Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 16:23:47 -0500
From: Miguel Sanchez <miguel_sanchez55@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Pilot III Ch 25

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and that of love. Any resemblance to
actual places, events, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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I hope you enjoy this story.
Miguel Sanchez

The Pilot III

Shane and Robert's Life

Chapter 25

"So we have to go to court now?" Jeremy asked.

"That's right son," I said. "We go to court on Thursday."

We drove home and went inside. Dad asked about the boys' exams and said he
enjoyed the time back at the department. "Jess called. He said to tell you
the hearing is set for Thursday."

"Yeah Dad, I know," I said. "Linda saw us as we were getting ready to leave
the hospital."

"Oh OK," Dad said as the twins came up to him.

"The doctor was real nice," Aaron said.

"Yeah," Jeremy said. He was funny and really cute."

"Oh," I asked.

"Yeah Dad," Jeremy said. "He's cute but it's more than that. I felt
comfortable there. Can he be our doctor?"

I looked at Robert and he nodded his head, "I'll find out if he's seeing
patients privately. If he is, he can be your doctor."

The next two days flew by and the twins stayed remarkably calm. Wednesday
night they wanted to sleep with us because they were starting to get a
little anxious. The hearing was slated to begin at 10 so we left for the
courthouse at 9 so we wouldn't have to rush like we did before.

Traffic wasn't near as bad because most everyone was at work. Parking was
sparse but we did manage to find a spot in the lot. The 5 of us got out of
the Yukon and went to the front door of the courthouse. Just before we
started climbing the steps I looked at my watch. It was 9:30 so we had
plenty of time to find the courtroom. We opened the door and went through
security then we saw Jess standing there waiting on us. "Morning Jess," I
said.

"Hi guys," he said smiling and shaking our hands. "Follow me and we'll head
to the courtroom."

We went up the stairs to the second floor and I said, "Man, I didn't know
they had more rooms up here."

"These rooms handle different cases but 2 are Juvenile Courts," Jess said.
"We'll be in courtroom 12."

We walked down to the courtroom and I felt Jeremy's hand slip into mine.
"Relax son," I said. We're all here and we're going to be sitting right
beside you."

We went in and took our seats in the gallery as Jess took his place at the
lawyer's table. A few minutes later I heard the door open and I saw Linda
coming in and she sat behind us. "Hi girl," I said smiling. "Did you get Dr.
Ashley's report?"

"Sure did," she said. "It was a great report. The boys are very healthy. The
psychologist gave a glowing report too."

"Great," Dad said. "That should make things pretty easy then."

"As far as I'm concerned it will," Linda said.

I looked at the clock on the wall and it read 10.

I looked ahead waiting for the Judge to come out when the door to the
courtroom opened again. A group of people came in and Robert and I
recognized one of them. "Linda look, what's she doing here."

"All rise," a voice said. "This court is now is session. The Honorable Judge
Walter Newman presiding."

The Judge walked up the steps and took his seat on the bench, "All right,
what is the first case on my docket for today?"

The clerk rose and said, "Your Honor, this is an uncontested petition for
the adoption of Aaron and Jeremy Mitchell by Shane Taylor and Robert
Wright."

"Thank you," the Judge said. "I've read the petition. Now let me see if I
have this correct. Mr. Taylor, you wish to adopt Jeremy Mitchell and Mr.
Wright, you wish to adopt Aaron Mitchell, is this correct?"

Jess stood and said, "Yes Your Honor. I'm Jess Martin, representing the
petitioners."

"Thank you," Judge Newman said. "It's a pleasure to have you in my court."

The judge was about to say something again when a man stood and said, "Your
Honor, the adoption is contested."

The Judge's head snapped over and he said, "And just who are you and why
hasn't this been filed with the court?"

"I'm Marcus Bolger and I represent Mavis and Melvin Mitchell," he said.
"They have tried to notify Social Services that they wish to care for their
grandsons."

Linda stood and said, "Your Honor, I'm Linda Eggleston. I'm the Director of
DCFS and we've received no such communication from either the grandparents
or their attorney."

Bolger said, "Your Honor, we've come in from California to contest this."

"California?" The Judge asked. "You mean you're not admitted to the Florida
Bar?"

"Yes Your Honor," He said. "I've been admitted to the Florida Bar."

"Very well," the Judge said. "You realize that since Social Services have no
objection to the adoption, you have the burden of proof to prove your case."

Linda leaned forward and said, "Sara Walden is fired now."

Jess heard this and said, "I think she just might be in jail."

The twins looked at the old couple and Aaron whispered, "We don't remember
them."

Mr. Bolger said, "We're aware of that Your Honor."

"And how many witnesses do you intend to call?" The Judge asked.

"We have only 3 Your Honor," he started. "Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs.
Sara Walden."

"Very well," Judge Newman said. "If I don't feel you're proving your case, I
will bring the proceedings to a halt and grant the adoption. Call your first
witness."

"I call Mavis Mitchell to the stand," Bolger said.

The elderly woman walked to the stand and was sworn in. Mr. Bolger helped
her up the steps then she took her seat. "Mr. Bolder looked at her and said,
"Please state your name and relation to the boys please."

"I'm Mavis Mitchell and my husband and I are the paternal grandparents of
Aaron and Jeremy. Their father was my son."

"How old are you Mrs. Mitchell?" Bolger asked.

"I'm 85," she replied.

"Do you feel you are capable of raising two 14 year old twin boys?" Her
lawyer asked.

"Yes I do," she said. "I am in excellent health and my husband has a mild
heart problem but we're very able to raise them."

Dad leaned forward and whispered to Jess, "She's full of shit."

"I know," Jess said. "I'm going to defer questioning them until they've all
testified."

"When did you first learn of your son's death?" Her lawyer asked.

A woman from Social Services came by and told me," Mavis said. "That's when
I asked about the boys."

"Was there anything else she told you?" Her lawyer asked.

"Yes," the elderly woman said. "She asked if there any other relatives
around."

"What did you tell her?" He asked.

"I told her no," she replied. "I said we were the only kin the boys had."

"What did she say to that?" He asked.

"She said we were too old to raise them so they were going to be put up for
adoption."

"Thank you Mrs. Mitchell," he said. "I have no further questions at this
time."

"Do you care to cross examine Mr. Martin?" The Judge asked.

Jess stood and said, "I will defer my cross until they have presented their
case."

"Very well Mr. Martin," the Judge said. "Call your next witness Mr. Bolger."

"I call Mrs. Sara Walden to the stand," he said.

Sara came forward and was asked by the clerk, "Do you solemnly swear that
the testimony you are about to give in the matter now pending before this
court shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?"

"I do," she said as she took her seat in the witness box.

"Please state you name and your current place of employment for the record,"
Bolger asked.

"My name is Sara Walden," she said. "I'm a social worker for the Department
of Children's and Family Services."

"How did you get involved in this case?" Bolger asked.

"I received the case from my supervisor Linda Eggleston," Walden said. "The
call came just hours before a major hurricane was due to come ashore. I went
to the address and met Mr. Shane Taylor and his brother Mr. Robert Wright
along with the twins. The thing I noticed was the number of people living in
the house but we didn't have a whole lot of time to find a home for the
twins. I went and placed the twins in Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wright's emergency
foster care. They are licensed foster parents so it was the best for them at
the time."

"Did you bring the number of people living there to your supervisor?" The
lawyer asked.

"Yes I did," she replied. "She said I didn't have to worry about it."

"What did you do next?" Bolger asked.

"After the storm I went and secured permanent foster care for the twins
until we could ascertain if there were relatives willing to care for them,"
she replied.

"What happened when you went to get the boys?" Bolger asked.

She took a sip of water then said, "When I arrived I asked how the boys
faired with the storm. I talked with Mr. Shane Taylor for several minutes
then I told them that I had found permanent foster homes for the twins."

"What happened when you told them that?" Their lawyer asked.

"Shane got verbally abusive," she started. "He said the boys weren't going
anywhere. His brother came in and asked why they weren't staying there and I
told him it was just an emergency placement."

"What happened then?" He asked.

"I tried to explain our position but they wouldn't listen," she said. "The
next thing I know is my supervisor came in and said they were staying there.
Later that day I found out there were relatives that wanted to care for the
boys but Linda said they would not be leaving the state and they would be
put up for adoption. I questioned her as to why she wouldn't let relatives
care for their family but she said it was her decision and I should just
live with it."

"Do you feel the boys would be better off with their grandparents?" He
asked.

"Yes," she said. "It's always best to keep family together."

"Thank you Mrs. Walden," he said. "I have no further questions of this
witness and we rest our case."

"Very well Mr. Bolger," the Judge said. "Mr. Martin, do you wish to cross
examine the witness?"

Jess stood and said, "I do Your Honor."

Jess picked up his legal pad then said, "You stated that the boys' placement
was just an emergency placement, is that correct?"

"It was," she replied.

"Even though they are both licensed for long term and permanent care?" Jess
asked.

"Yes," Mrs. Walden replied.

"Can you tell the court where you found homes for the twins?" Jess asked.

"Orange County," she mumbled softly.

"Where?" Jess asked again. "And please speak up so we can hear you."

"Orange County," she said again.

"Had you told your supervisor prior to you picking up the boys?" Jess asked.

"There wasn't time," she said.

"Had you contacted the Director in Orange County?" Jess asked.

"Um, I believe I did," she said.

"You believe you did?" Jess growled. "Either you know you did or you didn't.
Which is it Mrs. Walden."

"Alright," she said. "No, I didn't call her."

"Why not Mrs. Walden?" Jess asked. "Isn't it state policy that requires the
Director of each agency to approve transfers of children between two
counties in writing before the children are to be transferred?"

"Yes," she said. "That is policy."

"And you knowingly violated the policy, isn't that correct?" Jess asked.

"Yes," she said.

"When Linda Eggleston learned of what you did, what did she do?" Jess asked.

"I don't know what you mean," she said.

"Didn't Ms. Eggleston leave the boys where they were and suspend you for
violating state and departmental policies?"

"Yes she did." Mrs. Walden said.

"Mrs. Walden," Jess started saying. "Are you aware of an LA County Social
Services report that says the Mitchell's aren't good candidates to raise two
14 year old boys?"

"No, I am not," she said.

"Your Honor I have no further questions of this witness at this time but I
reserve the right to recall her later," Jess said.

"Very well Mr. Martin," Judge Newman said. "Call you next witness."

"Your Honor," Jess started. "At this time I wish to cross examine Mavis
Mitchell."

"Mrs. Mitchell," the judge said. "Please take the stand and I remind you
that you are still under oath."

Jess helped Mrs. Mitchell up the stairs to her seat. He looked at the woman
and said, "Didn't Social Services tell you that you weren't good candidates
medically to raise your grandsons?"

"They said something like that," she started. "But as you can see, my
husband and I are just fine. Oh, we have some aches and pains but when
you're our age it going to happen."

"Aches and pains?" Jess said. "Doesn't your husband have more and just a few
aches and pains?"

"No more than me," she said. "Look at him. He's in excellent health for
someone his age."

"I see," Jess said. "He looks pretty healthy all right, thank you Mrs.
Mitchell. I have no further questions at this time but I reserve my right to
recall her."

"Alright Mr. Martin, call your next witness," Judge Newman said.

We didn't know what Jess was going to do. I was getting nervous because I
felt they did have a chance to get the twins. I was wondering if LA had the
right people."

Jess said, "At this time I call Melvin Mitchell to the stand."

Mr. Bolder stood up and said, "Objection Your Honor, Mr. Mitchell is our
witness."

Jess looked at the judge and said, "This is not a criminal trial. You were
going to call him as a witness and to be honest I would like to hear what he
has to say."

The Judge looked at Mr. Bolger and said, "Frankly counselor, so would I. Mr.
Mitchell take the stand."

Mr. Mitchell came forward and was sworn in then he took his seat.

To be continued