Chapter 81

“How could you possibly be hungry again?”

“Dr. Artis says it’s my body playing catch-up for all the years I wasn’t eating right.”

“Well, you’ve gained a little weight, but you could use another ten—fifteen pounds.nrdquo;

“I know. Katya has made it her mission in life to fatten me up.”

* * * *

Alexei went up to his study and closed the door. He took out his cell and spoke, “Detective Sergeant Murphy.” It called the number.

“Murphy…”

“This is Alpha Davidoff. I’m expecting Donal’s stepfather to show up this afternoon. You know the story. I’d like to trap him into admitting that he sexually abused Donal. I don’t know the laws in this country, but I assume that if a criminal admits his crime on tape, in front of a law officer, he’ll get arrested.”

“I can’t get a warrant from Judge Booker on the basis of just Donal’s statement. But if you can get him to admit the crime on tape or in front of witnesses, we can arrest him on the spot because we will have probable cause. I have to check on the jurisdictional issues, but we can have one of Rémy’s detectives in Albany come fetch him if necessary. I know that the State of New York has no statute of limitations on sexual abuse. I’ll bring uniforms in case he gets rowdy. If you keep them in the parlor, we’ll have a video set up via a mommy cam. I’ll be over in twenty minutes.”

* * * *

Everyone waited, finally the doorbell rang at three fifteen. He must have driven like a mad man and not had the money to check into a hotel. Boris answered the door with Alexei right behind him. A well-dressed man and a dowdy woman in a fur coat stood at the entrance. “I’m Arthur McConnell and this is my wife, Eva. We’ve come to take our son home.”

“I see. We’re in the parlor.” The McConnells followed Alexei into the parlor.

“Donal, your mother and stepfather are here but don’t worry, they won’t be staying long.”

“What is the meaning of this, young man? That’s our son, we have a right…Donal, get your things.” Mr. McConnell scowled at Donal then turned toward Alexei. “Unless of course, Mr. Davidoff, you’d like to pay to keep him.”

“I think not. Donal is over twenty-one and married to me. He goes nowhere, especially not with the man who sexually abused him for seven years and caused him to run away from home at only fourteen. Particularly, I won’t allow him near the woman, who after he told her repeatedly about her husband’s abuse, didn’t believe him and never even looked for her missing son when he finally ran away.” Alexei sat down in a French fan chair.

“You ruined me. I made inquiries. It was you.”

Alexei stared McConnell down. “Yes, it was. You’ll find the IRS at your door of your headquarters in Albany today. They’re going to do an audit. It doesn’t pay to keep two sets of books. Donal was on the street for seven years. I only made sure that you spend equal time homeless or in prison, it doesn’t matter which. They don’t treat child abusers well in prison.”

Donal’s mother, who had been quiet until now, spoke, wagging her finger in Donal’s face. “It was bad enough that you tried to steal my husband, you little faggot, but now you’re taking everything else too? I know about you sneaking into my bedroom to seduce my husband when I wasn’t around.”

Donal stepped back. Alexei put his arms around him.

“Alexei, I’m sorry, I can’t keep my mouth shut.” Julio began to shout, “Lady, he was fourteen. What would he want with a potbellied, balding, smelly old man? It started when he was seven when that bastard first married you. Why would Donal crawl into bed with that fat fuck at seven.”

Arthur McConnell turned red in the face. “I don’t know why I even bothered with him. The little bastard whined all the time. I only managed to penetrate him once.”

Murphy stepped into the room. “Arthur McConnell, you are under arrest for the molestation of a minor child in your care. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”

“Mrs. Eva McConnell, you are under arrest for being an accessory before and after the fact to child abuse and endangerment. You have the right to remain silent…”

The uniformed police took a statement from Donal and lead the McConnells off in handcuffs. Alexei had their car put in an impound lot.

* * * *

“You did it. Donal is avenged. Alexei, you rock!” It seemed to Alexei that Julio was happier than Donal.

“What’s wrong, mouse?”

“She didn’t give a shit. She knew he was hurting me, and she was jealous! Jealous of an abused kid…I can’t believe she gave birth to me.” Donal started to cry.

“What happened to your real father?” Julio asked gently.

“He died of brain cancer when I was two. We struggled, but I thought she loved me. Maybe she was just tired and needed the rest his money would bring. Maybe…”

“Maybe if pigs had wings, they’d fly like birds. She was not a nice woman. I’m sorry that she was your mother, but you’re nothing like her. You probably take after your father. You don’t even look like her,” Julio said with emphasis.

Alexei picked Donal up and sat him in his lap. “Listen to me, mouse, they haven’t mattered in seven years. Now you have a new family, Julio, me, all of your new friends plus all of my family. I called my parents in Russia and told them I was mated. They already adore you for making me so happy after all the pain in Russia. You have plenty of people who love you. Think about what you had me do for the family. You’re a good person, nothing like her.”

“I guess you’re right. She belongs in prison with him. I don’t like the idea of putting my mother in prison, but that’s where she belongs. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe me, she knew!” Donal sobbed.

“Mouse, it’s finally over, all of it. Apuso, Arthur McConnell, your mother, Ernesto, you are safe, loved, and no one is going to touch you without your permission ever again.”

Donal hugged Alexei tight.

“You did good, Alexei,” Julio said, “you did good.”

* * * *

They had high tea at four and from Julio’s point of view, Donal ate an astounding number of sandwiches and cream cakes.

“You’re going to turn in to a cream cake,” Julio told Donal then giggled.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow. I want you to meet Etienne, Alexei’s single friend.”

“Don’t go and try to fix me up. I have places to go, things I want to do. I’m going to school and with Alexei’s help, I’m going to open my salon. By the way, Alexei, I’ll pay you back, every dime, because I’m going to be a success.”

“I believe you.” The doorbell rang. Alexei frowned. “I wasn’t expecting anyone else today.”

Boris came down to the family dining room. “Mr. Daurensbourg is here to see you.”

“Etienne? I didn’t expect him until tomorrow. Send him up, Boris.”

“Etienne, what can I do for you?” Alexei asked. “Katya, set another place for tea.”

Donal giggled. “Etienne, this is my friend, Julio.”

Etienne put out his hand, took Julio’s and suddenly looked astonished. When they shook hands Alexei saw an actual spark.

He and Donal locked gazes, and laughed.