Page 3 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
“Here.” Welwick motioned to the opposite side of the room. “We need to talk before you see them.” He showed them around some of the temporary cubicle panels. There was a small round table and an insufficient amount of chairs. Cedric and Holden scoped out the area, and Holden stepped away from sight.
Welwick took off his glasses, set them on the table beside a stack of files he had been holding, and rubbed his face. “Dalia Kramer was arrested a couple of hours ago for assault and battery of her daughter Armada. During the arrest, she also assaulted two police officers. She’s being held until tomorrow, potentially, but likely through to Monday. I honestly don’t have details on that.”
“Criminal case details aren’t your area of concern.” Damian nodded. “If we want to know, we can contact the precinct and the court.”
Welwick’s shoulders dropped a fraction in relief. “Appreciated. Not everyone understands how this works.”
Damian grimaced. “We have some experience. Seventeen years ago, I made a child endangerment report concerning Armada to this department. I’m only surprised it’s taken this long for you to contact me.”
“I saw that on Armada’s file. We’re looking at needing temporary placement for the children tonight. We don’t have anywhere we can keep all of them together. Are you willing to take them?”
No. A need to step back and hold up his hands to fend off an incoming danger filled Damian’s body. Just no. If he could just stay out of their reach.
“I don’t live alone, and I would need consent from the other adults I live with before I could commit.”
Welwick rubbed his face again. “What kind of information do you need?”
“How long and what are the requirements?”
“Depending on the investigation, we could be looking at permanent placement. Parental rights could be severed. Or this could be over in a few days and the kids returned home. Placement is needed through the weekend, at least until sometime Monday. Since Dalia requested we call you, we don’t have to worry about background checks immediately. For now, all you need to provide is food, shelter, and supervision.”
Welwick was sweating. There was something he wasn’t saying. His eyes kept dancing over Richard, Jun, and Collin. He was holding back.
Damian glanced toward Richard. “Mr. Welwick, do you think we could speak more frankly in private?”
Welwick’s shoulders sagged. “Yes.” He pointed at a door. “We can use that room. There’s only one door in and out.”
Damian caught Cedric’s eye. Cedric nodded.
Welwick led the way into a private room.
Damian followed and closed the door after them leaving Cedric right outside. “Why did Dalia attack Armada?”
Welwick dropped into a chair and motioned Damian to another one. “Sorry, my migraine is coming on.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a prescription bottle, and swallowed a dose dry. “This is HIPPA-protected information, but as a potential temporary guardian, you have to know. Armada alleges her mother assaulted her because she’s pregnant. She procured medical abortion pills through the mother of one of her friends at school, but Dalia found them in her bag before she could take them yesterday. This morning, Armada reported the assault to her school nurse.”
The muscles in Damian’s jaw. They were going down the same road again. Nothing ever changed.
“Will the charges stick?” If it was just Armada’s word, it might all just get swept under the rug. He’d have the kids for a few days while the legal wheels spun, then Dalia would get them back.
Welwick rubbed his forehead. “Armada caught part of the assault on video and saved it to the cloud. The police have it. I expect there will be some sort of mandated anger management and parenting classes.”
Hold, boy. Richard’s voice came to Damian from the past, steadying his hands and forcing his breathing to stay steady.
“If she’d hit a woman in the grocery store, she’d be looking at more.”
Welwick scowled. “We all know parents can do a lot worse to their kids than they can do to other adults.”
They really could.
“How is Armada now?”
“Bruised and battered. The ER released her. But that’s not the reason we need placement for all the kids. Dalia could be looking at much bigger charges or at least some sort of limit on her parental rights if Armada’s accusations are true.”
Welwick paused, biting his cheek. He studied Damian for a moment, then looked away. “There’s no easy way to say this, but who would you say was your mother?”
The skin on the back of Damian’s neck rose. “Helen Kramer. She changed her last name, though. I don’t remember it right now. That’s what’s on my birth certificate.”
“Did you ever meet her?”
