The Perfect Child(91)
“I don’t think so. She was pretty adamant.” I’d spent the last five minutes begging her, but it hadn’t made a difference.
“What about your parents?”
“My mom’s diabetes is completely out of control right now. She’s been in and out of the hospital herself. Lillian just left last week. She’d turn around and come back in a heartbeat if I asked her, but Gene took a bad fall while she was gone. His hip is still bothering him. The timing on all of this couldn’t be worse.”
“Look, why don’t I give Allison a call and see if I can change her mind?” Piper asked.
“You’d do that?”
“Of course. I’d do anything for you guys.”
CASE #5243
INTERVIEW:
PIPER GOLDSTEIN
Luke paused before continuing, “You seemed more involved with Christopher than with Hannah. Any particular reason why?”
It was no secret that Christopher and I were close. We talked every day, sometimes multiple times. I wasn’t going to lie about it. Besides, they probably had the phone records anyway.
“I helped Christopher navigate the legal minefield once everything started falling apart,” I said.
“It wasn’t a conflict of interest?”
“No. My role is very different. I’m not involved in the specific legalities of criminally prosecuting parents for abuse. My job is to determine the best placement in situations like Janie’s and Cole’s and then to provide recommendations to the family court.”
“And did you do that?” Luke’s eyes had grown bloodshot as the hours had passed, and he spent most of his time sitting down now instead of animatedly pacing around the room, but Ron looked like he could go all night.
“I did.”
“And you felt the best placement continued to be with Allison?” Ron asked.
“Yes. That’s why I called her.”
I knew they had that record. Everyone did. Besides, I had nothing to hide.
I had called Allison immediately after I’d gotten off the phone with Christopher. I’d known from her voice that the decision had been set in stone before I had said anything. She hadn’t wasted any time on small talk.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re calling for Christopher, and I wish I could keep the kids, but I just can’t. Greg leaves on Friday, and he’ll be gone for ten days on business. I was hoping Janie would’ve settled down by the time he left, but her behavior keeps getting worse. I have to watch her like a hawk and can’t leave her alone with my boys, which makes it almost impossible to take care of Cole.”
The last part had taken me by surprise. “You don’t leave the boys alone with her? How come?” I asked.
“Hannah didn’t tell you?”
“I haven’t seen them much since the adoption was complete. Technically, I’m on the case until the end of the year, but I haven’t had an active role since we got the birth certificate.”
“Oh . . . okay . . . well, I don’t leave her alone with the boys. Ever.”
“Can I ask why?”
She’d lowered her voice. “She tried to be sexually inappropriate with them. My mom caught her. Who knows what else would’ve happened if she hadn’t.”
Nobody had said anything about it.
“I can only do this if Greg is here. Once he’s gone, there’s no way to keep an eye on her at all times and manage the other kids.” She’d let out an exasperated sigh. “Normally, my mom would be able to help out, but my dad just took a bad fall, so she has to take care of him. Did Christopher tell you that?”
“He did.”
“If I knew for sure that it would only be another week, I would do it, but that’s what you said the last time, and look where we are. I’m sorry, Piper. I really am. But I have to look out for my family too. I can’t let my boys get lost in this.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I get it. Taking on two other kids is a huge responsibility, especially kids who’ve gone through so much,” I’d said.
“What happens to them now?”
“They’ll go into emergency foster care until they’re returned to Christopher.”
She’d been silent. My last shred of hope had vanished when the threat of foster care hadn’t changed her mind.
“How is Janie doing?” I had asked. “Christopher said she had a really hard time when he left tonight.”
“She’s fine now. As soon as I got off the phone with Christopher, she turned down the hysterics.” She’d paused before continuing. “She’s only worried about Christopher. She never asks about Hannah. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“She’s young. Who knows what she understands about what’s happening. Or maybe she’s denying the whole thing.”
“I just think it’s weird after, well . . . you know . . .”
“I’m sure she talks about it in her sessions with Dr. Chandler.” I hadn’t had time to get into it. “Look, Allison, I’ve got to run. Thanks so much for helping out.”
I’d been on my phone the rest of the night calling in every owed favor, hoping for a miracle. I’d even had a lawyer friend talk to the judge, but nothing had worked. There’d been no way the Bauer kids would be allowed home without a hearing, and it would be another week before it would happen. Maybe two. Christopher had been my last call.