CHAPTER ONE
“Be polite.”
“Oscar I am nothing but polite.”
“Yes and I'm straight.”
Bette knocked again. Here they were, after two weeks of waiting and worrying, they would finally have some answers. A young woman opened the door. Not the young woman they were looking for. Bette took charge of the situation. “Oh excuse us, we're looking for Jollie Daniels and her daughter Stacie.”
“Yes, I know Ms Daniels, we rent this property from her. But, I'm not sure if I should give you the information.”
“Please, we're so worried about them. We've heard nothing for over two weeks.”
“Ok give me a moment, I'll find her new address for you.” She walked back into the house.
Bette looked at Oscar. “Did you know anything about a new address? Did Harry tell you she had moved?”
Oscar's expression was that of a man who knew nothing. “No, I thought she was still living here.”
The young woman returned, a child wrapped around her legs. She passed Bette a scrap of paper. “I do hope you find her, please let me know when you do.”
They said that they would, walking back down the drive Bette looked at the information. Sunshine Apartments, Compton, Apartment 220A. Getting back in the car they headed for Compton. Oscar wondered if they should take security. Bette overruled him stating that they didn't have much time. By the time they arrived in Compton it was late afternoon. Gangs of youths hung on street corners. Around one of these corners they found Sunshine Apartments. Oscar locked the car. They entered the run-down building.
In the foyer human excrement and graffiti was strewn on the walls. Bette's heels echoed as she walked into the building. The smell hit them as soon as they entered. Bette started to retch, she ran outside to get some fresh air. Oscar's stomach could take it better. He strode forward looking at the names on the post boxes. Bette, looking pale, but determined, rejoined him. They made their way to the second floor. They found apartment 220A. Bette knocked on the door, rang the bell, there was no answer. Oscar put his ear to the door, but there was no noise coming from the apartment.
“What shall we do?”
“Oscar you go and see if the neighbours know anything, I'll go look for the landlord. We'll meet back here in ten minutes time. Keep your cell on just in case.”
“Right ten minutes and then back here, On the post boxes it said the landlord was Stanley Logan.”
Bette went back to the foyer in search of the landlord. Nowhere could she see anyone or anything that could point her in the right direction. After ten futile minutes she went back to meet Oscar.
“Well did anyone know where she is?”
Oscar had no luck, anyone who had opened their door either didn't know Jollie or hadn't seen her for a couple of weeks.
“So what do we do now?”
“Kick the door in.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes I'm very totally serious. Look at that door, it won't take much to break down.”
Oscar hit the door side on. Bette had been right. The scene that met their eyes could of come out of a horror movie. Jollie, her long brown hair splayed out behind her. Foam trickling down her chin from her mouth, an empty syringe with the needle still attached lay beside her arm. Her face was white but her lips were blue, she had been dead for quite a while. The stench in the apartment made Bette retch once again. The only reason she didn't run was her concern for Stacie.
Oscar stood stock still, not believing what his eyes were telling him. Neither wanted to believe what they were seeing. Bette ran towards the crib, for one heart beat she thought that Stacie was also dead. Then, a weak sound, enough to give her hope. She picked Stacie up willing her to open her eyes.
Oscar rang for the paramedics, police and Stacie's father Harry. He had to repeat the information to Harry a couple of times before he grasped the situation. Amazingly all three arrived at the same time. The paramedics quickly put a line into Stacie and attached fluids. Harry stood beside the gurney they had put her on. They said he could ride with them on the journey to the hospital. Bette and Oscar took a step forward to go with him. A policeman blocked their way.
“We would like to question you two down at the station.”
Without a word spoken they went with the officer.
* * * *
Harry sat outside the room where they were working on his daughter. Questions whirled around his head. Why was Jollie in Compton? How had she died? Why was his daughter in such a mess? These and other thoughts went around and around in his head.
Eventually the doctor came out. “She's a little fighter sir, you can go in and see her.” His eyes did not meet Harry's. He went to his office, he lifted up the telephone and made a call.
Harry sat beside Stacie. Someone had cleaned her up. She was no longer grubby, her hair was brushed and she wore a crisp white hospital nightdress. He must remind himself to thank them. She still had the fluids dripping into her arm, every so often a nurse would come in and check that they were running the way they should be. He was offered coffee and something to eat, both of which he declined.
Bette and Oscar arrived at the hospital just as the sun was beginning to rise. Oscar went over to Harry and gave him a hug. They explained to Harry that they had been questioned but not charged with anything. Oscar relayed the tale of how they had gone to the house in Hampton and ended up in Compton.
Harry was at a loss for words. They sat for what remained of the night, talking in low voices. They didn't want to disturb Stacie and they didn't want anyone overhearing their conversation. At a little after nine a woman appeared, she introduced herself as Ria Watson, a social worker. She had been informed of Stacie's admission and the reason for it.
Harry was on his feet in an instant. “Why are you here Miss Watson?”
“I am here because I do not think that you are a suitable father for Stacie. For one you are not in a traditional relationship. I have been told that you are in a gay relationship with Mr Stanton. Is that or is that not true?”
“Well, yes it is, but what has that got to do with anything?”
Stacie will need a mother and a father Mr Forbes, not two fathers.”
Bette stood up, deciding that she wanted to be part of the argument. “I am Bette Morton, Stacie will have a mother, me.”
“That is beside the point Miss Morton, I am going to place Stacie into foster care when she is well enough.”
“You will not.” Harry's anger was evident in his tone of voice. “I'm going to contact my lawyer now, I will see you in court.” He took his cell phone out of his pocket and strode out into the corridor.
After Ria left, Bette turned to Oscar “Where do you think she got her information?”
“Probably from the police and the medical staff here.”
Bette hoped that it wouldn't go to court, that they could sort something out. If it did she hoped that the case went in favour of Harry. If not he would be a broken man.