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.’ I was going to ask you who Mac was, until that questionanswered itself.He says Mac keeps everyone safe.”She straightened the papers on her desk then looked at Tony.“Ben clearly thinks of you as his parent.If I don’t have to worryabout you having a secret sex life, I have few doubts about yoursuitability as a foster parent for this boy.In accordance with theterms of his mother’s will I am therefore awarding temporarycustody of Ben Serrano to Anthony Hart.”Tony swayed in relief, and saw Sabrina break into a grin.“You can’t!” Arlene Thompson protested.“It’s not right.He’sour grandson!”“He is,” the judge agreed.“And I am writing in your right tovisitation in the agreement.I’m giving you two weekend days amonth, which appears to be more time than you have spent withBen over the past few years.Mr.Hart?” Tony looked up at her.“Do you agree to allow his grandparents regular access to visitwith Ben?”“Yes, Your Honor.” Tony said hoarsely.“Of course.Although…I worry about what they will say to him…”“Yes,” the judge agreed.“Mr.and Mrs.Thompson, I havebeen aware of the comments you have made to and about Mr.Hart at this hearing, and also your statements about the boy’smother.If you want to spend time with Ben, you’ll have to makean effort not to slander or insult his guardian or his mom.IfMr.Hart feels Ben is distressed by his visits to you, or if you aremaking Ben’s life more difficult, Mr.Hart can petition to have172 Kaje Harperyour rights terminated.”“You mean this…person can keep us from even seeing ourgrandson?” Mr.Thompson demanded.“If you make it necessary,” the judge replied calmly.“We’ll just see about that,” Thompson growled.“I’m going toget a good lawyer and get this changed.It’s not right.No one intheir right mind would choose that faggot over us.” He grabbedhis wife’s arm.“Come along, Arlene.We’ll find someone with thecommon decency to listen to us.” He marched her out, and thebailiff, at a nod from the judge, let them through the door.“Which is contempt of court, I guess,” the judge said, “Buthardly worth pursuing at this point.” She looked at Tony.“Youmay have trouble with those two, but I would need more excusethan that to cut the boy off from his only blood relatives.”“No,” Tony said.“Ben needs his grandparents, if they can livewith this arrangement.” He looked up at the judge.“When canI get Ben?”She smiled at last, a warmer expression than he would haveexpected.“I imagine from reading the interviews that Ben is justas impatient as you are.The foster parents report he isn’t sleepingwell.Maybe he’ll do better with you.You get the paperwork doneand I’ll have the caseworker bring him by your new apartmentabout five.” She gave Tony a look that had a hint of sternness.“This is a temporary custody order, you understand.Therewill still be interviews and visits.If Detective MacLean movesinto that big new apartment I read about, we’ll need formalbackground checks on him as well.”“Yes, Your Honor,” Tony said.“I hope it will become permanent,” she said.“Getting childreninto good homes is part of what I’m here for.” She picked up adocument from her desk, signed it, and passed a copy to Tony.“Take that to the records office on the third floor.They’ll walkyou through the paperwork.Now get out of my courtroom so Ican tackle the next case.”“Thank you, Your Honor,” Tony said intensely.BReAking CoveR 173“Good luck,” she told him.“To all of you.Dismissed.” Shewaved a hand toward the door.Tony followed Mac out, and wondered if it was his imaginationor if the bailiff did step back a little from Mac as he passedthrough.In the hallway, he turned to Sabrina.“Wait here for me,okay Bree?”He towed a reluctant Mac toward the nearest men’s room.The restroom door closed behind them and Tony turned to Mac.“Um, why are we in here?” Mac asked.“Don’t worry,” Tony told him, wrapping his arms aroundhis own middle so he wouldn’t wrap them around Mac.“I’mnot going to kiss you in a public toilet.” He laughed shortly asMac instinctively glanced around.“We’re in here because it’s asclose to private as we’re going to get, and you’re wearing a totallyfreaked look.”“I’m not freaked,” Mac said.“I’m scared shitless.” He lookedaround the empty bathroom again.“Tony, what do I do now?”“Relax,” Tony told him.“You don’t have to go back to workwearing a pink triangle.I wouldn’t do anything at all.Oncerumors start going around, you can just deny them, or…not.Itwill be plenty soon enough.Don’t make a big deal out of it.It’sno more their business now than it was when you were hiding it.”“People are going to wonder about Mai.”“Let them wonder.That’s actually good.Some guys will be alot more relaxed if they think you’re bi than if you’re gay.”Mac shook his head.“I don’t know how to do this.Loes isgoing to kill me.”“There are always a few guys who are going to be a problem.I think you can handle Loes.”“I should tell Oliver first, though.Shouldn’t I?”Tony considered it.Oliver and Mac weren’t extremely close,as partners went, but he knew they spent a lot of time togetheron the job, and occasionally shared a meal or evening in a bar.Oliver was as close to a real friend as Mac seemed to have.174 Kaje Harper“I guess so,” he agreed.“How do you think he’ll handle it?”“No clue.” Mac snorted a choked laugh.“Better than Loes.”“There is that.” Tony gave Mac his best smile.Mac needed hissupport right now.Tony could consider killing him later.“Youcan come home and dump on me afterward.”Mac nodded.“And we’re finally making progress on the case.Maybe everyone will be too busy to care.”“Tell me about it tonight,” Tony invited.“Can you come by towelcome Ben home?”“Not at five.I took some personal time to do this, but I’vegot a ton of work.I’ll come by in the evening.It may be good forBen to have time to settle down first anyway.”The door to the washroom opened and a tall, thin man camein.He looked at them blandly, and went into a stall.“I have to get back to work,” Mac said, with a glance at theclosed stall door.“Good luck with the paperwork.I’ll see youlater.”“See you,” Tony said softly at his retreating back.When Tonymade it out the door, Mac was already down the hall.“Argument?” Bree asked, tucking her arm through Tony’s
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