Suzie’s House 108: Based on the Evidence

“She doesn’t deserve Ben,” Mr. Hammacker shouted over and over again.

“Mr. Hammacker,” Judge Jennifer applied her iciest voice. “It is not a question of who deserves what so much as what is best for the child.”

“Well… well…” Mr. Hammacker’s gaze jerked around the room sightlessly. Once he settled on what he wanted to say, he looked quite smug. “It isn’t safe there for Ben.”

“Is that so?” Jennifer glanced at her paperwork, recalling the accusation that Mrs. Hammaker’s house was unsafe had been the basis of this hearing. “In what way?”

“I don’t know everything, but it has something to do with the men living there.”

“Men?” Jennifer lifted an eyebrow in Mrs. Hammaker’s direction, waiting for an explanation.

Mrs. Hammaker shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and wouldn’t meet the judge’s eyes.

“There are men living in your home? Unrelated to Ben?”

“Y.. yes. Marvin Sutter and Andrew Banks. They, along with Miranda , rent rooms in my house.”

“Are they a danger to Ben?”

“No! Well, no, not in and of themselves.” Mrs. Hammaker swallowed hard, clearly thinking things through. “I suppose you’ll see the police record anyway.”

”Police record?!” It was sounding more and more like the father, though unacceptable as a parent, had a legitimate concern.

“Andrew is an FBI agent. He hired Vin, that’s Marvin, to help him with a case involving guys who crash into taxis as an internet-based game. Turns out the guy has a brother.”

“Yeah, the red headed men,” Ben added helpfully.

“The brother shot Vin, putting him into the hospital. It’s ok, he’s fine now.” Mrs. Hammaker gestured with one hand in assurance.

“Is that all?” Jennifer was anything but reassured. What she was hearing sounded far fetched to say the least.

“Well, no. I guess you could say Drew brought his work home with him. The two men with red hair found us. They came into the house.”

“But Mom whacked Sean with a frying pan, and now he’s under arrest. He’s here at the courthouse today. Him and Drew. That’s why Drew isn’t here right now. He’s testifying against Sean.”

The more the two of them said, the less believable Jennifer found it. Evil, read haired men who attacked taxis? Hitting someone with a frying pan? The abuse of Ben’s friend Jennifer could understand, but this? Maybe both the mother and the son need padded rooms.

“Is this true?”

“Yes,” the two of them said in unison.

“Are you sure?” She paused, giving them a chance to reconsider. The made no effort to retract their story, nor even looked contrite. “I find all of this extremely unlikely. Why would an FBI agent rent out your room? Why would he hire this ‘Vin’ person? What does red hair have to do with anything? And how can you expect me to believe you put him under arrest with a frying pan?”

“But….” Ben said. Jennifer hushed him with a glare.

“Clearly Mr. Hammacker is not a suitable guardian, so I won’t turn you over to him.”

Mr. Hammacker turned a deeper shade of red and protested, but his lawyer still had him firmly in hand.

“However I doubt it would be wise to allow him to remain in your care, Mrs. Hammacker. It appears you have shared your delusions with him.”

Mrs. Hammacker’s jaw dropped. Jennifer could well understand, though she didn’t sympathize. She collected her gavel, intending to close the case when the doors swung wide. Framed in the doorway stood a remarkably attractive man in a crisp, black, business suit.

“Please excuse me. I’m Andrew Banks. I’m here to support Suzie and Ben Hammacker. I would have been on time, but I had to testify on a case down the hall. I’m an FBI agent.” He flashed his badge.

“You are?”

Some commotion behind him drew Jennifer’s attention. A man in prison fatigues, with bright red hair poking out of a wrapping of bandages appropriate for a head injury, struggled with two guards. They duck walked him down the hall past the door. In the same moment another handsome man came up behind the first.

“My name is Marvin Sutter. I’m a friend of Suzie, and of Drew, here.” He reached into his button-down shirt with the first few buttons undone and scratched his shoulder. Jennifer could see a bright red scar there, as of a bullet hole.

It fit. All of it fit the story told by Ben and his mother. How mortifying to have come so close to making a snap judgment, worse and erroneous judgment. At least her error had come to light before any harm was done.

“Case dismissed.” Jennifer brought her gavel down with a crack.

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