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Orphan Of The Heartby Emalyn Harris ISBN1-929077-05-X Chapter One
"I found her and she has the child. The guardianship hearing is day after tomorrow," he reported. "Good," the voice on the other end of the connection replied. "I want you to meet her outside the courtroom immediately after the hearing and make her the offer." "And if she refuses?" "Sweeten the deal. Keep sweetening it until she can't refuse." He paused, wondering how much he should reveal. "I want the child and, since I have to take the girl to get him, I am willing to accept her." The other man asked, afraid he was overstepping his bounds, "Then why don't you just file for guardianship yourself? With your contacts and money, there would be no problem." A long silence, followed by a deep sigh, made the man fearful. He needed this job and didn't want to blow it asking the why's of his assignment. "Because a child needs a mother and, at the present time in case you haven't noticed, I don't have a `mother' to give him. I don't want my nephew raised by a series of nannies. I want him to have a loving mother figure, someone who will stick by him through thick and thin, someone who will give him unconditional love all his life, something I never had the luxury of enjoying. Of course, he will have me but he needs a mother, too." "I understand." He paused, then continued, "Do you want an oral on the background investigation or wait for the written?" This was safe territory and part of his assignment. He had been trained to investigate and keep his mouth shut. That was his job and he was doing it to the best of his ability. "Give me a thumbnail and make it snappy. I've got a meeting with the Joint Chiefs in fifteen minutes." "Her name is Janice Hart, goes by Jan. Has a degree in art history from a small college in Alabama. No job prospects on graduating so is presently working as a secretary for Dorland Pharmaceuticals. Only chance of advancement there is maybe to middle management. She's highly unhappy but needs the job. Father is a retired factory worker and alcoholic. Mother has never worked and has no marketable skill. Brother is doing time for auto theft. And, well, you know about the sister." "Well, at least she has some gumption about her." There was a sadness in his voice. He knew how hard it was to pull yourself up from that kind of background. He'd done it himself many years ago. But, somehow, the place you come from never seems to stay buried for very long and this was one of those occasions when the beast reared its ugly head. "Give me the physical on both the girl and the boy." "She's five foot, three, has curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and kind of on the skinny side. The boy is the spitting image of you. His name is Robert Allen, too. They call him Bobby. Seems your brother wanted him named after you, thought that would give him a boost up in life, if he were named after his well-to-do uncle. And, by the way, she and her family know nothing about you or your position." "Personal observations, and don't hold back. I want to know how you feel about the situation. What's your gut telling you?" "She's a natural, boss. She hasn't put the kid down since I've been following her. And the kid just adores her. Yeah, she's good for the kid and she'll do what she has to to protect and provide for him. I'm not expecting any problems." He was hesitant to ask his next question. "I was wondering. Have you heard anything from Kelly? I mean, how's the search going on his end?" The man snorted a laugh. "Kelly couldn't find his hindside sitting on both hands! However, dear brother Ben, called me last night. Couldn't get a trace on the call though. Said he didn't mean to kill Claire, just wanted to scare her a little, make her more cooperative whatever that means. He also told me he wouldn't be taken alive and that he knew what he had done put me in a great deal of jeopardy, given my position. Like he really cared about me or my position. Hell, he doesn't care enough about the health and well-being of his own bastard child to marry the mother so why should he worry about me! Guess Kelly is going to have his work cut out tracking the him down." He paused. "You have any other questions." "No, sir." "Good. Follow my instructions and get back to me immediately after you've talked to her. I'll buy the girl a curatorship at the Smithsonian if I have to. Just get me that boy." The line went dead.
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A lone figure, camouflaged by the graying sky and heavy drizzle, stood unnoticed on a ridge overlooking the cemetery, speaking quietly in his cell phone.