Winds of Fate

by Thomas H. Reed

  Dan put down the newspaper, wiped his eyes and went to the kitchen, started to take down two coffee cups but put one back. Took the frying pan from the cupboard, and then put it back. He filled his coffee cup and went to the kitchen where he sat down and sipped his coffee while gazing out the window at the autumn leaves blowing across the yellowing lawn. He raised his cup and said, “Martha, we did it. I don’t think I could have done it without you. Perhaps now we can both rest in peace.”

  Dan sipped his coffee and watched the squirrels chase each other around a tree. A knock on the door came a few minutes later. He put down his cup and went to the door.

  Dan saw the ID tag on front of the woman’s uniform and said, “You’re too late.” She’s grown now and attending collage.”

  The woman standing in the door said, “Mr. Daniels, why didn’t you come to us? We would have helped you?”

  “She needed a home, not a cold, regimented place where discipline and punishment were the only rules. Or maybe even another home where she would be used and abused. As it was, she got enough discipline anyway.”

  “Well, sir, if you will admit me into your home, I have something here I would be happy to share with you. I have been digging through old files from the day I read the article. I finally learned who had written it. I read it three times before putting it down, and every time I read it, I cried. It’s not your fault ... that I cried ... but it is your fault that you never asked for help. After I learned who had written the letter, it took me only a few hours to trace the source to you.”

  Dan opened the door and welcomed the lady inside. After seating her, he offered her a choice of coffee or tea. She took the tea, then introduced herself, “As you have already guessed, I am from the child welfare department. My name is Rosalie Watts, and I’ll be honest with you, Sir. What I have here in this file does not speak well for my department. However, I believe you have a right to know what I have personally added to documented information that could affect your future. I’ll get right to the point because I do not wish to waste either of our time. What I’ll tell you is, when we lost track of Belinda, it wasn’t long before we seemed to have lost track of her records too. They became buried deeper and deeper into cold-case files. She had been a troublesome child from the day we took her in, and due to her attitude, it was never easy to place her. At first, even her age helped to handicap her chances of ending up in a good home; every couple wanted babies under a year old. Unfortunately, when she was placed, because she had been a problem, my department looked the other way when it was hinted that she might have been abused by some of her foster parents. Of course, they always explained to our agents that her lack of cooperation when we visited was due to her bad attitude. They also explained away the bruises by mentioning her clumsy and combative nature ...”

  Dan interrupted the agent at this point with, “Why are you telling me this Ma’am? If you’re harboring a guilty conscience, I can certainly understand your need to unload. But you mentioned earlier that this file you hold could affect my future. In regard to that disclosure, I can assure you that I have lived with the knowledge of how my decision to take Billie in and rear her as my daughter could affect my future. I’ve been aware of it for nine happy years now. Therefore, whatever your department has to toss my way at this late date, I can assure you I am perfectly willing to stand before your judges and be assessed by whatever rules your system judges humane. The reason that I never asked for help was due to your department’s lack of judgment when it came to placing young girls in foster homes that were obviously never checked out before the placement. In short, I never trusted the department or your agents to properly supervise young girls. And with that said, you may now go ahead and explain any or all of your documented evidence of my wrong doing.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Daniels, for offering an honest opinion of my department. I might add, on a personal level I actually agree with your insight into a situation that is managed poorly due to a severe lack of trained personnel. And, as you mentioned, the department has a few agents that want nothing more than to draw their paychecks and cover up anything that looks remotely like a problem they might have to deal with. This of course, is strictly off the record. I have also been guilty of ignoring files or not keeping them updated until they were forgotten. My excuse was not having the time to deal with something I wasn’t being paid to do, but I knew it was happening, and never insisted on the problem being corrected.”

  “So what’s the bottom line here, Ms. Watts? What do you hope to accomplish here today?”

  “The purpose for my visit, Mr. Daniels, is to hand over these files. They will explain why you might be in trouble with the state. As you will notice, you have the right to legal council in defense of whatever charges may be brought against you after an investigation into what is fact and what is speculation in this case. Frankly, I’m in your corner all the way. However, it’s not within my power to sweep another report under the rug to cover-up all the other cover-ups that have left a bad smell in my department.

  I have spoken with Belinda’s teachers as well as to the parents of her close friends. When the ax falls, if it indeed does, you might be surprised to learn just how many people will be in your corner. I might also add that I’m not going to be sitting on my thumb while waiting for an investigation to take place; I’m doing an inquiry of my own. I’ve wanted a good reason to investigate some of our higher-up agents, and frankly, I can’t see a better time than now to do that.

  Now, sir, I’ll say good day and let you get on with whatever you deem necessary toward countering the charges that will likely be filed against you ... if only to cover the asses of our departmental big-wigs.”

  Two weeks later, Dan held the door open and said, “Come in Ruth,” and extended his hand in welcome. Ruth Walker, an old acquaintance of his, had worked for the Child Welfare Department for the past six years. She took Dan’s hand and held it warmly as she gazed upon his face with steady blue eyes. She followed him into the living room, looking slowly around the cozy room, obviously liking what she saw. She sidled toward the fireplace and gazed momentarily at the pictures displayed on the mantle. One photo in particular caught her attention, “Is that her?”

  Dan nodded, “Yes, that’s my little girl.”

  “She’s beautiful!”

  “The photographs don’t do her justice.”

  Dan seated his guest then walked to the hall closet and took down a photo album. He placed the album on the coffee table in front of Ruth, and then asked, “Coffee?” She nodded. He filled her cup and watched as she carefully opened the album, beginning from the back. Dan watched her face as she worked her way toward the front. There were cheerleader photographs, horses, bicycles, ballet, water parks, Disney world, hang gliding and hopscotch. There were action photos of Billie and her friends, and one amusing shot of Dan sitting in his easy chair with a spoon stuck on the end of his nose.

  Time passed quietly as Ruth worked her way to the beginning of Belinda’s first days in the Daniel’s home. Dan saw Ruth’s expression change when she reached the point where the girl was no longer smiling. Her eyes looked suspicious and mistrustful, her posture stiff and guarded. When Ruth reached the first picture in the album, she saw a small girl with dark circles under her eyes, her lips set in a firm straight line. Under the picture Dan had written “Pinky Promise.”

  Ruth looked up at him curiously, “Pinky Promise?”

  So he told her. When he finished telling her what the Pinky Promise was, he said, “Now you know why I had no choice but to do what I did. I made her a pinky promise and everyone knows that horrible, terrible, awful things happen to people who break pinky promises.”

  Ruth closed the photo album and placed it gently upon the table. She finished the coffee as she gazed thoughtfully at her host, then she stood up and shook his hand. It was nice to see you again Dan, it’s been too long since you and I talked”

  Dan followed her to the door and said, “Since Billie left, it is ki
nd of quiet around here, so any time you’d like to stop by, I could use the company.”

  Ruth nodded and said, ‘I might just do that.”

  Ruth went to her car and backed it to the end of the drive, then paused for a moment, taking in the house with its neatly trimmed lawn, the basketball hoop on the side of the garage, the flower garden, and the bird feeders. A house held together by love and caring. What a wonderful sight.

  As Ruth drove back to her office, she keyed in a number on her cell phone. Her best friend, Karen Lang, answered.

  “Karen, this is Ruth.” Before she could tell her the reason for her call, she started crying. She managed to control her sobs for a few seconds, and then she started again.

  “Ruth, what’s the matter with you?” Karen asked in a concerned voice. “Are you okay? Where are you?”

  Ruth finally stopped crying long enough to tell her friend where she had been and who she had been visiting with. After a few minutes, Karen was blubbering too.

  Finally, Karen said. “If we are going to keep this up, we need to go to lunch or something.” Then she paused, ‘Ruth, you do know that the director of our department is looking into filing charges against him?”

  “That is why I was out there, Karen. I can’t believe that Dan is guilty of anything, much less of what the director is insinuating. Now I’m convinced that old Wallace is on another of his famous witch hunts. Instead of filing charges against Dan, the department should be giving him a medal.”

  “Ruth are you absolutely sure he didn’t — you know?”

  “I’m absolutely sure, Karen. Joseph Daniels is not guilty of anything, unless having an enlarged heart is against the law.”

  “Ruth, I have an interview with the director tomorrow. I’ll see if I can learn what exactly he’s up to. But knowing Jake Wallace, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he’s cooking up something Dan ought to be concerned about.”

  Karen was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Ruth do you know that Jake Wallace is considering making this a federal case? He’s even talking about putting Belinda on a witness stand if he has to.”

  “That bastard wouldn’t do that to that girl! Would he?”

  “I’m not so sure, Ruth. In fact, I am inclined to believe he would do anything that might put him another step farther up that golden ladder of success. That is of course, if the judge will permit it.”

  “We can hope it will never be allowed. It would destroy that girl’s life ... and Dan’s.”

  “You like him a lot, don’t you Ruth?”

  “Yes, and after visiting with him today, I realized how much. I had forgotten what a truly nice man he is.”

  “Well,” Karen said, breathing a heavy sigh, “I’ve trusted your insight for a long time, Ruth. If you believe Joseph Daniels is on the level, I have to believe it too. I’m glad we had this talk because I wasn’t sure of anything before now, except that anything Jake Wallace is for; I’m usually against on general principals. I was already calling him an asshole for even considering putting Belinda on a witness stand. I know when a child has been abused, as a rule, they’re very defensive of their abuser. And while that’s strange, it’s also understandable if you think about it. The abused young have no protection from public sentiment. The ones who survive and have a shot at making a life for themselves don’t want their secrets aired for the world to twist into sordid shapes. Many of them feel what has happened to them is somehow their fault, or don’t want to admit that it ever happened.

  If it will make you feel any better about the way things are developing, I was the one assigned to interview Belinda. Jake Wallace was furious, which gave me the only real thrill I’ve had in months.”

  “How did you get the assignment if Jake disapproved?” Ruth asked.

  “Well, unfortunately for Jake, I was the only one qualified and available to do the job.”

  ‘How did the interview go with Belinda? Ruth asked.

  “It went like clockwork. Belinda was very cooperative, even seemed happy to speak with me. However, I’m not sure she fully understood the reason for the interview, at the time.”

  “What makes you think that she didn’t understand?”

  “I think she believes it was because of the article she wrote and sent to her local newspaper. She never wanted that article traced back to her. I assured her the author would never be made public, even if it had been traced back to her by interested parties in the welfare department.”

  “Did she buy it?’

  “At the moment, I think she did. But, if that asshole Wallace continues pushing to get this case in court, I’m not sure I can protect Belinda from the public eye ... short of killing him that is; which, come to think about it, isn’t such a bad idea. Just kidding ... hope you know that!”

  “That’s very sad,” Ruth said, looking contemplative.

  “Yes, I agree. There really should be a better way of protecting children from thoughtless, power-hungry people, like Wallace.”

  “I was talking about the fact that you were just kidding!”

  “Ruth, please don’t encourage me!”

  “Does Belinda seem stable?” Ruth asked.

  “It’s difficult to tell from one short interview, one I didn’t want to overdo for fear of having her withdraw completely. But yes, she seemed stable, well adjusted, and very normal. I have more background work to do before I talk to her again. I’ll let you know what I learn.”

  Karen Lang stood at Megan Hunt’s door and waited from someone to answer. Megan opened the door, eyed Karen curiously, and then said. ‘May I help you?”

  Karen handed Megan a card then said, “I’m Karen Lang from the Child Welfare Department, and I’d like to speak with you for a moment, if I may.”

  The woman glanced at the card then handed it back, “Is this about Belinda Daniels?”

  Karen nodded and asked, “May I come in?”

  Megan stepped aside and Karen entered the home saying, “I know this is a bit awkward, but I am following up on some information that has come to my attention.”

  Megan studied Karen for a moment and then asked, “What is it you hope to learn from this interview?”

  “I’ll not waste either of our time, Megan. So, getting right to the point, Joseph Daniels kept a child in his home for almost ten years, a child that was not his own. Do you think that is a bit unusual?”

  “Well, if it is I suppose I should also be investigated for my unusual behavior.”

  “How so?”

  “I knew she wasn’t his child.”

  “And you never said anything to anyone?”

  “Why should I? Belinda was healthy, happy, and well adjusted. He was taking excellent care of her. And I don’t mean simply taking care of needs that were necessary for her survival; Dan worked hard to make sure Belinda was socially, morally and spiritually happy. She is the most well adjusted young lady I’ve ever known. Hell, I’d trade my own daughter for her in a heart beat ... just kidding ... but I’m sure you know what I mean.”

  “Did she ever indicate that things might not be all right at her home?”

  “Heavens, no! Belinda went out of her way to make sure Mr. Daniels knew where she was and what she was up to at all times. At first I thought it was a bit odd, but later understood, she knew that he worried, so she always made sure he knew where she was.”

  “Did they ever fight, or were they ever at odds with each other?”

  “Fight?” “No; Belinda told me they had disagreements, but they always managed to work things out. Why is your department doing this? Don’t they have real problems they should be working on? I’m sure there are dozens of young children out there who are living in squalor, needing someone to care that they’re being abused and mistreated. Why don’t you check with the schools, ask the teachers some questions, pay surprise visits to the homes you place these children in?”

  “This is not about those children, Megan, Karen said defensively. This about Belinda, so if we can keep focused here for
a moment, I’d like to get this interview completed.”

  You have to understand something Karen; I too was a bit apprehensive of Mr. Daniels at first.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, when Belinda and Sandra first started hanging out together I got the distinct impression that he was checking up on us. Nothing intrusive like prying or asking my neighbors questions, it was just that he seemed to be overly protective of his daughter. Then when Sandra and Belinda became almost inseparable, Mr. Daniels relaxed somewhat but still kept a sharp watch on his daughter. Then one day at a community picnic, I had a good, down-to-earth conversation with Dan. I learned that he was just careful when it came to his daughter. It was after that picnic that he finally started allowing Belinda come to our home for sleepovers. The man seemed to have a unique ability to read a person after a single lengthy conversation, and I suppose he decided I was okay. I think if we had been anything other than what we appeared to be, Belinda would never have spent a night inside this house. When she graduated, I was almost as proud of her as if she were my own daughter. It just so happens that Sandra and Belinda are dorm mates in collage now, and I couldn’t be happier.”