Medical Kidnap Files 1-6, page 148
“And it would seem that there is some background here that I need to be aware of. Maybe some biases because of something that happened in the past. You’ve talked about dealing with multiple generations of children in the same family. It is impossible for the court to make decisions without all of the pertinent facts. Even if some of those facts seem to be… personal prejudices.”
“I am not prejudiced against Kiara.” There was a pause as if Mrs. Lewis were waiting for everyone to acknowledge that someone with black skin could not be prejudiced against someone else with black skin. But the judge simply looked at her, waiting.
“Can you repeat the question?” Mrs. Lewis asked finally.
“Why did it take so long to return Kiara to her family?”
“I didn’t feel that they were ready to deal with her yet. Her mother was still recovering from cancer and chemotherapy; she wasn’t strong. Kiara’s sister had some serious medical issues herself that would have made it hard for her mother to care for her, or to care for both her and Kiara. Kiara was abusing opiates and had some serious behavioral problems, not the type of thing that I wanted to dump onto a frail woman just recovering her health. And she still had no support network to speak of. No partner, no family in the area. It was not an ideal situation.”
“But there was no history of neglect or abuse.”
“There had been some question of whether Carmel’s medical problems might have been caused by medical neglect or abuse…”
“What was wrong with her?”
“As it turned out, she had undiagnosed Lyme disease.”
“Her mother didn’t cause that.”
“No, of course not. But it did go undiagnosed for a long time, resulting in permanent disability.”
“Had the mother ignored it? Is that why it went undiagnosed?”
“No. It can apparently be very difficult to diagnose if you are not looking for it.”
“So…” O’Leary let the word hang in the air for a long time. “Her condition was not caused or exacerbated by the mother in any way.”
“No. Initially, we thought that might be the case. As it turned out, there wasn’t anything more she could have done.”
“And this is a mother who approached social services for assistance.”
“Yes.”
“Is it true that you didn’t return Kiara even when you had a court order directing DCFS to return her to her mother?”
Carmel saw Mrs. Lewis turn her head slightly, as if looking for a way out. But Kiara was there. Carmel and her mother were there. Too many people who knew the details of the case and could testify to them if she tried to obfuscate.
“It… was not immediate, no. We developed a transition plan, beginning with supervised visits. We wanted to make sure that we were not just dumping the girls onto a mother who could not handle the significant medical and behavioral challenges they had. We didn’t just return them to her without any support.”
Carmel hoped that the judge could see through this. See how Mrs. Lewis had kept them away from their home when there was no reason to. No abuse, no neglect, and a court order telling her they were to be returned. And she had still refused. It had taken months for them to get through the “transition plan” and move back in with their mother. By that time, Kiara was getting too old for foster care. She had been in a series of treatment centers and group homes. There were no foster families equipped to deal with her. Her mother had been the only one willing to take Kiara.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
The judge rifled through his papers, saying nothing for what seemed like a very long time. He eventually lifted his head and looked again at Mrs. Lewis.
“Give me your reasons for Malachi remaining in foster care.”
“Kiara is not equipped to deal with him. And especially now, with his injuries… he is going to need to go through rehabilitation. Maybe some additional surgeries. For a young single woman to be dealing with all of that… And this in addition to the medical problems that have already been identified…”
O’Leary looked at Kiara. “You have a partner at this time.”
Kiara looked at Jamal and put her hand on his knee. “Yes. He loves Malachi. I can take Malachi to doctor’s appointments and physiotherapy. I’ve been taking him to doctors since he was born. He was a preemie in NICU and I’ve already been dealing with problems he had because of that and keeping track of his development. Doing all of it while I was living by myself and pregnant and seeing all of my doctors too.” Her chin lifted slightly, defiantly. “I never missed any prenatal appointments. You can check. And there were a lot because I was high-risk after my problems with my pregnancy with Malachi.”
“Will you be involved in the parenting and support?” O’Leary asked Jamal. “Do you travel a lot with your band?”
“No, we don’t tour. With the internet, we can play all over the world. I’ll help with Malachi and Ja-Ki. That’s what a real man does.”
“They can’t keep Malachi in that home,” Kiara insisted. “It’s too dangerous.”
O’Leary looked at Mrs. Lewis again but didn’t address the question of the foster home. “What medical issues have been identified with Malachi?”
“He has been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive…”
“Caused by?” O’Leary had clearly heard other cases of children with the diagnosis.
“The specialists haven’t been able to identify any organic reasons. Which means that it is non-organic.” Mrs. Lewis looked over at Kiara. “We have asked that Kiara take classes on parenting and nutrition. The home that Malachi is in right now has specialized knowledge in dealing with kids with feeding problems. Everything from kids who have been neglected or fed a very limited diet to those that self-limit due to autism, sensory issues, or other disorders… Obviously, we would like to keep Malachi there so that he doesn’t lose the ground he has already gained.”
“Can she take these classes with Malachi at home? Perhaps with Mr. Brown looking after him during that time?”
“Yes, I suppose so, but—”
“And can the foster mother pass on what she has been doing with Malachi that she has found to work?”
“Uh—we don’t encourage contact between foster parents and the natural parents.”
“In this particular case, it would seem to be in the child’s best interests.”
“I suppose… I can talk to her about it.”
“Your honor,” a woman a couple of rows behind Mrs. Lewis stood up. “I am the foster mother. I already met Kiara at the hospital and would be happy to talk to her.”
Mrs. Lewis turned her head, shooting the woman an irritated look, then turned back to face the judge again.
“So, if Kiara has a clear drug test, is taking her meds, has support from Mr. Brown, advice from your expert on how to feed Malachi, and will take these classes, do you have any other concerns about Malachi being returned to her care?”
“It seems like a lot for her to handle, your honor.” Mrs. Lewis shook her head. “I’m not sure she can handle it.”
O’Leary wrote some notes to himself.
“And the baby. Ja-Ki was removed because of the false positive on the drug test?”
“He also had quite a low birth weight. which confirms our suspicions that Kiara is still using, regardless of this last ‘clear’ drug test.”
O’Leary raised an eyebrow at Mr. Antoine.
“Or that Kiara just has small babies. There is a family history of children who are small but eventually catch up in their teens. It could be something to do with the preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome that Kiara dealt with during the pregnancy. Or it could be caused by her anti-depressants. There could have been an undiagnosed placental abruption. There are actually quite a number of reasons other than drug use that could account for him being small.”
“Is there any other evidence that Kiara used drugs or did anything else to harm her baby?”
Mrs. Lewis stood there for a few long seconds without saying anything. Carmel could see her hands twitching at her sides. They closed into fists.
“No.”
O’Leary held Mrs. Lewis’s gaze for some time.
“You have been a staunch protector of children. You have seen three generations of abuse and neglect while you’ve been on the job. You’ve seen the worst our society has to offer and the lowest that men and women will stoop to, harming the most innocent.”
Mrs. Lewis nodded.
“Maybe it’s time to hang up the clipboard and have a well-deserved break.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I am ordering that Malachi and Ja-Ki Oss be returned to their mother’s custody. Furthermore, I’m going to do something that I don’t normally do… I am going to adjourn this hearing for an hour. Is that enough time to have Ja-Ki brought to the courthouse?”
Carmel gasped, then held her breath. She looked at her mother, eyes prickling with tears, to see if she was thinking the same thing.
Mrs. Lewis stood there woodenly. “Yes.”
“Please have him brought here. We will reconvene in an hour so that I can verify that Ja-Ki has been returned to his mother, without any of this nonsense about having to transition him slowly. Am I correct that Malachi will be in the hospital for some time, recovering from the dog attack?”
“Yes, your honor.”
“Then I want to see an affidavit from you confirming that you have informed the hospital that Malachi is now in Kiara Oss’s custody and she is able to exercise all of her parental rights, including taking him home from the hospital when he is ready. You have an hour to get it done.”
Kiara started to cry.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
In the waiting area outside the courtroom, Carmel sat by her mother and watched everyone around her. Kiara was talking to Adela, the foster mom who had been taking care of Malachi, tapping notes into her phone as she nodded, recording whatever advice Adela was giving her. Jamal had been separated from her side by fans eager to congratulate him and maybe get a few words in telling him how much they enjoyed his music or asking him to listen to a recording they had done. There were reporters asking questions, shoving big microphones in Jamal’s face or holding their phones toward him to capture his answers, flashes going off as they took pictures. Carmel had picked a place to park herself that was far enough away from Kiara and Jamal that she wouldn’t accidentally appear in one of the pictures. She hoped.
Mrs. Lewis had disappeared. Carmel assumed that she was going somewhere she could boot up her laptop or get onto another computer to draft and print the affidavit the judge had requested.
And she was watching both ends of the hallway, not sure which end Ja-Ki would be brought in from.
The full hour had not passed when a woman walked in with a baby in a carrier seat. Carmel leaned forward and stretched her head out, trying to catch her first glimpse of her newest nephew.
“Is that him?” Kiara’s voice carried above the noise of the crowd. “Is that my baby?”
The crowd parted between them so that Kiara could walk unimpeded to the baby, Jamal close at her heels. Kiara took the carrier and pulled the blanket back from the baby’s face.
“Ja-Ki, Ja-Ki! Look at him,” Kiara held him closer to Jamal. “There he is. He’s okay. My baby. I can’t believe it. Does he look older? He looks older to me. They change so fast at this age.”
“Maybe his head is a little rounder,” Jamal said uncertainly. “And he’s certainly cleaner than he was the first time I saw him!” he teased.
Kiara laughed. “Oh, he’s back. I thought I would never get him back. Or he would be two or three and wouldn’t know me. Oh, my baby, my baby.”
Jamal wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. “Our baby,” he corrected.
Gabriel knew what to expect at Jamal’s building this time. They arrived during the day rather than at night to try to avoid being noticed, and used the same aliases as they had on the last visit. There were no fans or media around, which was one of the reasons they had waited as long as they had to visit again. The elevator they took to the fifth floor didn’t contain anyone else.
Jamal answered the door and conducted them into the front room. Kiara was sitting on the couch nursing Ja-Ki. And there was the other reason they had waited for ten days before visiting Kiara and Jamal.
Malachi was on the floor playing with cars on a track. Banging happily and making noises as he ran the cars back and forth, pieces of dry cereal being ground into the carpet as he played, the bowl that had originally held them overturned. A cheerful domestic scene that Gabriel hadn’t dared hope for so soon. Most of Malachi’s bandages had been removed. The injuries received from the dog were starkly visible, but healing, and Malachi didn’t appear to be in a great deal of pain.
“This is great,” Gabriel said. “I’m so glad to see them both back with you.”
Kiara smiled at Jamal. “It’s… still kind of unbelievable.” Her eyes drifted over to Gabriel and then Renata. “Thank you for your help and advice. It was good to have someone advising us who has been through this a few times and knew what to do.”
“And it doesn’t hurt to have a little money and a few million fans,” Renata said. “That’s what got them back to you so quickly. Amazing how a little public outcry greases the slowly turning wheels of justice.”
Jamal shrugged modestly. “I’m lucky. I never imagined that building my social media presence would make a difference to something like this. Something so personal and completely unrelated to my music.”
“Not unrelated anymore,” Kiara asserted. “He’s written a song about the boys. As a sort of… thank you to everyone who helped.”
“I heard it already,” Renata said, surprising Gabriel. She hadn’t said anything to him about it. “It’s pretty good.”
“I never knew you were into rap,” Gabriel teased.
“Well, just this one rapper.”
“Did you hear that Kirstie Holt is doing a special tonight?” Kiara asked. “Sort of a ‘what’s been happening in medical kidnap’ piece. Reminding people how it can happen to anyone.”
“Even someone famous,” Renata put in, glancing at Jamal.
He laughed uncomfortably. “We might have given her a few quotes. And a soundtrack for the opening and closing credits and a video montage.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Gabriel had promised Carmel and Mrs. Oss one final visit before they faded into the sunset. He knew that Renata wasn’t pleased about it. Too much time spent around the Osses made it easier for DCFS or the cops to notice them or track them down. Better if they stayed away and remained invisible.
But sometimes, Gabriel needed a chance to socialize with someone other than just Renata. He didn’t resent spending so much time with her; they were sort of like an old married couple, used to each other and their positive and negative points. All the things they loved about each other and all of the ongoing arguments and irritants. They spent almost all of their time together, and it was important for Gabriel to get to relax and talk with someone else every now and then. Not about the business of the Underground Railroad or the long litany of children who had been apprehended and needed intervention. Just casual, everyday conversation.
The front door opened as they approached. Carmel stood there, smiling and welcoming them in. How long had she been watching for them? They hadn’t set a specific time to meet.
“It’s so great to see you guys,” Carmel told Gabriel, touching his arm and then giving him a brief hug. He noticed that she didn’t hug Renata, though. Whether it was because she was too prickly or because Carmel was afraid of hurting her, he didn’t know. “Mom has made dinner, and you’re not allowed to say no.”
She looked at Renata. “You’re allowed to say no!”
“Assuming you don’t want me to die of anaphylaxis,” Renata said dryly.
“No! You’re allowed to have your formula. But you’ll sit and visit with us still, won’t you?”
Renata looked away. “I thought I might borrow your laptop for a bit.”
Gabriel eyed her. They had been at the library most of the day, so she’d had plenty of time for any research she wanted to do. “Visit,” he told her firmly. “Be sociable.”
“I’m not a social person,” she returned. “People make me anxious.”
“It’s just for a little while. It won’t kill you. It will be good for you.”
“They said the same thing about broccoli,” Renata muttered.
“Take the time to mark your wins,” Mrs. Oss said, standing in the doorway of the kitchen to talk to them. “They don’t come often enough in life.”
Renata couldn’t disagree with that. It had been a major win. Returning the two young children to Kiara so quickly had been a coup. And maybe Mrs. Lewis would take the judge’s advice and retire. Hopefully, the younger social workers coming up would be more open-minded. And they were spreading the word. Thanks to Jamal’s minor fame and Kirstie Holt’s national broadcast, more people were hearing about medical kidnap.
Renata rolled her eyes at Gabriel. In his head, Gabriel heard her complaint that she didn’t want to have to make nice with Blondie. But Renata kept it to herself.
Just a couple of hours to celebrate with friends, and then they would get back to work. The broadcast was bound to result in a lot more emails from parents asking for help.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
P.D. Workman is a USA Today Bestselling author, winner of several awards from Library Services for Youth in Custody and the InD’tale Magazine’s Crowned Heart award, and has published over 100 mystery/suspense/thriller and young adult books, including stand alones and these series: Auntie Clem's Bakery cozy mysteries, Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigator paranormal mysteries, Zachary Goldman Mysteries (PI), Kenzie Kirsch Medical Thrillers, Parks Pat Mysteries (police procedural), and YA series: Tamara's Teardrops, Between the Cracks, and Breaking the Pattern.
