Brayon

I don't think it's illegal for a parent to give to kids in FL, in one's own home. I'm double checking the laws on it.

Same here. On every morning for us here. Sally's is good but expensive. They went to Goody Goody in the first chapter.

You know what's fun. When your two editors. @Kitt and @Mikiesboy both return their edited versions of the doc to you, and each have highlighted the part of the Sauceless Pizza, and said "Yummy." Also, they both mentioned that chapter 5 would get some strong reactions. They were both right! lol

Will do tim. Thank a huge bunch for helping, with the content on this. I'm getting to a point, when I can self-edit, what I have. I think there is some filler stuff that could be cut out. Also, I don't think Kitt would like it either. LOL

Thank you, Kitt, for editing this chapter, and working on this project. You're a godsend! I agree with you about the gate guards. I've met a few that I was glad they didn't have firearms.

Thanks for reading, and for the comment Kaimuki. You are right about how the majority of the shots were taken by the P.I., Mr. Turner hired. He set off over at the marina across the channel with a telephoto lens and took the pics that way. The bedroom shot was the only one where they had to trespass for.

Awesome. Thanks for the suggestions, and I'm planning on using Mary's as a backdrop in a chapter or two. Gaybor will be seen too.

Thanks for reading, Centexhairysub. That's what Adam has planned.

Thanks for reading Wesley. Sadly, it's done. In the real world, people know how to play the system against individuals. FL DCF found out about the P.I. when word came in from MA DCF which is why they didn't question the nightvision shots when they got them. The Photoshop was really good, and add in the graininess of nightvision it's plausible.

I've talked to caseworkers, and a friend of mine was in foster care for 2 years, both within a group home and mainly with private families. Out of state. He said the group home stole all the toys he showed up with, so they could be used for all the other kids, once he left. Only three items he held onto. The caseworkers said, that Florida has a few, but they are mostly for older kids, with no family. Because our laws here focus on relatives first, there really isn't a need for them.

I'm currently working on the next one. I've kept each chapter between 4000- and 5000-words, to make it easy to read. However, that said, Chapter 6 is currently sitting at 3546 words, and I'm not even a quarter of the way through the prepared notes. I think this one is going to go beyond the 5000-word line and be in the 6000- or 7000-word territory.

I love it when readers share ideas like this. It helps me with forming stuff in future chapters. *makes notes* 😈

I hope it gets better for you.

I'm off to be an adult the rest of the afternoon, but had to stop by and look at comments. I'll respond to them, when I get home.

LOL. It's cool man. I can see your point of view, on how suspicious it looks. Chapter 6 will shine a light on several things. ☺️

Thanks for reading, Chris191070. Yuppers, Adam will be on the warpath soon enough, and yes the P.I. that trespassed will get what's coming to them.

So... how about that chapter 5?

Welcome to GA!

Thanks for reading, mfa607. Never ate at Cappy's, but I've got friends that work at Sally's and get some of their pizza every now and then. If you have any suggestions on where the Father and Son should go to next, I'm open to it. ☺️

Thanks for reading, Ivor Slipper. Wasn't Duncan the butler. It was a Private Investigator that Mr. Turner hired.

Thanks for reading, and for the comment Spikey582. Four and a Half days from chapter 1 - 5. Each chapter has been about a day's worth of material, with c1 being Monday, and c5 being Friday. Adam is dealing with two different states, Florida and Massachusetts, and someone is gaming the system in MA, to get even with Adam. More specifically it's the maternal grandfather, Mr. Turner, who is a States Attorney and is abusing his position. Think of him, like a Frank Underwood, from House of Cards, type of character. In Florida, the law is mostly on Adam's side. The DCF got a court order from MA, to pull the child, for "suspicious activity" and the previous Sexual Assault felony arrest of Adam. Not enough evidence to arrest, but enough from the previously sealed court case against Adam, and the questionable Photos from a Private Investigator. But, under our law here, Family gets the option to take the child first, so things are bad, but not as bad as it would be in other states. Rob is safe at Adam's parents. More will be revealed in Chapter 6.

Thanks for reading, Tonyr. No, Duncan has been off in Key West, FL. He left on Tuesday (chapter 2) with his older brother to go fishing in Bahia Honda state park, and drinking along Duval St. He mentions his plans to Adam at the end of the breakfast scene. Duncan returns at the start of Chapter 6 and will be the main support character.

Thanks, for reading Mayday. Chapter 6 is entitled "Friends in Low Places." Carol their lawyer in the family case, can recommend a few good people, to help, and they have one for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, just not introduced yet. As they say in Lord of the Rings (movie version) Hope can come from the smallest of places.

Thanks for reading, Glennish. Yes, you are sadly correct that so many children slip through. In the research I did, one of the caseworkers I spoke with, told me of a similar situation, that Adam and Rob are going through, and it ended positively. I hate to see the system abused, and speaking from family experience it does happen. A cousin-in-law who's ex-husband is constantly starting crap with DCF trying to get her in trouble. All because he wants sole custody, and she remarried. Next sentence is a bit of a spoiler but will be brought to light in the next chapter. Adam is ready for war, and he is not above using the system either.

Thanks for reading, Daddydavek. I agree with you. It was a hard chapter to write. I don't like throwing pain at characters I like, but Chapter 6 will be better.