Fourth Down: Second Quarter - 15. Chapter 15

“So any news?” Madox asked Albert as we stood around my grill, drinking beer and keeping both an eye on the food I was cooking as well as on the kids in the pool. Ruth had invited a few of her friends over and they were laying on towels they had set up in the sun, away from the rowdy group in the pool.

So as it turned out, the man that posed as the Jacobs kids’ father, was someone who worked in the system as a foster parent for one of those large group homes. Once this revelation was revealed he was instantly removed, and was now in jail awaiting trial for his role in the attempted kidnapping. Why he wanted our charges we did not know, and Albert said that he would personally look into it. Not only for us, but himself as well.

“We’re hoping we might have a break soon,” Albert responded, taking a swig from his bottle. Ever since Belle’s passing, and that horrid incident with that Priestly woman, he had become a permanent fixture in our group. “This guy is not smart enough to have come up with the attempted kidnapping. He also doesn't even know who Oliver is, he did though let it slip that it was the name he was supposed to use. Who told him, is what we need to find out next.”

We spent the rest of the day just catching up and enjoying the last few weeks of summer before the kids would be going to school. Throughout the laughter and conversation, my mind kept rolling around this new piece of information.

“What about that social worker woman that was here?” As the thought of her rose to the surface from the jumble of thoughts in my head.

“What about her?” Albert asked, popping a few chips into his mouth, then washing them down with a swig of his beer.

“A group home would have to deal with social workers, right?” I told him.

“She was also bigoted enough to try and remove the kids from our home, simply because we’re gay.” Dale added.

Albert contemplated this for a moment before responding, “I’ll look into it, you might be onto something.”

It was about a week before we found out any new information on the attempted kidnapping. It turned out that it was in fact the social worker, Harriet Dunspur, who had told the potential kidnapper to pose as Oliver Jacobs, and that his lawyers knew nothing of this and were blindsided by the revelations.

When asked why she had done this, her apparent response was that she could not find the actual Oliver Jacobs, as she wanted to inform him of the ‘possible danger’ his kids were ‘potentially’ exposed to. And that this was her last ditch effort to ‘save’ those ‘poor innocent’ children.

Apparently, she had left him a number of emails, none of which he responded to. Albert had said that he thought it was odd but also said that it was possible Oliver was using a new email address. Suffice it to say, this woman was no longer allowed to work as a social worker, and was also being charged.

“This whole thing with Oliver is weird.” Albert said. He had come over that evening to hang out and to pass on what he had found.

“How so?” Dale asked.

“Well, it’s like he just dropped off the face of the Earth that night he and Belle had that fight.” He answered, “Add to the fact that he was SO dedicated to his kids. People often got annoyed at how much he would gush over them.”

“If he was so dedicated to us, then why did he leave?” Ruth asked angrily, while hugging a cushion to her body.

“That’s the thing I don’t understand,” Albert told her, “It was just so… out of character.” he supplied.

“Has no one heard from him?” I asked.

“No one. I even tried to get the police involved, but this was before I became involved in law enforcement.”

***

During the last week of Summer. We had not heard anything new, and I was quite busy. I had to develop lesson plans, and work with my players, getting them ready for the season ahead. I also had to take the kids shopping for back to school supplies, and whatever else they needed. Ruth had also taken ownership of her mother’s car, and had volunteered to bring the kids home after school, so I could focus on my players in the afternoons.

It was just as I was walking into school on the first day of the new school year, that I was summoned to the principal's office.

“You wanted to see me, Mr Erichson?” I asked, walking into his office after having been granted entry.

“Yes, come in,” He sighed standing up from behind his desk, indicating the only vacant chair in his office. The other being occupied by none other than that Priestly woman.

“Mrs. Priestly,” I greeted her respectfully, to which she ignored, as I sat down. “What’s this about?” I asked the principal.

He just smiled at me pleasantly before responding, “I called you in so you could be present for what Mrs. Priestly has to say about you.”

“He does not have to be here for this.” She bristled.

“Come now Mrs. Priestly,” He responded to her harshness with a smile, “I think it only fair that Mr Peterson here has the opportunity to defend himself from some of these… Colorful accusations.”

“What accusations? What exactly is going on here?” I asked, anger slowly filling me.

“Well, she has accused you of some rather indecent behaviour.” Bob said, after a while.

“What kind of behaviour?” I ask, trying to hone in my anger towards this woman.

“That you are a practicing homosexual for one!” She spat at me.

“Then after I told her that you being a gay was not grounds for indecent behavior, she went on to… How should I say this,” He said looking at me apologetically, “That you were having indecent relations with one of the students.”

“What!?” I just about exploded.

“Apparently the fact that you have this child in your care is evidence enough.”

“Ian? He is in my care because his MOTHER has just passed.” I all but yelled.

“Those children should be removed, they are not safe.” This woman said,

“Well Mrs Priestly, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do. Nor am I willing to dismiss a teacher so beloved by our students.” He told her, “Especially seeing how lacking you are in evidence. Now if that is all, I have work to be done.” He added dismissing her.

Seeing how he was not going to listen to her, she stormed out the room, not before glaring at me and slamming the door behind her.

“You ok?” Bob asked once she had left.

“I will be, though this is not how I saw myself spending my first day back.”

“Don’t worry, we all have your back here,” He told me before I got up and left.

Feeling somewhat rattled after that, I sent a quick text to Dale, letting him know what just occurred. I then walked into the staff room, and poured myself a strong cup of coffee, trying to settle my nerves before I started my day.

Over the next few days, Bob visited me in my classroom during one of my quiet periods, telling me how he had been receiving complaints about me from some of the grandparents of some of the children in our school. He thought it was rather funny how the actual parents were phoning in to counter their parents. Claiming that they trusted me with the well being of their kids, and said kids were now not happy with said grandparents. It was all rather odd.

“I’ll get that,” Dale said standing up from the dinner table to see who had just knocked on our door.

A few moments later he returned with the Barkers in tow.

“Al, what a pleasant surprise,” I say, standing up to greet our guest. “Ian, grab a few plates for our guests.” I then smile at teen.

“Thanks, it's been one of those weeks.” Albert sighed as he took a seat now full to bursting table.

After dinner, I saw Albert whisper something into his son’s ear, who just nodded then took the twins upstairs. Not before saying something which resulted in him not following his best friend up stairs.

“Is everything ok?” Dale asked our friend. Obviously noting the odd behaviour.

Albert sighed before looking at Ruth and Ian. “You know how I have been trying to locate your father?”

“Yes, though I don’t understand why. He left us, and he clearly wants nothing to do with us.” Ruth said, annoyance clear as day in her voice.

“Well…” He pauses, “I don’t think he went willingly.” He gently tried. “I had contacted that motel he had stayed at. They said they knew nothing about him having stayed there.”

“So all that says, was that he was lying to all of us.” Ruth countered.

“That was before I got in contact with the FBI. There was a recent investigation into the motel, as a number of missing person cases have been connected to it. After the initial raid, they found personal effects of those who were reported missing. Your Father’s belongings were found amongst them.”

“Did something happen to Dad?” Ian said, grasping his sister’s hand.

“Upon further investigation,” he paused, “They found his body.”

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