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“She pulled my arm to stop me going back to my room and then when I was at the top of the stairs she pushed me like this...and I fell down.”
“Down where?”
“The stairs.”
“You fell down a few steps or…”
“All the way to the bottom, Mummy.” Nix sobs. “I’m sorry I didn’t do what I was told! I just wanted my necklace to match you. I missed you so much Mummy and I kept squeezing it so that you’d know I love you.”
I’m fucking done in. I don’t know whether to wrap them both in my arms or leave the room to punch the shit out of something.
Fuck!
When was this? How long has Nix been in that woman’s ‘care’? What do we do now? No wonder Baxter took one look and Nix and got her the hell out of there.
“You’re not in any trouble, I promise baby. Can you tell me what happened after?”
“I cried a lot because my arm hurt so we went to the hospital and I was really scared because Grandma drived me herself and she never drives.” Raven gives her a tight smile. “And when we got there before we went in, grandma said it was a accident and I had to say I was running and slipped or I couldn’t see you again. And when I said it to the doctor she said I was very brave and that I could have a McDonald’s for being so good. And when we went back and I didn’t say the truth I always got McDonald’s and a treat.”
“Grandma said you were playing with a new toy yesterday,” Baxter says suddenly.
“Yes. We saw the doctor. He said I’m doing really good at healing my bones!”
“Guys, there’s no record of Nix going to the hospital,” Baxter says in a low voice. “All of her medical records after her birth have been wiped.”
“Let’s discuss it later,” I say tightly, while wondering what the hell is going on. “In fact, we should let you guys catch up. If you’ve finished your breakfast we’ll go down and wash up.”
Taking the hint, the others gather up discarded breakfast supplies, only Nix’s plate empty, and wordlessly we leave the room. I cut the recording before anyone speaks and immediately send it to our team of lawyers with a note saying that Phoenix’s biological father has removed her from Cordelia’s care based on this new evidence coming to light.
I hope it’ll be enough to keep the authorities off our backs long enough to think straight.
Once we get to the kitchen, Ace dumps everything in the sink, swearing loudly in Slovenian.
“Well I guess no explanation is necessary,” I say to Baxter.
“Yeah, sorry. Cordelia got me riled up anyway. I snapped and told her about the finances and the paternity test, so she’s bound to have spent the rest of the day chasing that up with her lawyers.”
“And how did Phoenix end up back here?” Rebel asks.
“Did you not see her arm?” Baxter snaps. “I took one look at it and said I was taking her home. She tried to threaten me but I told her she was lucky to be breathing.”
I nod my head in agreement. Given the circumstances I would have done exactly the same.
“So what now?” Thorn asks.
“I spoke to...a friend, they’ve managed to get us in front of a judge first thing tomorrow morning,” Baxter says. “Hopefully a sympathetic one.”
“Okay, that’s good.” I nod. “If you go with Raven you can hopefully get temporary custody as the biological father.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Baxter agrees.
“So today let’s just focus on giving Nix the best return home that we can,” I decide.
“Absolutely!” Thorn agrees.
“Hell yeah!” Rebel crows.
“Agree,” Ace murmurs.
