Part 373
No one was use to Howie taking charge. No matter what went on or who was involved, it was Kevin who spoke for the group. So, as Howie stepped up in front to speak, the entire crew knew this was serious.
Howie cleared his throat, looked at Sarah, and then turned back to the group. In his usual calm, soft voice, Howie said, "The first thing I have to say is that after today, I don’t want to hear another word about what is discussed in this meeting. The first person that goes against my wishes will be looking for a new job. If a new person joins us and starts to ask questions, I expect you to bring it to our attention or put a stop to it. Does anyone NOT understand?"
Howie looked around the room as everyone acknowledged their understanding.
"Second, my wife and Becca are just as much a part of this tour as anyone else in this room, including us," said Howie indicating the other guys. "Their opinions and imput are given the same consideration and they are due the same respect you give us."
Taking a sip of water, Howie looked at the crew in front of him. He could tell that it was sinking in and he was grateful. He didn’t want there to be the slightest room for misunderstanding.
Continuing, "In Detroit, an argument broke out and some things were brought out in the open that the ones involved had kept quiet for obvious reasons. First, Kevin, AJ, and I NEVER shared Sarah. She and I had problems at one point in our relationship that you all knew about and she dated them. They were and still are very close friends. Yes, we all went out together too, but that’s it!"
Kevin stood up. "Sarah is our friend…a very special friend but she is very much in love with Howie. She was then too…. they just needed to work through some things and AJ and I were there as friends to BOTH of them, helping them work through those problems."
"What about what AJ did to her? Did he rape her?" asked Tony, one of the stagehands.
AJ looked at Sarah as she took his hand. She whispered, "You can let Howie explain."
"No, I have to take responsibility for my actions, ‘Tigger’." Standing up, AJ looked at the crew who waited to hear what he had to say. "Yeah, I raped Sarah. We were in Nashville and I was late for the show. I’d been drinking and popping pills when Sarah came out looking for me. We were alone on my bus and I forced myself on her. Sarah and Howie were amazing afterwards and supported me. They stood beside me through it all despite the fact that I took advantage of the trust she had in me."
Howie put his hand on AJ’s shoulder. "We supported AJ because he wasn’t in control…the drugs were…and we knew that he needed help."
"What has all this got to do with today?" asked Brent.
Kevin started to speak but Howie cut him off. "David was a photographer with a tabloid in New York…the one that was trying to get the story about all of this when we were there for the VMA’s. A reporter hounded us at one of the parties and paid David to get the story. David took the opportunity of us needing a new crewmember to get inside and get the story. To make it even sweeter, he knew Sarah through her ex-husband."
Howie stopped again, his mouth dry from nerves. He’d rather be mobbed by screaming fans than have to do this. He looked down at Sarah who was holding on to AJ’s hand as she listened, her eyes moist with the emotion from all the memories this was bringing back.
Seeing her tears, he knelt down beside her and brushed them away. Gently, he said, "Angel, let AJ or Kevin go with you to get ready for your set."
Shaking her head, she mumbled, "No, I need to be here. I’m okay."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Howie stood up to continue. "David saw Sarah in the underworld as she was headed up to do her sound check and that’s when he raped her. To keep her quiet, he threatened to spill the story to the press, the story that he’d been paid $10,000 to get. He had no idea that Sarah would speak up and tell us what happened."
"Hold on! You said this guy was a photographer," said Todd. "How did he get hired as a carpenter?"
Sarah spoke up for the first time, her voice laced with anger and tears, "David had the credentials. He’s worked with .38 Special, Lynard Skynard, and Charlie Daniels over the last ten years. He could do almost anything asked of him."
"He’s been arrested, right?" asked Fatima. "None of us have to worry about him?"
Howie slipped his arm around Sarah’s waist as she now stood beside him resting her head on his shoulder. He answered, "No, he wasn’t arrested but you don’t have to worry about him either. To keep this out of the press, I didn’t press charges."
"Sarah?" questioned Fatima.
"Howie knows what’s best," answered Sarah looking over her shoulder at Howie. Then she whispered, "It’s my turn to talk."
Howie looked at her with questions in his eyes.
"Tyler and I talked about it and it’s something I need to do to get past this."
"I’ll be right here for you."
Sarah smiled, "I know, ‘D’."
Howie gave her a tender kiss and stepped away still holding her hand. She looked at him then to Kevin and Brian. She knew this was going to hurt them as much as it had Howie and AJ when she told them but she also knew they would be supportive, just like Howie and AJ had been. But there was one burning question…. where was Nick? He needed to hear this too and she wanted him here.