Sometime later that night, Mike and Nicole returned home. They went into the house and found Micky and Davy at the kitchen table looking over a few items.
"What's that?" Mike asked.
"We'll tell you after you tell us what happened," Micky replied.
"Yeah," Davy added. "What happened with Petah?"
"Long story," Mike said.
"That's for sure," Nicole added.
"Did he give you a good explanation?" Micky asked.
"Did you threaten to beat him up?" Davy added.
"Are you getting a divorce?"
"Is he still in one piece?"
"In one piece?" Mike interrupted.
Davy giggled. "We figured that once you found out what he was accused of you'd be pretty mad," he explained.
"And he'd been in several pieces," Micky added.
"No," Mike replied. "Sorry to disappoint." He and Nicole explained what had happened at the jail, everything from their conversation to Peter's explanation.
"Back to the question," Nicole said when he'd finished explaining. "What's all that stuff on my table?"
"Evidence," Micky replied.
"Evidence? Evidence of what?" Mike asked.
"Evidence of who it is that's spying on our favorite nephew," Davy replied.
"Spying? On Thomas?" Nicole asked. Micky nodded. He and Davy explained how someone had been at a ladder looking into Thomas' bedroom. Nicole went limp and sank weakly into a chair.
"My husband. Then my son. All at once," she moaned, putting a hand to her forehead. "Oy. What's next?"
"Not much evidence," Mike commented. "A button, a scrap of cloth, and a library card. "
"Library card?" Nicole asked. "Whose library card?"
Mike picked it up and brushed some of the dirt and mud that covered the name on it.
"Robert Peterson," he read. "I think. But who is that?" Micky and Davy shrugged. "Name doesn't sound familiar."
"It does to me," Nicole said. The other three looked at her.
"Who is he?" Micky asked.
"Thomas' father."
"Thomas' father?!?" the others asked in unison.
"You mean-," Micky began.
"That guy that came and tried to take you back?" Davy asked.
"That guy?" Mike asked. Nicole nodded.
"Well, it makes sense," Davy pointed out. "I mean, 'e wants to get back what's 'is. Thomas is 'is son."
"Yeah, but why would he just spy on him? Why didn't he just ask for some sort of custody arrangement?" Mike asked.
"He knows I wouldn't let him have it. And he knows that a judge would think Thomas better off in a home with his mother and a stable fatherly influence than with him. He's never had a steady job, and he couldn't support a kid," Nicole explained.
"Did he ever ask you about any sort of custody?" Micky asked. She shook her head.
"When I found out I was pregnant, he practically disowned me. I didn't want to go to my mother, and I couldn't survive on my own. That's why I came here," she explained, reminiscing. "He never gave a second thought to me until he came here demanding I come back. But he never even acknowledged Thomas as his own."
"Maybe now he wants to...make Peter look unfaithful and a bad influence on Thomas," Mike said, musing to himself. "So he gets Kimberly to work with him and trick Pete into doing something he'd regret. And after Peter gets in trouble, which he assumes will happen, he'll go to court with the idea that the kid will be better off with him than with his mother. "
"So we 'ave to get Petah out of there. For Thomas," Davy said. Mike nodded. The others thought about this. Suddenly, the case was even more serious. This wasn't just about Peter, but about if they'd loose Thomas.
In the dim light, Nicole headed down the hallway. "Peter?" she called out. "Let me know where you are?"
"Down here, love," his voice replied. Through the hall she could see an arm reaching out. Nicole made her way down the hall and as soon as she was able she reached out and grabbed his arm, clutching his hand tightly.
"Oh, Peter, please tell me you're alright," she begged. He smiled lightly, not his usual cheerful grin, and kissed her hand (the only thing he could reach).
"Of course I'm alright, love," he replied quietly. "They didn't torture me." She smiled back at him, but he could tell it was fake. He reached out and lifted her chin. "Cheer up, hun, it'll be ok," he said.
"Oh, Peter, no it won't," she replied. Forcefully, she took her hand from his and took a step back, out of his reach. Confused, Peter reached out for her, but she shook him away.
"Of course it will," he began, but she shook her head vigorously.
"No it won't Peter," she insisted. "He's after Thomas." Peter was shocked.
"Who?" he asked.
"His father."
"You mean Bob?" he asked, remembering that was what she'd called him the only time they'd met. She nodded.
"This was all in his plan, Peter," she said. "He wants Thomas." She went on to explain the theory that she, Mike, Micky, and Davy had come up with the previous night.
Peter considered this for a moment. "Do you really think that's possible?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yes, and I'm scared." Peter thought a bit more.
"Don't let him out of your sight," he decided. "Don't give him any chance to get Thomas." She nodded. "And don't worry. Even if we loose this battle, you can still win that one. The judge could still decide Thomas is better with his mother. " She nodded again and wiped her tears away from her eyes.
"Dad?"
Peter looked up from where he was sitting. Thomas stood on the other side of the cell, looking in. He clutched the bars tightly. Peter stood up and walked over to him. Then he knelt so that he was eye level with the boy.
"Hi Thomas," he said, not knowing where to start.
"Hi Dad," Thomas replied. He looked around the small cell. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern showing on his face.
Peter nodded. "Yes, Thomas, I'm alright. Are you?" Thomas nodded. "Your mom said that you thought someone was watching you last night?" Thomas shook his head.
"No. I know someone was watching me," he insisted. "I saw the face in the window."
"Maybe you imagined it," Peter suggested. Thomas shook his head vigorously.
"No. I didn't. I didn't imagine it. Dad, I felt it." Peter frowned. "I felt someone watching me. That's why I woke up."
"Do you know who it was? Anything about him?"
"It wasn't anyone I'd met before," Thomas replied. "But he was thinking about me. And he was angry about something."
Peter nodded. "Don't worry Thomas. We'll get to the bottom of this," he said. Thomas nodded.
"Ok Pete, we need a plan," Mike said. "There has to be some way to prove that you're telling the truth. Think. Is there anything at all that could be proof?" Peter shook his head. "Nothing?"
"Nothin', man. There were no witnesses, it was only the two of us. There's absolutely nothing that I can think of." He frowned and sat down. "We might as well give up now," he said, sighing.
"Peter, come on, man. That's no way to talk," Mike said, trying to uplift his spirits. "That's exactly what she wants."
"She?"
"Kimberly. She wants you to give up. If you think you will fail, then you're halfway there already. You can't give up hope, man." Peter nodded, but still looked depressed.
"We'll think of somethin', Pete. Don't give up hope yet," Mike said, encouragingly.
