by Bella Knight
“Tai chi,” said Xenia. “Good choice.”
The kids were all lined up, from black belts down. The tiniest girl had a black belt. “Bet that makes Wharton nuts,” said Wraith, looking in the dojo window, pointing to the little girl with her chin.
“It does. He’s only a gold belt.” Wharton was near the middle. He had elfin features, a shock of black hair, and penetrating brown eyes. His skin was nut-brown from the sun, with a hint of gold underneath.
“That’s impressive,” said Wraith. “He couldn’t have been taking classes long.”
“It is. Wish his foster mother understood that.” Xenia sighed. “He’s on a fake scholarship for this class.”
“You paid for it,” intuited Wraith. Xenia just smiled mysteriously. The class was on its last ten minutes. Wraith watched Wharton kick, punch, block, evade, roll, and duck. “Impressive,” she said again. They bowed, then knelt, as the instructor had them breathe and center. She released her students, and they tumbled out the door like sheep escaping a pen.
Wharton saw them, and stopped. “Sheriff,” he said. “Here to check up on my progress?”
“We’re both impressed,” said Xenia. “War, this is Wraith. She wants to be your new mom.”
“I hate my name,” said Wharton. “Everyone at school calls me Wart. War is a little better. Can I change my name if you adopt me?” he said, looking up into her eyes.
“Of course,” said Wraith. “You’ll also be trained by Skuld. She trains FBI agents.”
“I can keep the karate?” War asked.
“Yes,” said Wraith. “But, I’ll teach you the Yang Short Form. Tai chi. Helps with balance and concentration.”
“Cool,” said War. “When?”
“At least a week,” said Wraith. “Buying a house first.”
“Can I see it?” asked War. Wraith played him the video. “That rocks! My own room?” he asked, with eyes wide as they could go.
“Absolutely,” said Wraith.
“Score!” he said. They bumped fists. “Bye, Mom. Gotta go to the foster home now. See ya!” He ran down the hallway and out to the street.
“That went well,” said Xenia. “Onto the next one. I guarantee it won’t go as well. It would be catastrophic for us both to lose our cool, though,” she said. “We’ve got to hold on. I can call over yonder to have your home study rushed,” she said, as they strode out of the building and back into the now-hot sheriff’s SUV.
“I’ve been undercover, remember?” asked Wraith. “I think I can take her.”
“That’s the problem,” said Xenia. “Wish I could get her license revoked. Want to take her out myself.”
They drove to a house with a few blades of grass, children’s toys strewn haphazardly all over the front yard, including Big Wheels and a plastic wagon. There were a few dolls strewn about, their eyes staring at the sky; at nothing. “Creepy,” said Wraith. “And that’s coming from me.”
Xenia snorted. “We haven’t gotten out of the truck yet.”
They got out of the truck, and Xenia knocked. A little boy, no more than five, opened the door. “Chad,” said Xenia. “Nice to see you.”
“You here to take me to my mommy?” he asked, hopefully.
“No, Chad,” said Xenia, gently. She knelt to look into his eyes. “She’s in a six-month rehab. She’s got two months left, buddy. But, I brought you a letter.” She took a battered envelope out and gave it to him. “If you don’t understand any of the words, just ask.” They entered as he scampered off to read the letter, and Xenia shut the door behind her.
A woman came lumbering out of the kitchen. She was as wide as she was tall, with a rose tattoo on her right breast. She wore a voluminous muumuu in blue, with yellow parrots on the bottom. She had a fat mouth and crooked teeth, and fuzzy brown hair caught at the nape of her neck. She had a baby in one hand, and a toddler attached to her leg.
“See you let yourself in again, Sheriff.”
“No,” said Xenia. “Chad did. Have you spoken to him about not answering the door himself?”
“Thinks his no-good mother is coming back,” she said. “Told him it wasn’t going to happen.”
Xenia spoke calmly, carefully. “I know his caseworker has asked you not to say things like that to him, Donna. Shall I tell her about what you said?”
“Do what you fucking like,” said Donna. “You got no call barging in here.”
“Donna, this is Annika Jensen. She’s going to adopt Dina,” she said, levelly.
“About fucking time,” said Donna. “You taking her away now?”
Xenia spoke calmly. “Yes, we are.” Wraith schooled her expression. She hoped Xenia was able to smooth this over with the caseworker. Donna looked absolutely gleeful.
A knock came from the door. Xenia turned. “That’ll be June, the caseworker,” she said. “I’ll get it.”
“You do that,” said Donna, and turned away. She didn’t give either woman a second glance.
June was tall, with a fan of crimped hair in a clip on the back of her head, coffee-colored skin, and bright brown eyes. “Thank you for letting me in, Sheriff,” she said. “And this is Agent Jensen?”
“Ex-agent,” said Wraith. “I’m working with the sheriff’s department to clean up some paperwork, files, make their work more efficient and up to Nye County code. It is already, but it can get better.”
“Excellent,” said June. “And the child,” she looked at her paperwork, “Dina Morris, will be staying with you at your house? I see that you are also a certified foster parent.”
“Yes,” said Xenia. “It keeps kids safe at three in the morning when we have some trouble with beds.”
“I see,” said June. “The paperwork seems to be in order. Do you have a home study?” June asked Wraith.
“Yes,” she said, handing over a folder. She failed to mention getting recertified in the new house. Tito would be sure all the outlets were covered, and take out the kiva for the inspection. June inspected the paperwork in the folder, then handed it back. “Well, then. Shall we tell Dina?”
“Yes,” said Wraith, happily.
They went to a back bedroom, stepping over piles of toys that seemed to have been dropped or thrown all over. There were two beds in a tiny room. The door barely missed hitting the bed. There were two girls in the room. The one on the left wore a soccer jersey and was laying on the bed playing a video game. The other was propped up on pillows with a lap desk, attempting to read a book. Dina had green eyes, red hair (inexpertly braided), and thin arms and legs. She had lines around her mouth, nose, and in between her eyebrows from the pain.
“Dina,” said June.
“Am I getting moved again?” she asked, with hope in her voice.
“Yes and no,” said June. “This is Annika, your new mother.”
“Cool braids,” said Dina.
“Thank you,” said Wraith. “What can I pack for you?”
“I’ll get the suitcase out of the SUV,” said Xenia. “I’ll be right back.”
Dina pointed out her clothes —only one drawer in the dresser, her few things, her books. “We turned in all the school’s books at the end of the semester,” said Dina.
“Excellent,” said Wraith. “I’ll explain your options in the car.”
“I have options?” said Dina.
“Lots,” said Wraith. “Lots of options. Kind of a full-service house.”
“Awesome,” said Dina. “What can I do to help?”
“Hang out a minute,” said Wraith. “Let us pack.”
“Cool,” said Dina. She laid back on the pillow.
Xenia came in with a pink rolling suitcase. Wraith and Xenia made quick work of packing. Wraith signed some paperwork, and then June bustled out the door. Wraith said, “May I pick you up?”
“Mama says she’s faking,” said the other girl, over the beeps and whines from her video game.
“Your mother is wrong,” said Wraith, very softly, but clearly.
“Thought so,”
said the girl, never looking up from her game.
“You can pick me up,” said Dina, in a small voice.
“Let me know if something hurts,” said Wraith. “We’ll get you into the car.” She nearly staggered, because the girl was bird-boned.
“Restricted diet,” said Dina. “I can’t play like Rayna here, because I could get fat.”
Wraith closed her eyes as she straightened her back. “I think we’ve got what we need,” she said, glancing at Xenia.
The thunderous look on Xenia’s face showed that Xenia had, in fact, understood. The woman had been starving the girl. “Pictures later,” said Xenia. “Can’t have helped muscle development. Didn’t the doctors notice?”
“I haven’t been to see a doctor since I got here,” said Dina. “Just before Mama died.”
Xenia and Wraith exchanged a flinty glance. Donna’s going to prison, thought Xenia. May she starve in prison, Xenia thought, now fierce with rage.
They got Dina into the SUV. Xenia used a blanket to pad her hips. “I’m sorry, but this is…” said Xenia.
Wraith carefully shut the door. “Pediatrician first,” she said.
It took a nightmarish ninety minutes, and a second call to June, to get the situation at the pediatrician ironed out. Wraith got a copy of Dina’s medical records from June, and June was properly horrified. “She sent logs of doctor visits,” said June. “Got reimbursed, too.”
“Fraud,” said Xenia. “The state will be pressing charges,” she said. “A lot of them. Is that girl, Rayna, her biological daughter?”
“No, and not adopted,” said June. “None of the children in her care are.” She sighed. “I”m going to have to find homes for every single one of them.”
“I’ll take Dave,” said Xenia. “I’ve visited his mother. She’s staying sober. She writes him every week. Sends him drawings.”
“That’s… excellent,” said June. “This girl was overweight when she got there. Now she’s underweight. That much weight loss can cause permanent damage in a child.”
“She’ll be on my insurance,” Wraith said, mildly. “We’ll take care of it.”
The pediatrician, Dr. Gupta, came out, a diminutive woman with blue-black hair and a ready smile. “She needs meal replacement. I suggest Ensure with her meals. Let her be a kid. Give her ice cream and cookies. She needs to gain ten pounds, quickly. Hospitalization isn’t necessary, but she shouldn’t be out in this heat, or moving around much. I hesitate at giving her pain medication, due to her lowered weight and subsequent decreased metabolism, but naproxen sodium should work and last all day, with food.”
“Lots of food. I can do that,” said Wraith.
Sigrun came into the office, and rushed over to Wraith. Sigrun had paint splotches on her T-shirt, and paint underneath her fingernails. “Is Dina alright?”
“Who is this?” asked June.
“It’s in the paperwork,” said Wraith. “She’s a student living with us.”
“I do the housekeeping. I took parenting classes just like Wraith and Saber. I’m a certified foster parent as well.” Sigrun turned worried eyes to Wraith. “What’s wrong with Dina?”
June took her leave. “Alright, I’ll get the paperwork nightmare started. When can you pick up Dave?” June asked Xenia.
“Now,” said Xenia. The two women stepped away to organize it.
“Let’s have you meet her and you can see,” said Wraith.
Dr. Gupta gestured to the room. Wraith knocked. “Come in,” said Dina. She was back in her pink T-shirt and blue jean shorts. Her battered white tennis shoes were on the ground.
“I’ll put those on for you,” said Wraith.
Sigrun sat down on the rolling stool used by the doctor. “Hi, Dina. I’m Sigrun. I’m Wraith’s wife.”
“Cool,” said Dina. “Two moms?”
“And a dad,” said Wraith, slipping on the first shoe. “Saber isn’t home with us very often. His job takes him away a lot. He’s kind of a special police officer.” She slipped on the other one, and laced up the high-top.
“Whoa,” said Dina. “Way cool.”
“We’re adopting a brother for you, too,” said Wraith. “But, we’ve got to keep the three-parent thing on the down low, for now.” She picked Dina up. “The law gets two moms, two dads, or a mom and a dad. Two moms and a dad kinda makes them stutter.”
Dina barked out a small laugh. “I bet.” Sigrun opened the door, and Wraith turned to get out.
“I got the rental car like you asked,” said Sigrun. “All gassed up and ready to go. Herja’s got someone wanting to party in Vegas, so she’s taking my Harley back tonight with another Valkyrie. They’ll double-up on the way back.” She led them out to reception, where Sigrun took Dina’s bird weight, and Wraith signed a bunch of paperwork.
“Food first,” said Wraith, and opened the door to let Sigrun and Dina out. “I suggest Sonic; burgers, fries, shakes, and sundaes for dessert.” She sighed. “Wait, small meals every two to three hours. Chicken fingers, a soda, and the sundae, then fries and the shake, two hours later.”
Dina grinned. “Really?”
“Really,” said Wraith. “We’ll let you sleep at night, as much as you can in a home with a new baby. Diana still screams every two hours.”
“So,” said Sigrun, “Xenia and Robin feed Diana, and we feed you.” Wraith opened the door to the rental, a silver Taurus. Sigrun carefully slid Dina into the car seat. “Sorry, but your lowered poundage means a car seat for now.” It was covered with a blue towel.
“Never rode in one, that I remember,” said Dina. Sigrun and Wraith’s eyes met. “What?” said Dina.
Xenia rushed over with the pink suitcase. “I have a little boy to pick up, and I’m buying him stuff,” said Xenia. “See you tomorrow, Wraith.” She caught the back of each woman’s neck, and touched foreheads.
“Thanks for our daughter,” said Wraith. Xenia nodded, and rushed away. Wraith put the rolling suitcase in the trunk and then got in. Sigrun drove. “In answer to your question,” said Wraith, turning to look at her daughter. “You’ll be getting lots of weird looks over your head for a few months. Your foster mother neglected and abused you, and failed to give you proper medical care. Your weight is too low. We will feed you like a little piggy for a while. When we get to Vegas, you will get the best medical care we can get for you. Once you fatten up a bit, we can start the specialized exercises to relieve your back and neck pain.”
“And shoulder, and hip,” said Dina. “My leg was broken in three places, too.”
“Another you,” said Sigrun, turning toward the Sonic sign in the distance.
“I got run over by a truck while on a motorcycle,” said Wraith. “So I get it. It happened to me too.
“Then you got shot,” said Sigrun. “Don’t worry; she’s not in that line of work anymore. She works for a security agency. Right now, Wraith is consulting with the city here, cleaning stuff up. They scanned everything, so now they need to do some computer filing stuff.”
“Then y0u know,” said Dina, sounding relieved. She thought a minute. “Can I see Donna get arrested?”
Wraith laughed. “I don’t see why not.”
They had their chicken fingers, shared fries, and Cokes, with chocolate sundaes to go. They pulled around the corner, and watched Bob take the handcuffed Donna out to his car. She was squawking so loud they could hear her from where they were parked. Cars and caseworkers were everywhere to take the children to new homes. Xenia had a suitcase in one hand, and Dave’s in her other hand. She put him into a car seat in the back of her vehicle, and his little suitcase in the back. She closed the door, and spied the lurkers on the corner. She nodded at them, and they followed her home.
“When you think you’ve done enough, do more. Your survival depends on it.”
4
Valhalla
“Some people can’t see their own guilt. Those people need to be separated from the rest of us, so they don’t rub off on others.”
; Sheriff Bob and Xenia were both there for the arraignment. Donna Trast, the former foster mother, was in court for starving a child. She was foul-mouthed, rude to the judge, ignored her attorney, and made herself a pain in the ass. She was quiet long enough for the judge, not the prosecuting attorney, to ask Sheriff Bob why the Sheriff’s Department didn’t catch the abuse.
“My wife had a new baby, and she and the baby were nearly kidnapped. Very understandably, she spent the next few weeks at home. I visited Dina, but I hadn’t physically seen her previously, and therefore did not spot her sudden weight loss.” He grimaced. “Ms. Trast was rude, demanding, and tried to get me to leave before I had a chance to see Dina. I insisted.”
“And what about the caseworker?” asked Judge Janye Jermaine. Everyone called her Judge J.J. She had a narrow face, dark eyes that held like steel when she was angry, and a cascade of dark hair that was held back in a golden clip that went well with her judicial robe.
Sheriff Bob spoke clearly for the court reporter, so he could catch all of his words. “Dina didn’t remember the last time her caseworker had visited her. I called the caseworker when I got back to the office, and left a message to see Dina. Dina was quite clear that Ms. Trast was treating her rudely, with a lot of screaming. I tried asking her exactly what Ms. Trast said to her, but Dina refused to say. I have since found out that she was embarrassed about having been overweight, and at first was pleased about losing weight. I described what I knew to her caseworker on the phone call. I then followed up with two separate emails. My wife was going to visit her next, and I assumed either the caseworker or my wife would get to the bottom of it.”
“What else did you do?” asked Judge J.J.
“I sent an email to her caseworker’s boss. Jenna Rayse listened to my detailed report and hung up the phone. Also, my wife and I were searching for adoptive parents for her, keeping our eye out, talking to family and friends. We found a couple in Las Vegas who were highly interested.”
“Do you know what was done from there?” asked Judge J.J.