All for Acceptance

By: Rod
(© 2010 by the author)

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

Chapter 11

“Nicoli has been taken into custody!” shouted Gregor as he slammed the cell phone shut.

“What can we do now?” asked Stephan.

Everything had gone up in smoke.  All the arrangements made between William Anderson and Nicoli or Alexis, depending on who was asked, had fallen apart.  It had been so simple.  In the middle of the confusion and hoopla created by the trial Nicoli had presented a brief supposedly naming Tony as the son of a Polish couple still residing in the old country.  Between his documentation and consulate status he should have been able to get Tony and before anyone was the wiser he would be out of the country headed back for Poland.   His bosses would never know what was going on, William Anderson would get some level of satisfaction from the revenge for ruining his career and Anderson’s church would get a healthy donation, or at least that part not being received by Anderson in payment for Tony as he was sold into slavery in Europe.  They had managed to pull the stunt off several times before, and there were a number of boys in Poland barely surviving as they were forced to perform sexual acts for men, with or without the cameras recording.  The recordings were being edited and sold all over the world.  Only a small handful of men knew just how valuable these male slave boys were. Millions of dollars had been accumulated and funded projects around the globe.  Nicoli had been instrumental in setting most of the system up and with his position in the US had been able to supply a good number of their “stars”.  Now with his capture that would soon crumble.  It was up to the three men who had been waiting to take Nicoli and the newest addition to their stable as soon as they exited the courthouse.  But something had happened.  A chink had been found in their armor and now they needed to seal off that chink and pick up where they left off.  When Allen, Travis, and Tony exited the courthouse and headed for their car, the men’s only thought was if they could stop Travis and Allen perhaps they could grab the boy and run.

Unfortunately as the saying goes, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men’, their plan or lack of one began to fall apart at the onset.  From initially being just a get away car they had hatched the bright idea that they could snatch Tony.  As soon as they saw them exiting the courthouse they decided to go on the offensive and see if they could get Tony away. As soon as they could get away with Tony, they would disappear as planned. What they left in their wake would be of little concern to them, so long as they can return with the boy to Poland everything else could be handled somehow.

The three men had been parked within a few spaces of Travis’s vehicle and when they saw the three exiting the court house and head for the car, they exited theirs and tried to take a position where they could shoot at the men while Boris, the third culprit in their little company, would try to grab Tony. It might have worked except for the fact that they did not realize that Earnest, Phillip II, and Mammy had, in walking to their car, positioned themselves in place just behind the men.  Always observant in her roll as mother-hen Mammy saw what was happening as the two men drew their guns. Earnest saw the expression on Mammy’s face and following her line of sight saw the men as well.  With a matter of a few steps they came up behind Gregor and Stephan.  Mammy swung her purse in such a way that Gregor’s arm moved upward as he pulled on the trigger.  The shot went high in the air.  Earnest was also able to deflect the shot got off by Stephan causing it to go wildly off towards the building.  Phillip II had moved towards Boris.

As Boris started to advance towards Tony, now being held protectively under Travis, Phillip was able to trip him and after Boris fell to the ground Phillip pounced on his back holding him in place.  Considering the nature of their location, a swarm of officers were there in a matter of seconds.  The temporary halt in their scheme foiled by Earnest, Mammy, and Phillip afforded the officers sufficient time to apprehend all three of them.  They would soon find themselves guests of the state in the same accommodations as their partner Alexis.

Allen and Travis lifted themselves off the ground with Travis pulling Tony up with him.  Tony could only cry as he held on to Travis’s neck for dear life.  Allan brushed away the debris on Travis and Tony and encircled them in a hug.  They were all safe and unharmed, at least physically.  The mental damage would be assessed later.  Tony could only cry with happiness that they were at least sound in body and still together.  An officer inquired if they were OK or needed to be checked out by a paramedic, but they felt they were and preferred to just leave for home.  The officers understood and not needing statements from them, at least at that moment, were happy to let them leave.  Earnest, Mammy, and Phillip, however, did go back into the building to give full statements of just what they had seen and done.

Detective Jones, being the highest ranking detective on the premises, decided to interrogate the three.  As soon as they were identified he felt he knew the reason they were there.  Their actions, of course, were only additional evidence of what the plans had been and he was looking forward to a lengthy talk with each of the three.   They did not have diplomatic clearance so he was not concerned with the possible intercession of the embassy.  They might attempt to become involved, but he was sure considering the attitude the embassy had taken when the discussion involved Nicoli, alias Alexis, they would be more than cooperative.  They had as much or more to loose than anyone else if this incident became too well known.  It was a very definite source of embarrassment. 

While being questioned, the men thoroughly realized their predicament.  They could cooperate here and maybe be imprisoned or they could simply be handed over to the embassy for deportment. The treatment they would receive back in Poland could be much worse than what they experienced here so it would be to their advantage to do whatever they could to keep from being sent home.  Little did they know of the cooperation that had been established between the US Embassy and the Polish Embassy.  The Polish Ambassador was fully aware of the damage that could occur if they balked in any way in the assistance requested not only by the US Embassy but also by Interpol.  These four were their ticket to maintaining the status quo between the two governments and Interpol.

The Polish Ambassador was quite willing to throw these four to the wolves to save his own hide, and that is exactly what he was going to do. Besides it was quickly decided that it would be in the best interest of both if after any litigation was completed in the US the men would be deported to face the horrors awaiting them in Poland.

It took but little questioning after the three had met with another representative from the Polish Consulate.   They were more than ready to give whatever information they knew as fast as they could give it.  Detective Jones had placed each of the men in separate rooms and talked to them one at a time, immediately following the visit by the representative from the Consulate. All three could give numerous details involving Nicoli (Alexis), William Anderson and his church.  The entire plan was outlined and verified by each of them.  Nicoli had given them most of the information initially and this only firmed up the case.  The District Attorney now had even more information to put the former barrister William Anderson away for a long time.  Certain other details involving the Church were revealed that would allow the District Attorney to file a number of charges against the institution as well.  They would have their no-tax status ripped away first just before their properties would be taken and the governing group arrested and convicted on a range of charges.  It would be hard to tell just how far the web would reach and how many individuals would be caught up in the aftermath.

Searches of the lodgings for the four men had produced records allowing the Detective to determine the names and original delivery locations of several other boys taken from the area.  With the assistance of Interpol and the Polish Government it would take some time but it was felt there was a good chance that at least several of the boys previously taken could be located.  It would just be a matter of time and counseling to enable the boys to return to their American lives.

Allen, Travis, and Tony had been home for only a short period when Phillip II called and asked them to come to the Mansion.  They had been able to shower and redress before the call and Travis had called the shop to insure all was well.  The manager at the shop had assured him that all was well and they could take care of things for now.  He need only be concerned about himself, Allan, and Tony.  The local TV station had interrupted the normal programming and provided a news update of what had occurred at the court house earlier.  The story had been told and everyone at the shop had been waiting for Travis to call.  The reporter had said that everyone was unharmed, but his staff would not believe it until Travis told them himself.  It was with great relief that the manager hung up the phone to the cheers of the entire staff.

Mammy was in her normal mode after a stint of such excitement.  She was busy in the kitchen putting together a meal for her brood.  No one, but no one dare disturb her at this point.  If they did, they may not leave alive.  This was the only way she could release the tension within her.  The more she prepared, the calmer she felt.  Only when her entire brood finished eating and they were totally at ease and satisfied would she begin to approach normalcy.  Everyone understood the way it was and no one dared to contradict the inevitable.

As the three arrived they were greeted by Earnest who wisely escorted them so as to avoid the kitchen, the master’s realm.  In only a glance Travis and Phillip II understood each other and knew exactly how things would be for the next hour or so.  Only after her brood was fed, happy, and all around her would Mammy return to her usual self.  No mother hen could do better.

Phillip IV had returned from school and was quickly commandeered to join the other men.  Even at his young age he understood what was happening and knew not to disturb the apple cart.  He was all too glad to see Tony again and be told that all was all right. He now had a cousin.  He and Tony, with the others blessing, took off for Phillip IV’s room.  Phillip needed to change out of his school clothes and they had a lot to talk about.  They had been close but now felt that it was more official. OH Happy Day!

It would be a matter of weeks before they would come to know the full extent of the investigations and the resulting actions.  The news brought forth a little more detail daily as things began to unravel.  Several boys had been located.  The Polish government had played their public relations with grand form and was exemplified as great enablers of the task forces seeking the return of the kidnapped boys.  Once located, the boys were treated as royalty; counseling was even made available to assist them until arrangements could be made to have them return home. A number of the men operating the ring of terror were apprehended and headed to the court system and prison. As anywhere, their fate as tormentors of youth was to be unpredictable.  Fellow inmates would not hold them in high esteem and it was very possible their life could be much shorter than expected.

Unfortunately there were a few of the boys whose families would not be willing to share in the joy of their return.  These boys had been living on the streets after having been turned out of their homes because of one factor or another.  Some had been discovered to be gay; some had been accused though not proven to be gay.  There were a few whose only transgression had been one like Tony’s; they had become an amputee and their family for whatever reason could not accept them any longer.  They had been considered the weak and put out from their family to die.  All in the train of thought ascribing to the notion of the “survival of the fittest”.

Phillip II had championed a special cause with the death of his son.  As the stories began to unfold his heart was touched once again. He had to do something.  As he contemplated just what he could do, he was roused from his thoughts by Phillip IV and Tony as they entered his library.  With their innocence they approached him and inquired what he was thinking about that gave him such a far away look.  Without hesitation he began to explain what was happening as the agencies were uncovering the stories of the boys who had been taken and how some of them had been cast out by their so-called families.  Phillip IV and Tony were almost in tears as they listened to the tales of these boys.  Without allowing a breath after Phillip II ended his last sentence the boys simultaneously in stereo told him that it was their job to make a place for the boys in which to live and grow up.  Phillip III would have wanted that to be done and would do it if he were still alive.

After long consultation, the adults in the family, Allen, Travis, Earnest, Mammy, Phillip II, and the boys, then after further consultation with Justin Appleton, they prepared a proposal to put before the task force attempting to return the boys to their homes.

It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t cheap, after all it had to be done right, there were too many lives depending on it, but soon a special place came into being.  A home where not only the boys who had been taken out of the country, but those who had never left American soil but had been discarded by society after being discarded by their own families would be able to find refuge and the one thing they all sought, acceptance.  Through their misery, their fears, all their endeavors, their daily struggles the only thing they sought, all for acceptance.

The End (at least for now)

A special thanks to Jesse Mercer for editing.

Posted: 10/29/10