The attic - Chapter 17

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It was just after eight o clock in the morning when Vincent finally emerged from his room. He was still half asleep when he walked into the kitchen and smiled when he saw both Moira and Billy sitting there. They did not sleep much, but it was worth it. Moira made breakfast for them all and after breakfast Billy went back home for a shower and a change of clothes. He didn't open the shop on Saturdays and he promised that he would be back in an hour.

Vincent helped Moira clean the kitchen and while she packed away the dishes, she sent Vincent to go take a shower. She made herself another cup of coffee and was just about to sit down at the table when she heard a car in the driveway. She stepped outside and saw that it was sheriff Jones. He was not alone. Moira felt embarrassed when she saw the social worker, but welcomed them both inside.

"I'm sorry about earlier..." Moira mumbled and the social worker just nodded. She poured them some coffee and sat down at the kitchen table with them.

"I am sure that you are very protective over Vincent. I try not to get emotionally involved in the cases." the social worker said, and before she could talk any further, sheriff Jones stopped her.

"I know it is your job and you are overwhelmed, but the family you placed Vincent with, was clearly the incorrect choice. Why else would he have run away back here?" Sheriff Jones said.

Moira opened her mouth to say something, but sheriff Jones held up his hand and she swallowed her words. Sheriff Jones was a fair man, and Moira knew that he would do the best he could for Vincent.

"This is about the safety and care of a child that has been through hell. There is no way that he is going to be pulled back and forth, just because of regulations. Even if I have to take him in myself, I will not put him through another day of misery. Whatever happened last night, is bound to happen again. For God's sake, can we just be logical for one day in our lives. Vincent feels safe here. I don't want a situation on my hands, where this child gets hurt trying to come back here just because a little piece of paper assigned him to this other family."

Moira smiled at him and thanked him with her eyes.

" Well I suppose I can bend the rules a little." The social worker said with a faint smile.

Moira signed the necessary paperwork and had just finished signing when Vincent came into the kitchen. He looked frightened, but sheriff Jones assured him that he didn't have to be scared. While Moira and the social worker went over all the details, sheriff Jones took Vincent outside and they sat on the porch.

They had a short conversation and after they spoke a little, Vincent told the sheriff that he did not want to go back to his parents.

"I know boy...I know..." was all the detective said and shivered to think what the court's decision will be. "I will make sure that you are always safe."

Moira was extremely happy, and she joined Vincent on the porch after the sheriff and the social worker left. She put her arms around him and hugged him. He looked at her and said with a worried voice:

"What is going to happen to me Moira?"

"I don't know buddy, but I promise you that while you are here with me, you will be safe from harm."

Billy arrived a few minutes later and they shared the joyous news with them. Billy suggested that they go for a picnic and they drove to the store to get all the necessities and had a wonderful day at the river.

Detective Santos did not have the easiest job in the world. He sat in his office with the file in his hands. He had been overthinking the whole series of events and the more he dug the more confused he got. He had the results back from the DNA test and the result was astonishing. He was trying to figure out how a mother can do this to her own child.

He did a courtesy visit to Vincent's parents, and not to raise any suspicion he did not tell them anything about Vincent, but asked for DNA samples from both of them. He had to lie to get it, but sometimes it helps you get what you need.

He was unable to locate Vincent's stepfather, but he had a fair suspicion that the stepfather was not at all involved. He was just a poor bastard in the wrong place at the wrong time. Vincent's supposedly real father had no idea about the events that took place and he still blamed himself for Vincent's disappearance. It seemed like Vincent's mother was a real psychotic person and had no sense of reality.

She seemed to have processed the death of her child fairly well and she greeted the detective very friendly as if he was her dearest friend. She had no suspicion that they were on to her. What was bothering him the most was the results of the DNA test. He knew who Vincent's real father was, and that threw out the whole case of kidnapping. It was an extremely difficult case, but it was his job and he had to deal with it.

He put the file down on the table and picked up the phone to phone Sheriff Jones.

-To be continued-

Chapter 1 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-1

Chapter 2 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-2

Chapter 3 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-3

Chapter 4 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-4

Chapter 5- https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-5

Chapter 6- https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-6

Chapter 7- https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-7

Chapter 8 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-8

Chapter 9 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-9

Chapter 10 - https://steemit.com/fiction/@giantbear/the-attic-chapter-10