I'm the Last One That You'll Ever Remember
Chapter 40: Detectives
“An…an abortion? Did you just say an abortion?” Frank asked his mother with an incredulous look on her face. He knew his mother’s views on women having abortions, and that she was pro-choice. Her sister, Aunt Edith, however, was completely and strongly against taking an innocent’s life no matter the circumstances. If she were here, she’d be fighting against his mother over it right now.
Margo reluctantly nodded. “Yes, an abortion.”
“So…you want me to kill it? Just like that? It’s that simple?” Frank asked them, surprised that they would consider that option when it was technically their first grandchild growing inside of him.
Margo let out a sigh and covered her face for a moment. “Well yes, it kind of is. I mean, you have our full permission to have an abortion if you feel that you need this abortion and trust me, you do. Look at yourself, Frankie, you’re in no shape to raise a baby, especially after all you just went through. You’re still just a damn baby yourself! Having a child is a MAJOR responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Don’t take this the wrong way honey, but I don’t think you can be the kind of parent you would need to be for this baby because every time you look into its eyes you’re gonna see a constant reminder of the things that had happened to you and WHO is also responsible for the creation this baby.”
“And besides, look at where it came from. Its father is a monster that preyed on a young boy like some sick pervert! It’s disgusting, I tell you! All of it is just, GAH!” Frank Sr. dramatically threw up his arms and began to pace the kitchen in frustration. The fury on his face could kill a baby rhino from a mile away, and so his family decided to just leave him to calm his own anger down for a while.
Margo cupped her son’s face in her hands and turned it’s direction to look at her. “Look Frankie, we can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. This abortion is what we want for you because we feel it’s what’s best for you right now after all that has happened to you. We want this nightmare to end just as much as you do baby, but we can’t make that decision for you. If you ever want to have kids down the road in the future, then that’s great! Your father and I will be more than happy to be grandparents then, but right now it’s just…I just don’t think right now is the right time, BUT in the end it’s not our decision to make, it’s only yours.”
Frank completely understood what his mother was saying and couldn’t have agreed with her more in that moment. He wasn’t ready to be a parent, and raise a child for the next 18 years or more, especially because of where it came from. Maybe in the future he’d give it a try, but right now when he’d just turned 15? No way! “You’re right, mom. I am WAY too young for this kind of lifetime responsibility. I’m not ready to be a parent now, or ever. If you and dad thinks its best, then I’ll do it. I’ll get the abortion as soon as I can get an appointment and get this creature out of me!”
“I’m on it!” Frank Sr. announced as he bolted for the house phone in the living to set up an appointment with Frank’s Doctor at the earliest that it could be schedule.
Frank shook his head as he looked at his mother. “I don’t want to be labelled a freak, mom. Everyone’s gonna find out about this abortion and that I can have babies just like a women can! They’ll torture me.”
Margo shook her head. “Don’t you worry about that, you’re father is already on it. You just finish your breakfast and then-“
All of a sudden the doorbell rang, alerting the Iero’s that they had a visitor. Frank’s parents both exchanged a puzzled look as to who could possibly be ringing on their doorbell since they hadn’t invited anyone over for the day. Margo got up to answer the door, while her husband hurriedly set up the appointment for their son’s abortion. She was hoping that a group of girl’s scouts that were selling cookies would be standing on the other side of the door or maybe at least someone else that could easily be dismissed so that her family could spend some quality time together, but that wasn’t the case. The familiar faces belonging to Detective Drebin and his partner Detective Frost stood on her welcome mat.
“Oh, good morning Detectives, how can I help you?” Margo politely asked them while her eyes flitted between the two of them with uncertainty.
“Good morning to you too, Mrs. Iero. We wanted to drop by and see how your son is doing?” Detective Frost inquired, looking quite handsome in his gray suit.
She gave them a strained smile. “Frankie is doing a bit better now. He’s still emotional but he’s holding himself together as best as he can.”
Detective Drebin nodded and reluctantly asked. “Would you say he’s in a calm state to answer some questions that we have for him?”
Margo didn’t try not to make it obvious that she didn’t approve of them questioning her son, but Detective’s Frost next remark had her thinking otherwise. “The sooner we can get some answers the better chance we might have to finding the man that took your son.”
“Well, when you put it that way…please, come in.” Stepping aside, Margo gestured for them to enter her home. Stepping inside, the Detectives couldn’t help but admire her lovely cozy home.
Once she locked the door behind them, she led the detectives to her living room. “Please, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable. We were finishing up breakfast before you got here so Frankie should be just about done. I’ll go fetch him for you, and oh I almost forgot, would you gentlemen like any refreshments while I’m in there?”
Detective Frost and Drebin shook their heads simultaneously, as they reached for their pens and note pads hidden in their pockets. “No thank you, ma’am. We’re just fine.”
Margo nodded and flashed them a strained smile before disappearing down the hall. The Detectives waited patiently as they once again admired their witness’s home. They knew Frankie’s father was a well-known talented doctor and his mother a tough respected lawyer so of course they would live in a grand looking house like this. Their town was a pretty close knit place where everyone knew each other. Frank Iero Sr. helped bring Detective Frost’s recently born twin daughters into the world even while his own child was missing, and Mrs. Iero had kept Drebin’s rambunctious grandchildren from facing jail time during their rebellious teenage years when they thought they were unstoppable. They were a trusted couple, not only to the community but also to the Detectives as well.
After a few minutes passed, the Ieros came out from the kitchen with their son in between them. They both had a supportive hand on his shoulder, and were equally scared for their son’s mentality when he would have to recall what had happened to him by the hand of his mysterious kidnapper. They were worried he’d fall apart all over again, and this time might not be able to put himself back together. “He’s…he’s ready to talk, Detectives.”
Detective Drebin and Frost stood up in respect, and gave the young boy a sympathetic smile. “Hey Frankie, you remember me, right? It’s Detective Drebin, and this here is my partner Detective Frost, he’s new to our town.”
Frankie merely nodded in response, his eyes unreadable of anything but fear.
Drebin nodded before gesturing to the couch. “We were hoping you could have a seat with us and tell us about what happened to you on your 15th birthday.”
Frankie swallowed back the lump in his throat as his parents led him to the bigger couch so they’d all be able to sit together as a family. As soon as they all sat down, they took each other’s hand and held on tight. Frankie licked his lips nervously as he awkwardly looked around. “I-I honestly don’t know where to begin, Drebin. I just don’t know…what to really say.”
Detective Frost nodded in understanding. “It’s ok, Frankie, we’ll take it slow, and easy. You don’t have to talk about it right away, instead we can talk about what happened on the morning of your 15th birthday.”
Margo reluctantly nodded. “Yes, an abortion.”
“So…you want me to kill it? Just like that? It’s that simple?” Frank asked them, surprised that they would consider that option when it was technically their first grandchild growing inside of him.
Margo let out a sigh and covered her face for a moment. “Well yes, it kind of is. I mean, you have our full permission to have an abortion if you feel that you need this abortion and trust me, you do. Look at yourself, Frankie, you’re in no shape to raise a baby, especially after all you just went through. You’re still just a damn baby yourself! Having a child is a MAJOR responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Don’t take this the wrong way honey, but I don’t think you can be the kind of parent you would need to be for this baby because every time you look into its eyes you’re gonna see a constant reminder of the things that had happened to you and WHO is also responsible for the creation this baby.”
“And besides, look at where it came from. Its father is a monster that preyed on a young boy like some sick pervert! It’s disgusting, I tell you! All of it is just, GAH!” Frank Sr. dramatically threw up his arms and began to pace the kitchen in frustration. The fury on his face could kill a baby rhino from a mile away, and so his family decided to just leave him to calm his own anger down for a while.
Margo cupped her son’s face in her hands and turned it’s direction to look at her. “Look Frankie, we can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. This abortion is what we want for you because we feel it’s what’s best for you right now after all that has happened to you. We want this nightmare to end just as much as you do baby, but we can’t make that decision for you. If you ever want to have kids down the road in the future, then that’s great! Your father and I will be more than happy to be grandparents then, but right now it’s just…I just don’t think right now is the right time, BUT in the end it’s not our decision to make, it’s only yours.”
Frank completely understood what his mother was saying and couldn’t have agreed with her more in that moment. He wasn’t ready to be a parent, and raise a child for the next 18 years or more, especially because of where it came from. Maybe in the future he’d give it a try, but right now when he’d just turned 15? No way! “You’re right, mom. I am WAY too young for this kind of lifetime responsibility. I’m not ready to be a parent now, or ever. If you and dad thinks its best, then I’ll do it. I’ll get the abortion as soon as I can get an appointment and get this creature out of me!”
“I’m on it!” Frank Sr. announced as he bolted for the house phone in the living to set up an appointment with Frank’s Doctor at the earliest that it could be schedule.
Frank shook his head as he looked at his mother. “I don’t want to be labelled a freak, mom. Everyone’s gonna find out about this abortion and that I can have babies just like a women can! They’ll torture me.”
Margo shook her head. “Don’t you worry about that, you’re father is already on it. You just finish your breakfast and then-“
All of a sudden the doorbell rang, alerting the Iero’s that they had a visitor. Frank’s parents both exchanged a puzzled look as to who could possibly be ringing on their doorbell since they hadn’t invited anyone over for the day. Margo got up to answer the door, while her husband hurriedly set up the appointment for their son’s abortion. She was hoping that a group of girl’s scouts that were selling cookies would be standing on the other side of the door or maybe at least someone else that could easily be dismissed so that her family could spend some quality time together, but that wasn’t the case. The familiar faces belonging to Detective Drebin and his partner Detective Frost stood on her welcome mat.
“Oh, good morning Detectives, how can I help you?” Margo politely asked them while her eyes flitted between the two of them with uncertainty.
“Good morning to you too, Mrs. Iero. We wanted to drop by and see how your son is doing?” Detective Frost inquired, looking quite handsome in his gray suit.
She gave them a strained smile. “Frankie is doing a bit better now. He’s still emotional but he’s holding himself together as best as he can.”
Detective Drebin nodded and reluctantly asked. “Would you say he’s in a calm state to answer some questions that we have for him?”
Margo didn’t try not to make it obvious that she didn’t approve of them questioning her son, but Detective’s Frost next remark had her thinking otherwise. “The sooner we can get some answers the better chance we might have to finding the man that took your son.”
“Well, when you put it that way…please, come in.” Stepping aside, Margo gestured for them to enter her home. Stepping inside, the Detectives couldn’t help but admire her lovely cozy home.
Once she locked the door behind them, she led the detectives to her living room. “Please, have a seat and make yourselves comfortable. We were finishing up breakfast before you got here so Frankie should be just about done. I’ll go fetch him for you, and oh I almost forgot, would you gentlemen like any refreshments while I’m in there?”
Detective Frost and Drebin shook their heads simultaneously, as they reached for their pens and note pads hidden in their pockets. “No thank you, ma’am. We’re just fine.”
Margo nodded and flashed them a strained smile before disappearing down the hall. The Detectives waited patiently as they once again admired their witness’s home. They knew Frankie’s father was a well-known talented doctor and his mother a tough respected lawyer so of course they would live in a grand looking house like this. Their town was a pretty close knit place where everyone knew each other. Frank Iero Sr. helped bring Detective Frost’s recently born twin daughters into the world even while his own child was missing, and Mrs. Iero had kept Drebin’s rambunctious grandchildren from facing jail time during their rebellious teenage years when they thought they were unstoppable. They were a trusted couple, not only to the community but also to the Detectives as well.
After a few minutes passed, the Ieros came out from the kitchen with their son in between them. They both had a supportive hand on his shoulder, and were equally scared for their son’s mentality when he would have to recall what had happened to him by the hand of his mysterious kidnapper. They were worried he’d fall apart all over again, and this time might not be able to put himself back together. “He’s…he’s ready to talk, Detectives.”
Detective Drebin and Frost stood up in respect, and gave the young boy a sympathetic smile. “Hey Frankie, you remember me, right? It’s Detective Drebin, and this here is my partner Detective Frost, he’s new to our town.”
Frankie merely nodded in response, his eyes unreadable of anything but fear.
Drebin nodded before gesturing to the couch. “We were hoping you could have a seat with us and tell us about what happened to you on your 15th birthday.”
Frankie swallowed back the lump in his throat as his parents led him to the bigger couch so they’d all be able to sit together as a family. As soon as they all sat down, they took each other’s hand and held on tight. Frankie licked his lips nervously as he awkwardly looked around. “I-I honestly don’t know where to begin, Drebin. I just don’t know…what to really say.”
Detective Frost nodded in understanding. “It’s ok, Frankie, we’ll take it slow, and easy. You don’t have to talk about it right away, instead we can talk about what happened on the morning of your 15th birthday.”