Happy Valley - Happy New Year? -Part 3

Happy New Year? -Part 3
Krystal’s former townhome next to Tad’s
Hillary answers a knock at the door
“Hillary Taylor? I’m Gina Raffles from child services. We are here to look into allegations against you.
“Allegations against me?” Hillary asks shocked “why would there be allegations against me?”
“Where is the minor child Chloe Taylor?” Gina asks
“Chloe is at the hospital which is where I’m going.” Hillary answers picking up her purse
“Not before you answer my questions Ms. Taylor.” Gina states firmly
“What would you like to know?” Hillary says putting down her purse
“The minor child Chloe is in the hospital because?” Gina prods
“Chloe got a hold of marbles somewhere and ingested them one of them got in her lung. If it wasn’t for Tad rushing her to hospital and Dr. Jake Martin doing surgery to remove them…..”
“Tad, which would be Thaddeus Martin the owner of this abode?” Gina demands to know
“Yes.” Hilary answers with a puzzled look on her face
“Do you pay rent to Mr. Martin?” asks Gina
“No I have no means of support but I’m going back to school in the fall.” Hillary states
“So how do you provide food and clothing for Chloe?” Gina asks
“I’m trying to get access to my money that my soon to be ex -husband took.” Hillary states biting her lip
“Is it true that you were responsible for force feeding Chloe the marbles that harmed her? Isn’t it true that you deliberately harmed your child Chloe Taylor?” Demands Gina
“What? I would never ever harm my child. How dare you?” Hillary says raising her voice
“You have no means of support and with these allegations we may have no other choice but to take the child into social services custody.” Gina states
“You can’t do that” Jenny says coming in her head down .It was my fault Chloe swallowed the marbles.I forgot I had them in my room.”
“And you are?” asks Gina
“Jenny Martin, Tad’s my father.” Jenny states still holding her head down and T.J. who had come in behind her says
“And she does have reason to accept my Dad’s money for now. My Dad, Tad Martin has been helping her out for me .You see Hillary is my fiancée.”
Hillary is behind Gina’s back and mouths thank-you
“I see and you are?” Gina asks
“Thaddeus Thornton-Martin Junior.” T.J. says with a smile reminiscent of his father
“I see. And you take full blame for this incident Ms. Martin?” Gina states
“Yes.” Jenny says putting her head up
“Oh my, that’s quite a shiner you have there who did that to you?” Gina asks looking pointedly at Hillary as if she’s now doubt everything that was said.
“I just picked my sister up and took her to the hospital. She was injured at school as she was swarmed by a bunch of other girls.” T.J. says sadly
“Oh my God Jenny. Are you okay honey?” Hillary asks stunned
“Yes.” Jenny says as if she doesn’t want to talk about it
“She wanted to see how Chloe was.” T.J. says “But the doctor’s says she has a concussion.so I insisted she come home.”
“Unbelievable what happened to those girls?” Hillary asks
“The school was trying to blame Jenny.They offered to educate about bullying in the classroom but the culprits were only going to get a one day suspension” T.J. says
“Sadly that happens a lot .People still seem to subscribe to that ridiculous old adage that bully is a part of childhood. It’s not!” Gina comments
"I think this concludes my investigation. There may be follow up visits in the future to verify that what you have told me is the truth but I can conclude that the caller must have been mistaken.” Gina says leaving
“Who could have done such a thing?” Hillary asks
“I don’t know.” T.J states
“Tell me more about what happened Jenny?” Hillary begs
Jenny is reluctant to talk so T.J begins to fill her in.
“Apparently this has been escalating over the last few weeks .At first it was just tripping Jenny in the hall then it was taking her school work and pens. Then they tormented her in class right in front of the teacher calling her names. The teacher couldn’t deal with it so she did nothing. Then today they swarmed her. Ten girls some pulled her hair and one of them punched her .When she fell to the ground they kicked her. While all around children clapped and cheered.”
“And one day suspension for doing all that? It’s criminal. And what about the other children?” Hillary states
“I called the police. They interviewed several students took videos from several students phones of the incident. They interviewed Jenny as well. Three of the girls have been charged with assault causing bodily harm. Another one of the girls also had another charge laden against her of attempted murder.” T.J says
“Oh my God she was going to kill Jenny?” Hillary says covering her mouth
“No actually it was the reason for the swarming that Jenny was scared to tell. She recorded the one girl bragging that the reason why the teacher had been off sick the day before was because she had smeared peanut butter on the doorknob of their classroom knowing the teacher had a severe peanut allergy. They were determined that Jenny had to be threatened not to tell and they didn’t even know about the recording.” T.J. explains “The police are going to address the school about violence and bullying but Jenny’s out of there. She’s not safe in that school.
“Why did you have to get her? Where’s Tad and Dottie?” Hillary asks
“Dottie is with her mother and Tad was answering his phone.” T.J. states
“I’m so grateful for you stepping in and saying you were my fiancée.” Hillary states “I thought she was going to seize Chloe right then and there. Will your girlfriend be mad?”
“We split up.” T.J. states
“I’m sorry T.J.” Hillary says
“I’ll live .She’s moved on .She moved to Cincinnati and is dating my former colleague that is an anchor there.” T.J. says
“I’m sorry T.J. that happened.” Jenny say “She’s a really nasty woman to do that to you.” Jenny states
“Thanks kiddo. Now let’s take you home to get you to bed. You heard the doctor’s you need bed rest.” T.J. states
“Thank again Jenny and T.J.” Hillary says as they go next door and she goes to the hospital
“Hmm she doesn’t look upset .Damn it didn’t work she better stay away from my Dad or I’ll make her sorry.” Mike says as he watches from the bushes outside
As T.J and Jenny go in they interrupt Tad and Dottie who are kissing on the sofa. Tad and Dottie look embarrassed as Dottie does up her top two buttons of her shirt
“What are you doing here T.J. not that I don’t want to see you but…”Tad says then seeing Jenny he looks shocked and surprised
“Jenny how did you get a black eye?”
“It’s a long story.” T.J. begins
Fadeout