Chapter 15:

It was as he was sitting at the campfire during a celebratory cookout that Sniper realized he'd had Dee for an entire month.

During that time, she'd gained weight and overcome her malnourishment, learned to eat solid food, and even spoke for the first time (her first word was 'no', but she'd recently learned 'yeah' as well, although didn't know what either meant and said them at random). Instead of wearing one of Engie's socks, she now wore a little onesie with a bear on the front. She'd come so far in just a month, and as Sniper stared at her, with her little cheeks illuminated by the flame's light in the dark, he realized that he had never loved a human being more.

Dee cooed and chewed on her stuffed bear as she lay on Sniper's lap, her blue eyes fixated on the flames of the campfire. Sniper gently stroked the soft hair on Dee's head, watching as she smiled up at him and kicked her stumpy legs.

Sniper felt someone sit beside him, and he looked up to see that Scout had chosen to sit in the lawn chair next to him. Scout leaned over to look at Dee, and he asked, "Is she chewin' on the bear I gave her?"

"Yep," Sniper replied. "I took off the ribbon, I didn't want her to eat it. Hope you don't mind,"

Scout waved him off. "It's fine, it's just a ribbon," he glanced back down at Dee. "Is it okay if I hold her?"

"Oh," Sniper looked at Dee, and then at Scout. "Sure," he carefully lifted Dee up and into Scout's arms as he quietly gave the younger man tips on how to hold her properly.

Scout situated Dee in his lap, and he stroked her hair gently. "I think she keeps gettin' cuter, what do you think, Snipes?"

Sniper scoffed. "She's always been cute, what do you mean?"

It was then that Scout tilted his head up and looked at something several feet away, squinting. "Hey…I think that's Miss Pauling up there! But…who's with her?"

A hush fell over the group when they all realized who was approaching: the Administrator.

Miss Pauling had a concerned look on her face, while the Administrator wore a blank expression. The atmosphere changed the instant she walked up to them, and her eyes flicked to Sniper.

"Mr. Mundy, could you come with me? And bring the child,"

Everything was silent. Sniper tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come, so he just scooped Dee up and wordlessly trailed after Pauling and the Administrator. This was all very strange, and Sniper couldn't possibly imagine what was about to follow.

Dee whimpered, and he only stroked her head. He pressed her closer, praying silently that all would be well.

They arrived at the Administrator's office, and the moment she motioned for Sniper to sit down, he immediately went into defense mode.

"Ma'am, please try to understand," Sniper began, attempting not to sound anxious. "I couldn't leave her, and she's not affecting my performance, I—!"

The Administrator lifted her hand to silence him. "Your performance is not what concerns me, Mr. Mundy," she leaned onto the desk, glaring into Sniper's eyes. "I just want to ask you something: do you really think it was wise to take the child out in public?"

Sniper couldn't speak for a moment. "I…what?"

"Did you honestly think no one in the town of Teufort would recognize that child if you took her around the town?" The Administrator asked, crossing her arms. "Because someone did,"

Sniper's heart dropped. "What? But…she's a baby— who…?"

"Some locals recognized her as an Italian family's baby, one who supposedly died under mysterious circumstances," the Administrator went on to elaborate. "Specifically, it was the Di'Angelo family. It was thought that they lost both their daughter and granddaughter due to a tragic hospital incident, but when someone spotted you with that baby at the diner, rumors started going around,"

"I don't believe this!" Sniper exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "Someone recognized a baby when all babies look the same!?"

The Administrator only sighed. "I know, I know. Please sit down, you'll scare the baby," she cleared her throat and continued. "Now, I know you did not mean for any of this, but you should know that shortly after the rumors began that the Di'Angelos gave up their granddaughter for adoption, the rest of the family suddenly disappeared. No one knows where they went,"

Sniper shook his head. "I…I don't understand. What does this have to do with me? The Di'Angelos obviously didn't want Dee, so as far as I care, they're not part of her life and they never will be," he gripped Dee tightly to his chest. "Dee is my daughter, now,"

"Oh, I'm well aware, Mr. Mundy. You see…" she pulled out a collection of photographs and papers, which she laid on the desk. "The Di'Angelos were also involved in lots of mob-related schemes, and I should tell you that I've crossed paths with Mr. Di'Angelo before. I don't much care for him, so," she gestured to the papers. "Would you like a new side mission? Would you like to find the Di'Angelos and make them pay for their crimes?"

Sniper just stared at the pictures, and he looked them over in silence. After a moment, he swallowed. "I'll…let me think about it, okay?"