Markus

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“And that’s all?” A police officer asked.

“Yes sir. I was at her house but I was there the whole time, babysitting.” Marcus trembled. “Her mother was right there with me.”

“Just eliminating you from the list of suspects in this town, son. We have never had anyone murdered here.” Keith sighed. “That poor girl.”

She was raped and killed.” Vicky hugged Mikyle, crying. “My daughter..”

“We will find who did this. Usually rape cases go back to people who knew the victim and or had dated in the past. Which is why you were suspect, son.” Keith marked a few papers. “I’m sorry everything has been hectic otherwise. I know you’ve been here for hours and I know you have lives but there is one more thing to consider here.”

“What’s that?” Vicky asked.

“The boy.” Keith motioned to Mikyle.

“There’s nothing to consider. I am his father. I’ll take him with me and I will raise him.” Markus spoke up. “I’m...sorry Mrs. Janson.” He saw the shocked look on her face. “But..I am. I have a parental responsability as his father.”

“He is right. I wouldn’t like to see you two fighting after something so horrible happened either. I can only hope that you both get along and agree for his sake.” Keith signed a few papers as he spoke. “Hold on.”

“Mommy?” Mikyle frowned.

“Honey...I’m so sorry.” Vicky looked at Keith, who was on the phone, and then Markus. “How can you take the only part of my daughter, that’s left, away from me?”

“Because I loved her too. And he is my son. That doesn’t mean I will keep him from you. It just means that I will be visiting a lot more so you can see him.” He held his hands out to the boy. “Come here, son.”

Mikyle hugged his stuffed bear tighter as Markus pulled him into his lap. He was only two but he knew something was different. He somehow knew that he wasn’t going to see his mother again. Vicky wished she didn’t know and she wished that she had told Markus to go away all of the sudden.

“Alright.” Keith hung up the phone. “They got him, Mrs. Janson. He was found bragging about it at one of the alley bars. A bar tender recorded the whole thing on a mini tape player. Then he called the cops.”

“Thank gods..I want this guy locked up, buried in cement and the key thrown away.” Vicky’s tears fell a little more.

“This is an open and shut case. The tape will serve as a confession..plus the bartender who heard everything. This guy is going away for murder. He won’t be seeing the light of day.” Keith stood slowly. “As far as the boy..we can arrange to have a paternity test done if you like. I would prefer you both just agree instead of contesting legal custody. This is hard enough on him.”

“It’s not necessary if she is willing to agree.” Markus hugged Mikyle. He was laying on his father’s shoulder, hugging him. “If she wants to fight this, I will have to request one.”

“He is all I have left of my daughter.” Vicky hated Markus for what he was doing. “You want to take him from me.”

“No, I want to be his father. He needs a parent. No offence, Mrs. Janson, but you are his grandmother. And I will not keep him from you, as I said. But...I will not give him up.” Markus turned. He was idly brushing a hand along Mikyle’s back to soothe him. “I’m not sure if she listed me as the father or not though.”

“Just sit tight. Please..both of you have a seat.” Keith sighed. Why was it that he always got the hard cases? The criminal was caught but now he had to settle a custody dispute? “Mary.” He picked up the phone. “I am going to need a copy of the girls personal records. This includes the hospital records with the babies files in it.”

“What if she did list him as the father?” Vicky looked fearful.

“Then by all rights, he can take the boy. There is no custody battle.” Keith answered.

“Shh.” Markus decided to ignore this for a little. He paced along the floor, carrying Mikyle. “It will be okay, son.”

He wasn’t a seasoned father but he was trying. He would always try for Mikyle. This was his boy and he wasn’t going to lose him. He loved Jade. Like her mother, Mikyle was the only part of her that was left. Plus, he could see it in his eyes. He knew Mikyle was his. He wasn’t going to lose his son. It might make attending college harder but he would figure out a way.

“Thanks Mary.” Keith hung his desk phone up. “She is going to bring the papers in. Now..I know I am not a therapist but I can say this. The boy is already going through enough. If you know for sure, Mrs. Janson, that he is the father, please don’t fight this. I want to get through things quickly and easily for that babies and your sake. As for you, Mr. Andrews. I would hope that you could live up to and keep your word by letting her visit and see him when ever you could.”

“But...I..” Vicky covered her eyes to hide the tears. “He’s all I have left. I just can’t ..”

“Sir.” Mary came in with the files. “I had to get them from the coroner. He was going over them.”

“Thank you.” Keith took the folder and flipped through it. “Is everything in here?”

“Yes sir.” Mary nodded. “I have to get back to my desk though.”

“No problem. I can handle the rest from here.” Keith nodded to her. “Keep us informed on the situation. As soon as he is in lock up, let me know.”

“I will.” She waved as she walked off. “Don’t worry.”

“Detective Keith...if he is named on the certificate..I..Can I still fight this to keep him?” Vicky looked up.

“Please don’t do this.” Markus glanced at her. “You are going to make life really hard for Mikyle.”

“He is listed as the father. Legally, he has every right to his son.. And while you can go to court and make a huge thing of this, I would prefer that you didn’t. The boy just wants to be a father to his son. Now, he agreed to let you see him still. He could have said he was taking him and leaving forever.”

“I won’t keep her from seeing him..but if she wants to go through with this battle..I will. I have the backing of my mother and father, my sister and then the documents. I can go ahead and request a blood test for further proof if you want. But I know Jade. She would never have lied to me about this.” Markus turned to face Vicky. “Look at my shoulder. He is asleep, finally. He is hugging me. Even he knows. Don’t do something stupid out of grief.”

“I think a blood test would be good anyways. I don’t want to have to act in the child’s best interest and take him into state custody because the grandmother and father can’t get along. So..I’ll arrange to have you go down to the hospital tomorrow. You are forcing my hand, Mrs. Janson. I am sorry. As far as the boy, I can let you take him home tonight but I swear..if you can not grow up for his sake, I will call in child authorities. This kind of situation isn’t good for the boy, let alone his relatives fighting over him.”

“Okay, okay.” Vicky held her hands up. “I can’t help it if I am upset!” Her voice trembled. One could tell she was crying inside and out. “Just ...tell me you aren’t going to keep him away from me.”

“I told you I wouldn’t.” Markus sighed. “Anyways, I am going to get him home. He needs some time for decent rest.”

“Be at the hospital around noon.” Keith added.

“I said I wasn’t going to do anything. Why do the test still?” Vicky tensed. “That is ridiculous.”

“Because you are a woman in much grief. I mean no offense, but women can be indecisive in such a state. You could come back three days from now and raise a huge argument. Then we would all be right where we are at right now. All except Mikyle. He would be in states care until his guardian was awarded. DO we want this?” Keith stated.

“No.”

Both Markus and Vicky answered.

“Then I suggest we all get along.” Keith shook his head. “Go on home..get so me rest. We will call with important information if we get any.”

“Yes...well. Hope your night goes better than mine.” Vicky said as she walked off.

“I’m sorry, Officer Keith.” Markus walked away.

“So am I.” Keith whispered as they left. “So am I.”

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County Hospital

“We have your results. I am sorry for the long wait. We rushed the tests at the police’s request. But even then, it still takes a little.” Dr. Stevens sat down in front of Vicky, Markus and Mikyle. “We have performed a paternal DNA test. The results are positive. He is the father, just as the birth certificate would suggest.”

“No..” Vicky cried into a cloth “I was hoping she lied this one time.”

“I’m glad she didn’t.” Markus cradled the sleeping boy on shoulder. “So..as the father, can I request a certified copy of his information, like his birth certificate and his social security?”

“Yes you can. You have to go down to the court house to the county records. They can get you the birth certificate. And to get his Social security card, you need to go to the social security office but...I don’t see why Mrs. Janson wouldn’t give you the originals that the mother had.”

“I am not giving anything of my daughters away.” Vicky stood. “You are robbing me of my grandson..but I am not going to lose everything else.”

She walked away from them angrily. Markus sighed as he shook his head. “I knew she would do that.”

“Here is your folder. It has a copy of the test results and a number to call if anyone has questions.” Dr. Stevens stood. “I am truly sorry for the loss that happened.”

“So am I. I was really hoping to start over with her and be a family.” Markus stood now. He grabbed the folder with his free hand. “I appreciate all you have done.”

“Take care of that little boy. “

“I will.”

Markus followed Vicky’s path out of the office. He couldn’t help that Jade didn’t leave a will. He couldn’t help that he wanted to be a father to his son. Vicky was going to have to understand. His own parents didn’t even know yet. He stayed at a nice hotel room with the boy last night. But now he would need to tell them. Especially since he had proof. His mother would have started in that Jade lied and he hadn’t felt like having that argument with his mother.

“I hope your happy.” Vicky sneered.

“Am I happy about getting to be a father to my son? Yes. Am I happy about the circumstances? No. I would have preferred to be with Jade. I really don’t understand you. I said I would bring him to visit you. Why are you acting like this?”

“Me? I am not the one robbing someone of the only thing they have left of their daughter.” Vicky answered.

“I’ll be by to pick up his things later.” Markus replied.

“You aren’t coming back to my house.” Vicky walked away from him and Mikyle.”Get your own things for him.”

She was being bitter. Some might understand but most would call her a bitch right now. She was keeping Mikyle’s things? Jade bought everything for him. That’s why she worked. Markus was confused really. For a woman that claimed to love her grandson, she was acting quite the contrary.

“Okay...I’ll get my own things for him.” Markus hugged the sleeping boy. “Don’t worry son.” He whispered. “Daddy will take care of you.”

“And now we see why I ordered the Tests.” Keith came in. “I could read her type.”

“Yeah, unfortunately you were right about her.” Markus shifted Mikyle slightly. “I need to get some legal representation behind me just in case.”

“Sounds like a good idea.” Keith nodded. “I brought you some paper work. I kind of figured that she was going to be unwilling. So I went ahead and ordered the copy of his necessary papers. They are certified copies. I have his shot record from here. He is current to date. I have his Birth certificate and his social security card as well. I put everything in this for you.” He held up the sealed envelope.

“Thank you.” Markus turned so the diaper bag on his shoulder faced him. “Put them in there for me? Oh and this, please.” His hands were full with the other folder and Mikyle. “Thanks.”

“I am proud that you’re stepping up to this. Most guys would leave the boy with his grandmother.” Keith closed the diaper bag side. “Oh his Medicade cards are in there too. His WIC also.”

“She was on that stuff?” That surprised Markus.

“She had to be, I imagine. She worked, went to school and was raising him. She needed help some where.”

“Hey, I have one more question.” Markus didn’t want to ask this in front of Vicky the other night, so he waited. “How do I get his last name changed to mine?”

“You need to go to records and apply for a name change. They will require proof, which you have and a reason, which you also have. Once you have everything filled out, it should be about four to six weeks. Then you should receive a copy of all his papers ,that I gave you, in his new name. Beings as you are a single father and hopefully working, you should still qualify for the programs he is on. You will have to go down to these places and get everything switched in your name though.” Keith knew it sounded like a lot but he felt that Markus could handle it. “Just take it slow..and you will get everything done.”

“Yeah..slow.” Markus nodded. “I am working. I took my weeks vacation to come visit my family while I am out of college for the summer. Just one year left and I will graduate to become a Graphics and blue print engineer designer.”

“That’s some good money.” Keith nodded. “DO you mind if I ask about your current job?”

“Not at all. I am a paid intern at the New York institute of Graphics and engineering. They are paying for my last year of school as incentive and promise to work for them when I graduate.” Markus smiled. “It’s good money, like you said. I already make a decent pay check. I have an apartment, in New York and my job has an onsite day care center for all the moms. But it looks like I’ll be signing up now.”

“I am impressed. But New York? That is...That’s pretty far away.”

“Just across several states. That’s where I go to school though. It is where I work. Plus..I really wanted out of California at the time.” Markus shrugged. “But anyways, I have to go shopping for little man here. His grandmother isn’t letting me back in her house to get his things, as you heard.”

“I put my card in with that information. Let me know how he is doing occasionally. Especially since it is that far away.”

“You must have liked Jade too.” Markus smiled. “She was very easy to like and love.”

“She would bring everyone at the station doughnuts and coffee sometimes. Plus we all got to know Mikyle..although I could never figure out where she got his name from.” Keith smiled. “As far as all of his stuff, just tell all the places where you’re moving him and then you can just fill out the paper work there. Probably be easier.”

“Thanks.” Markus nodded as he walked off. “I’ll keep in touch.”

So maybe it wasn’t all bad for little Mikyle. His father seemed pretty grounded. He had a job set up and everything. The money was great. Keith knew that those kinds of places usually classified in the higher end brackets versus the middle class. At any rate, he was more financially able to take care of Mikyle than Vicky Janson. She lived off her dead husbands life insurance money. He could of already guessed who the state would award custody to, after hearing about the job. Keith smiled, knowing he made the right gut decision to help Markus out with Vicky.

“Yes Mary?” Keith picked his Cell phone up. “Yeah..everything is okay. Hey..do me a favor and pull Vicky Janson’s records. Yeah...” He nodded. “I have a feeling that we may need them. Involuntary man slaughter charge. I don’t think the state would be happy about a custody fight with that kind of charge on her record.” He walked the rest of the way outside. “It’s just in case. I have a feeling that she is going to try and make life difficult for Mr. Andrews.”

He smiled. He could See Markus loading up into his sister’s car in the distance. He even saw a car seat for the boy, which made him happy. But he also saw Vicky glaring and watching from the distance. He decided to stroll closer to her just to alert her to his presence. This woman didn’t have the look of anything good in her eyes.

“Yeah, Mary..I am also going to keep an eye on Mrs. Janson for now. Tell the chief I’ll be a little late.”

He hung the phone up and walked in her direction. No one questioned the car wreck that killed her husband before but now? After seeing how she acted and how she watched Markus? He was having suspicions.