The Freak - S01 E22

2 months ago

The Freak - S01 E22

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 22

Barbara took a couple of long drinks then told us in barely coherent sentences that were broken by gasps and heavy panting. "It was...Sister Mary Patrick. Some of the girls...they crowded around me to see my ring then she...she grabbed my hand and she twisted it off my...off my finger. My wrist really hurts. I tried to talk...tried just before lunch to...to speak with her, but...but she called me names-whore and slut. She pulled me into... into her classroom and started to beat me. She...she told me she's been doing...beating girls for...for twenty years."

"What about the principal?"

"She told me, Jack...she told me the principal knows but hasn't done anything." was livid. Luckily, they were ten miles away and Barbara needed medical help or I would have driven to that school and killed both of them. Instead, I unbuttoned Barbara's blouse, gasping in shock when saw the oozing welts on her back. Gently, I replaced the blouse and walked out to the kitchen to phone my lawyer.

Stanley Silverman had been my lawyer for years. He had been instrumental in forming my corporation. That's right, was Incorporated-my investments were all owned by JJF, Inc. I knew he'd give me good advice. He was on the phone less than a minute after his wife Rebecca had greeted me. I settled my nerves and told him what had happened. "You know where Cross County Hospital is in Yonkers, don't you?" He continued once I had agreed. "I'm on my way. I'll have a friend from the Yonkers P.D. meet you in the ER. His name is Lt. Paul Flanagan."

"You're getting an Irish Catholic cop for a case against some Catholic nuns?"

"Don't worry about that. Just take care of your fiancée. I'll see you soon." I hung up and helped Barbara to her feet as I explained to my mother what we were doing. I eased Barbara into the passenger seat of the Olds. It was much faster and more comfortable than the Jeep.

Cross County Hospital was just off the Cross County Parkway- thus the name-only about ten minutes from my home with but one traffic light on the trip. I stopped in emergency parking at the ER and helped Barbara in. "What's the rush, buddy?" It was a security guard who asked.

"My fiancée has been whipped at her school. She needs attention."

I turned her around to show her bloodstained blouse. "Don't bother

calling the police; they're already on the way."

Barbara was shown to a screened off area where her blouse was removed while I gave what information I could at the registration desk. Rather typically, they were mostly interested in who was paying. I was there when a tall thin man in a grey suit walked in.

"You Jack?"

"Yes, I'm Jack French."

"Paul Flanagan, where's your girlfriend? Stan gave me some preliminary info, but I'll need to speak with her directly. I also have a photographer and a female officer on the way." I finished the registration process by signing that I would be responsible for any fees then led the detective down the hall. I was sure that he'd seen everything in his years on the force.

Yonkers was a city of more than 70,000 people and there were murders and rapes that occurred almost every day. All the same, he did a double take when we walked in to see her.

Barbara was lying on her chest when Lt. Flanagan told the nurse to keep her blouse and bra for evidence. "Also, want you to wait a few minutes until a photographer arrives."

"We have a camera here for cases like this Lieutenant." She returned with it a few minutes later and had taken three flash photos when the female officer and the police photographer rushed in. Once again several photos were taken. Barbara was asked to sit up, a towel over her breasts for modesty and privacy, so more could be taken from different angles. Then she was allowed to lie down for treatment. Lt. Flanagan asked her about the incident and Barbara, who was much calmer now, told exactly what had occurred from the theft of her ring through her beating.

I was watching Flanagan's face as Barbara spoke and was surprised at his reactions. I could see real anger in his eyes. I found out why later on, after Stanley Silverman walked into the area, attracted no doubt by hearing Flanagan's strong voice. He sat by silently until Flanagan was finished. "How much did the ring cost, Jack?"

"I have the receipt right here in my wallet. I got it from Harry Winston for $2,750 when I bought Barbara's Christmas presents. It's insured for that amount." I showed him the slip of paper. He asked if he could keep it. Then he asked what we wanted to do. I looked at Barbara and saw immediately that she trusted my judgment. "I want these people in prison. Besides that, Stan, I want to sue, especially if we can find out if it's gone on for years. I

realize that nuns have been known to use corporal punishment,

but I've never heard of anything like this."

"I have," Lt. Flanagan stated. "Something similar happened to me when was a kid, except then it was a priest. I never set foot in a Catholic church again."

"I'm sorry." It was the only thing I could think of to say. He spoke to and with Barbara until the doctor called an end to the Interview. Lt.. Flanagan, Mr. Silverman and retreated to a small unused office we had been told was set aside just for situations like this. Lt. Flanagan sat at the desk expanding his notes while asked Mr. Silverman a few questions. "Stan, what is the waiting period on a marriage license?"

"Normally seventy-two hours unless a person can get a waiver."

"What about blood tests?"

"No, they went out after World War II."

"How do I get a waiver?"

"Why?"

"I don't want Barbara going back to that school. If marry her can she attend school where live? When I proposed promised to love, cherish, and protect her. I'll feel a lot better if she's where I can help her."

"Okay, I think I can help you on both fronts. When were you going to get the license?"

"Either this aftermoon or tomorrow morning and I was hoping we could get married Thursday morning, why?"

"I'll put together a writ for a judge I know very well walving the 72- hour period in favor of 48-hours. At the same time I'll ask the judge for an order requiring the school district to enroll Barbara." He took out a small notebook and wrote Barbara's full name and date of birth, adding my address. "The law says nothing about a married woman or man attending school so long as the residency requirement is met. That hasn't stopped most school districts from barring married women, though. Schools do all kinds of Illegal things until they're challenged. If I can get a judicial order we'll have the upper hand."

"Okay, how about getting a short-term lease at an apartment or house?"

"I can probably help you there, too. You will probably have more success renting using your corporation than doing it yourself. I assume you'll be taking her to Massachusetts with you?" I nodded and he agreed. Then we should use the same approach when you go there. Let me know what you plan to do."

"Fine...next issue; how do we go about suing the school and the archdiocese and how does Barbara press charges against the teacher and the principal?"

Stan was about to answer when Lt. Flanagan interrupted. "You might want to hold off for a bit on that. You ever hear of a Monsignor Moran?"

"You mean that pompous ass who's the cardinal's right-hand man? Yeah, I've met him. The first thing he ever told me was how he knew everything that happened in the archdiocese and that he was the real power. That was at a dinner last September about donations to refurbish the chapel at Dunwoodie. I made a sizable pledge."

"Here's what I'm thinking. Let's assume that this nun was telling the truth. She's been beating and whipping girls for the last twenty years. The principal would have to know about it and if she knows then Moran would have to know, too."

"Damn! That's conspiracy and that would mean we could make a good case for a class action suit."

"That's exactly right, Stan."

"Mind telling me what you're talking about?"

"It's simple, Jack. If someone knows that a crime has been committed or either knows or suspects that a crime is going to be committed, but doesn't report it to the police that's called conspiracy. Conspiracy is a Class A felony. Striking a student with a whip or a cane-that's a flexible stick like rattan or leather or bamboo-could be considered assault with a deadly weapon or, at least, aggravated assault. But, Paul, how do we get the evidence on Moran and the principal?"

"I'll need a warrant, but with Barbara's statement and the pictures I don't think that will be a problem. I can't send a sworn officer in to speak with them, but I could send Barbara."

"Absolutely not! That's never going to happen!"

"Or, I could send you, Jack. As her husband you'll have a legal right to discuss her situation and to demand the ring back and action against the teacher.

There's another advantage to using you. You're big and strong. You're not likely to be intimidated. If you made a pledge with Moran you'll already have a legitimate reason for speaking with him. You can wear a wire. We'll have a team nearby taping the conversation. I'll tell you what to say and how to steer the conversation. When we have the evidence you and Barbara will have to testify before the grand jury. Don't worry about that. It's done in secrecy with only the district attorney or his designee asking questions. I think I'd ask for you to go first. That way you can be in the room with her for support. She'll need it, Jack-all you can give her."

We spoke then about some of the details, like how many girls had likely been beaten. The teacher had said something about dozens. That would mean that others besides the principal and Monsignor Moran also knew. How many other sisters? How many lay teachers? It would be interesting once the lawsuit was filed. Knowing Stanley Silverman there would be a huge press conference on the courthouse steps. Stan was nothing if not a publicity hound, but he did listen carefully to what Lt. Flanagan said. He knew we would have a much stronger case if criminal charges were filed first-better still if there were convictions. Looking at my watch I saw that more than an hour had passed so l wandered back in to Barbara. She was asleep, lying on her stomach, when the nurse said she was okay to go home. She handed me three prelons and gently shook Barbara's shoulder.

I saw that she was wearing only the hospital gown. While she was rousing herself I went downstairs to the shopping mall. This was the craziest situation I had ever seen-a hospital right in the middle of a major mall.

Once in Macy's I spent only a few minutes selecting new clothes for Barbara. She dressed in minutes then I found the car and helped her in from the wheelchair to the front seat.

"Where are we going, Jack?"

I knew that we had to talk so I pulled over to the side of the road. "Barbara, we need to make a few adjustments in our timetable." She began to cry, thinking that I was breaking the engagement in light of what had happened. Just the opposite was true. gently stroked her cheek as I explained. "I'm so sorry, my love. I didn't say that well. Tomorrow morning I'd like for us to get our license. Mr. Silverman will get us a waiver so we don't have to wait seventy-two

hours to get married. If you agree we'll get married Thursday morning at the Eastchester Town Hall. Until then I want you to stay with my family. You can sleep in Carole's bed. I promised to protect you and that's what I plan to do. We may have to put off our trip to Cambridge for a day or two. Lt. Flanagan has a job for me

"I don't want you to ever go back to that school. Mr. Silverman says you will be allowed to attend school with me."

"I think it will be a bit difficult living with your family."

"I agree. You can get a little noisy from time to time." She smiled for the first time since this mess had transpired and she moved over to kiss me. "That's why he's looking for a short-term apartment lease for us. It'll all work out...you'll see." I gave her a quick peck then pulled out onto the highway again.

"I don't want to sleep in Carole's bed, Jack. I'm still afraid. I want to sleep with you where I know I'll be safe." wondered how I'd explain that to my parents, but it turned out just fine. I put Barbara to bed wearing one of my tee shirts and a pair of gym shorts that I had tied around her slender waist.

Later I helped her with a bowl of homemade chicken soup for dinner then I took two large suitcases to Mrs. Gleason so could get most of Barbara's clothes. She wasn't happy, not believing that one of her precious nuns would ever harm a student. "I invite you to say that after you've seen Barbara's back, Mrs. Gleason. I think you are a wonderful woman, but when it comes to the Catholic Church you're deaf, dumb, and blind to the things they sometimes do. Barbara has a badly sprained wrist from when that nun-your 'good Sister-twisted it and ripped her engagement ring from her finger and she has at least thirty welts across her back from being whipped. And, for what? Because she asked politely if she could have her ring back? guarantee this: she will get it back and a whole lot more before I'm done with them." I got most of Barbara's things in the Olds before driving home around 9:30. I was glad to see her laugh when I told her I had no idea where we would put all this "stuff."

We watched TV for about a half hour before took a shower and prepped for bed. Barbara couldn't shower for a few days. Her back was covered with bandages and the painkillers she was taking made her woozy. I helped her to the toilet then we climbed into bed with me lying on my back and Barbara's head on my chest, her leg lightly draped over mine. It had been a long and difficult day. I was surprised at how quickly I fell asleep.