That night, Valentine tucked Elodie into his bed. Her sweet little smile tugged at his heart.
"Goodnight, Balentine."
He chuckled, "Goodnight."
He made sure she was sleeping soundly before he stepped out into the porch to smoke. The night was cool. His blue eyes closed at the relaxation his body began to feel. He'd been tense for days. At first he wasn't sure if he'd be capable of keeping Elodie here with him, but as time went on he realized he was indeed quite capable.
He leaned a shoulder against the column that held the roof of his porch. He lungs expelled the smoke and his mind began to wander. Elodie would need more clothes. The scene would be released tomorrow and he culd go there and get what she needed.
Orphans slipped through the cracks all the time, and he wasn't about to let that happen to Elodie. At the same time, he was man enough to admit...he was forming an attachment to the little girl. He wanted her to be able to stay with him. The way social services was being it gave him hope.
He dropped his cigarette and stomped it out for good measure. The lights in his neighbors' houses began turning off one by one for the evening. Valentine was just about to turn in as well, when he spotted headlights turning down his street. Out of curiosity he waited and watched as the car passed. Slowly, the car drove by the house.
It was the same man! Valentine bounded down his steps and out into the yard. Tires screeched as the car accelerated and sped down the street. He thought to give chase, but he knew he couldn't leave Elodie. The taillights disappeared around the corner and he lost the visual.
A string of profanities filled the night as he stomped his way back into the house. What was going on? He planned to get to the bottom of things first thing in the morning. Little did he know that he'd never get the chance.
When Valentine and Elodie arrived- hand in hand, at the station the next morning they were greeted by a man and a social service worker.
"Inspector, my apologies for this abrupt visit. And also for the delay in finding a placement for little Elodie here."
The words barely registered with him. His entire brain was focused on the fact that the man seemed so familiar. And he wondered at what deep down he already knew. This man standing before him was the man who'd been stalking he and Elodie in the car. The man who had driven past his house late at night and watched them in the park. His arm instinctively draped across Elodie's shoulders.
"I'm sorry, who is this man?" Valentine gestured.
The social worker's hands tightened on her clipboard. "Let's go into your office, shall we?"
Out of the corner of his eye Valentine spotted the pesky priest, and for once, sent up a prayer of thanks for his timing. The man was no doubt here to meddle in one thing or another, but Valentine couldn't be bothered by that right now.
"Father," he called, "Would you mind keeping an eye on Elodie for a few moments?"
"Certainly," he answered.
With Elodie safely occupied by Father Brown Valentine ushered the duo into his office. He took an authorative seat behind his desk.
"So, what's all this about?"
"Mr. Francis here has reported to me that he is in fact Elodie's biological father."
Valentine stared blankly. "I'm sorry. What?"
The man spoke up, "Mr. Valentin-"
"Inspector. It's Inspector Valentine."
The men stared at each other for a moment. The social worker shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"Fine. Inspector, Elodie's mother and I were involved while her husband was stationed in France. Now, it's not something I'm proud of, but the bottom line is that little girl is mine."
Valentine crossed his arms over his chest. "And just how do you know that?"
"Her mother told me."
Valentine directed his attention to the social worker. "Does it not strike you as odd that this girl's parents were killed last week and then this man shows up claiming to be her father?"
"I am her father,"
"Yes, well forgive me if I don't take your word on it."
"We are working to verify this information, Inspector, and should we do so then you will release Elodie into the custody of Mr. Francis."
Valentine shook his head and pounded his fists on his desk. "This is a complete outrage. For all you know this man is a fraud, a deviant. Maybe he killed her parents!"
"Those are gross allegations, Inspector."
"Gross indeed." Valentine agreed.
"We will be in touch next week."
The social worker stood and the man followed suit. Valentine hung his head and when he looked up they were both gone. He immediately went to check on Elodie. He found her sitting beside Father Brown and laughing at something he said. When she caught sight of him she ran and hugged his leg. He lifted her up into his arms and hugged her.
"Elodie, did you recognize that man who was here just now?"
She shook her head, "No,"
"Alright. Well, I've got to get some work done. Would you like to come into my office and draw some pictures?"
She shook her head excitedly. He put her down and watched as she danced her way into his office. Something didn't seem right here, or maybe that was just his heart breaking. He'd let himself get too close and now he was going to pay for it.