fire with fire. Would either of you have a problem with Hans and I looking at your butts?”

Kevin hopped off my lap then bent over pulling his cheeks apart. “Look all you want Dad.”

Jamie did the same thing and neither of the boys’ rectums showed any signs of them having intercourse. I patted Kevin on the bottom and he giggled as he stood up. “Here is another thing. I don’t know if Hank is going to give you guys any grief at school.”

Sonny jumped in at this point and had an evil grin on his face. “Dad, I can pretty much guarantee he won’t, not if he knows what’s good for him.”

I looked at him and started shaking my head. “Oh no you don’t kiddo, I don’t want you fighting.”

He giggled when I said that. “You don’t understand Dad. I’m not gonna beat him up. I just have a little information that he would hate to get out all over school.”

Jamie and Kevin had confused looks on their faces. “What do you have on him dude?”

Sonny started laughing hard then. “Let’s just say he can suck the chrome off a trailer hitch, if you get my drift.”

We all broke up laughing. Kevin was the first to speak. “You mean he’s as queer as a 3 dollar bill too?”

“Uh huh,” Sonny said smiling. “I know this first hand too, or should I say mouth.”

That was good to know but I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. We tabled our discussion because I had steaks to put on the grill. Hans got some potatoes going in the microwave while the boys shucked some fresh corn on the cob we got at a local stand on our way home from Ft. Sam. We had a great dinner then Oliver and Bryce had to get home as they had to be on duty tomorrow at 6am.

I had to make it a somewhat early night too as tomorrow was my first official day at work. I reported in at 7 and was met by Officer Gimball from IAD. I fixed myself a cup of coffee then went into the office I shared with Capt. Blair. “What the hell do you want today Gimball?”

He held his hands up. “Whoa Lieutenant, calm down. I just have some information about Sgt. Nelson.”

I relaxed a little but I still didn’t trust this jerk considering what he’d said. “Alright man, what’s up?”

He sat down then started to explain. “He’s been suspended pending a full IAD investigation. The judge that signed the petition is not at all happy that he almost put an innocent child behind bars. Right now, the DA is charging him with perjury and we’re going to charge him with violation of departmental policies for willfully lying on the petition. It is a good thing you wanted to read the petition first or else the department would be facing one massive law suit. Now, I do have a question. How did you get involved with his kid to begin with?”

I got up and went to the file cabinet and pulled his file. “Here, take a look at this.”

Officer Gimball opened the file and right away he started turning green around the gills. “Jesus Christ, his own father did this to him?”

“Yep,” I said. “That was one sick bastard. That’s why all this other shit didn’t make any sense. Sonny was happy his father was in jail, he loved his Mom but I did learn a few things about her last night after talking with him so it does answer why she snapped.”

“How is he now?”

I finished my coffee then fixed another cup. “He has mixed feelings right now. He’s not sad his father is dead. His mother is a different story. He misses her but since he said she’d started drinking again, he really didn’t want to be around her in that state.”

“He sure had a rough life. Do you know why his parents divorced?”

I nodded my head as I sipped some coffee. “From what Sonny said, his father used to beat his mom and that’s why she started her drinking. I guess she couldn’t take it any more then filed for divorce. With her drinking, she either felt she couldn’t properly care for Sonny or that the father charged her with being an unfit parent but either way, he ended up with custody.”

He closed the file and handed it back to me. With Calvin Bates dead, I reached over for a rubber stamp and in red ink stamped CLOSED on the front of it. “Well, he has a good Dad now.”

Now this took me by surprise so I decided to call him on it. “That’s not how you appeared to be yesterday. Why did you ask weather or not I was gay?”

“No real reason,” he said.

Just then, I heard dispatch. “10-33 (Emergency traffic, clear the air) Officer involved shooting. Request shooting team and a Juvenile Detective respond to K-Mart 5351 Fuller Street.”

I grabbed my coat and headed out the door. A young officer was putting his weapon into his holster when he saw me. “May I come too sir?”

“Come on man and hurry up, we don’t have all day.”

We took the stairs down to the first floor then the officer headed for the secured lot. “This way sir.”

I shook my head and hurried out the front door to the Hummer. Using the remote, I unlocked the door then started the engine. “Juvenile 1828 responding to K-Mart.”

I backed out then flipped the passenger visor down so the red and blue lights could be seen. Once in traffic I turned on the siren. “Nice vehicle sir.”

It took about 15 minutes to get on the scene even with the lights and siren. When we arrived, a uniformed officer led us inside. Fire Rescue was already on scene. They had put up a barrier around the shooting victim so I couldn’t see who it was they were working on. I stuck my head inside. “I’m Lt. Jennings from Juvenile, may I come in?”

I saw one of the medics covering the person with a sheet and before his head was covered, I could tell it was a child. “Give us a minute Lieutenant, the boy didn’t make it.”

I pulled my head out and let them finish doing what they needed to. I headed towards the front of the store so I could get some fresh air. I’d never handled a shooting call when I was in the military so I was not prepared for this even though I killed Syd. The young detective came out and was holding his notepad. “When can we talk to him sir?”

My mind was with my boys at that moment so I wasn’t really paying attention to what he’d said. “Huh? Oh, we won’t be questioning him Det. Gonzalez.”

I could tell he was itching to go. “Why not, is he not the suspect?”

I looked up at him. “No Detective, it’s because he didn’t make it.”

The medics had the victim on a stretcher and came out to transport him to the morgue. The paramedic came over and handed me a copy of their report. “Thanks man.” I looked at the information on the form. “Wait a minute. How’d you get this information?”

The men stopped and the paramedic reached into his shirt pocket. “Oh sorry Lt. Jennings, I forgot to give you this. It’s his school ID card. I found that and 30 bucks on his person.”

“Thanks guys,” I replied as they loaded him into the back of the ambulance.

I looked at the student ID card. Jefferson Middle School. The boy’s name was Tomas Miller and he was in the 8^th grade. I showed the ID card to my partner. He crossed himself then he had to wipe his eyes. “He was so young.”

I looked around and I saw a bunch of uniformed officers huddled together around a man and a sergeant. I walked over to the sergeant. “Who was involved with the shooting?”

The sergeant looked up at me. “Are you from IAD?”

I shook my head. “I’m Lt. Jennings, I’m from Juvenile.”

I saw a young officer wiping tears from his face with an empty holster so I was assuming he was the one who shot the boy. I looked at his nameplate and it read R. Goins. “Officer Goins, can you tell me what happened? I’m not here to judge you; I’d just like to know what happened.”

He looked up at me and all of a sudden his disposition changed as if someone flipped a switch. “The punk was shoplifting. I told him to stop which he did. I told him raise his hands then he shoved his hand into his pocket. I thought he was reaching for a weapon.”

I nodded my head. “OK, what did you do next?”

“Hey, whose side are you on anyway? I’m telling it to you like it happened.”

I led the officer by the arm away from the others. “Just chill man, I said I’m not here to judge you.”

“Yeah right,” Goins said with a bitter tone to his voice. “You’re in tight with the brass. You get hired right off the street and as a Lieutenant. Where’s your fucking tape recorder.”

“That’s just enough Officer Goins,” I said with a stern voice. “Just so you know, I’m not someone they hired off the street. I spent the last 20 years as an MP now I can be your best friend OR I can be your worst nightmare come true, which is it gonna be?”

“I told the punk to freeze and raise his hands slowly. He just looked at me.”

“What made you think he was shoplifting?” I asked next.

“I saw him stuff something down inside his pants.”

Just then I saw the Lieutenant from the shooting team arrive. “Lt. Jennings, I was hoping you’d be out here.”

I looked at Officer Goins. I knew the routine. He’d be on a desk pending the outcome of the shooting team’s investigation. “You can go back to headquarters. You’ll be on administrative duty until the shooting team investigates this.”

Goins went back over with the other uniformed officers. The lieutenant stuck his hand out. “We’ve never been formally introduced, I’m Lt. Skip Wilkins. What had he told you?”

“Not really a whole lot Skip,” I started. He said he caught the kid shoplifting and had stuck something inside his pants but when the medics were working on him, all he had on him was his student ID and 30 dollars in cash.”

“That’s odd,” Lt. Wilkins said scratching his head. “I’ll have to talk with him but now I have to talk with the Medical Examiner then notify his parents.”

My partner and I returned to the station and I finished out a quiet day. During my lunch break I called Mr. Goodson and asked if he handled adoptions. He didn’t but gave me the name of the best adoption attorney in the city. I called him and since I was off Wednesday and Thursday, I set an appointment up for Thursday since Hans didn’t have school.

Thursday saw us at the office of David Weinstein. After filling out a stack of forms, Hans and I were led back to his office. He was a man of about 50 and I saw a wedding ring on his finger but the photo on his desk was that of a young guy, but I wasn’t going to ask. “It’s nice to meet you Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Goodson recommended you highly.”

“Call me David,” he said smiling. “Carl is a great friend. He told me about your situation and I don’t see much of a problem here for you Lee. Hans, I have to ask you what might your parents say about you adopting?”

“Personally I could care less what they think,” Has said bitterly. “My mother called the police and tried to have Lee arrested using a doctored birth certificate. I was lucky I had the original with the raised seal on it along with my Passport otherwise she probably would have succeeded. My father went along with it just because he wanted me back home. I have nothing to do with them.”

David was busy writing as Hans was talking. “OK, this will work in our favor. More than likely there will be a police report of this.”

I reached into my pocket. “Being a cop has its advantages. Here is a copy of that report.”

“Very good Lee,” David said. “Now, there is one thing you’ll have to do. When the boys go for their medical exams, you stay with them. A good doctor will not have any problem with this because he has nothing to hide. There are a few out there that we’ve had some complaints about but so far nothing has come of it. Who is the Social Services case worker?”

Hans looked at David. “It’s Tom Roberts and he supports us adopting the boys. You mean there are doctors that have questionable practices?”

“Tom is a good case worker,” David replied still making notes. “Unfortunately, there are Hans and a few case workers like those doctors because they always seem to uncover anything from possible sexual abuse to full blown cases of it.”

This had me worried. “Did Social Services ever make reports of it?”

David nodded his head. “Yeah and I got involved on one of the cases. The judge ordered a full investigation into the doctor’s practice. He’s doing 25 to 35 upstate with no chance of parole until after 25 years. The social worker was fired and his license was revoked in Texas.”

I smiled when I heard that. “Well at lease justice was served. I feel for the kids and hope they got counseling.”

“They did, the judge saw to it. Now, Tom knows the decent doctors so I’m sure he’ll do right by you two. I’ll call Tom and let him know you’ve retained me. I’ll ask him to fast track the adoptions.”

I pulled out the letter Gloria Flowers wrote and gave it to David. “This is the main reason we’re moving on adopting Jamie and Kevin.”

David read the letter. “Everything is in order here. I’ll do the paperwork on this and Jamie and Kevin’s. As soon as Tom calls me and lets me know everything else has been completed, we’ll get on the docket.”

I sat and told him about Sgt. Nelson and that he may try to object to the adoptions and David said he had no standing and the judge would more than likely shut him up where he stood. He said the only person who could contest any of this would be the Director of Social Services but Tom’s cases have never been questioned. We spent almost 4 hours filling David in an anything that could come up so there would be no surprises.

It was almost 2:30 when we left so we had to hurry home. We arrived home about 30 minutes later and the light on the answering machine was blinking. “Lee, Hans, this is Tom Roberts. David Weinstein called and said he’s representing you. You got the best lawyer for this. Friday afternoon at 4 you’re scheduled for an independent home study. I’m in the process of getting medical exams set up for Jamie and Kevin. Since Sonny was seen just a few days ago at the hospital, we will use those records. We will need a copy of the photos from your files.”

I picked the phone up and called Tom. “Hi buddy, it’s Lee Jennings. I just got your message. Bring me a formal request for the photos and I’ll see to it you get them.”

“Thanks Lee. I have the boys’ doctor’s appointment set up. Their appointment is set for next Thursday at 4 and 4:30 at Dr. Tim Butler’s office. His office is over on Wexler in the Medical complex. I’ll be there and will have the paperwork filled out.”

I jotted the information down. “Tom, Hans and I are going to want to be present.”

“Not a problem Lee. I’ve used this doctor before and he’s one of the best pediatricians in the area.”

I listened to what Tom had to say when I heard the boys come in. “I’ll see you soon Tom. The boys just go home from school so I gotta go man.”

To be continued...

Posted: 05/30/08