Valentine didn't sleep that night. He couldn't have even if he'd tried, which he did not. He just walked the floors of his home, resisting the urge to smoke. He couldn't leave Elodie inside alone. He didn't want to. All he'd done was watch her sleep, and check on her every few minutes.

When the first morning light came breaking through the windows he suddenly felt every bit of the tired that he hadn't felt the night before. Whatever this day held...he wasn't sure at all that he was man enough to face it. There was digging to be done into Mr. Francis. Valentine knew if he was really Elodie's father there was no way he could stop him from taking her.

Just thinking about what that wouold do to Elodie make his blood run cold. She didn't know him. At all. But then, she hadn't known him either and she took to him so quickly. He smiled. He'd taken to her as well.

All too soon they arrived at the police station. His sergeant placed a file on his desk.

"It is what I could find on our visitor yesterday," he told his boss.

Valentine thanked him and waited until he was alone, with just Elodie in his office to open the file. It seemed Mr. Francis didn't go to the war because of heart issues. However, Valentine knew that Elodie's father did go to war, and was stationed in France at the beginning of his marriage to Elodie's mother.

Valentine put the folder down, and wondered. Maybe Mrs. Greene had an affair with this man who was now claiming to be Elodie's father while Mr. Greene was overseas.

"Elodie, I'm going to step out for a minute. I'll be right back,"

She nodded absently as she did a puzzle on the floor next to his desk. He stepped around her and met his sergeant out in the hall.

"Talk to neighbors, coworkers, anyone. See if they can ever remember a man matching Francis's description coming and going from the Greene residence."

"Yes, sir,"

It was doubtful they would get anywhere with those inquiries, but it wouldn't hurt. A horrible, sinking feeling settled over Valentine. What if Elodie's mother had told her husband about the affair, and Elodie's supposed parentage? Was that enough motive to kill her? He passed a hand over his face and went in search of coffee.

Strong coffee.

That evening, just as Valentine and Elodie were leaving, his sergeant walked through the door with a notebook full of statements. He handed it off to his superior. As much as Valentine wanted, and needed sleep...he had a feeling that this notebook would be keeping him up until the early hours.

But he was not at all sure if he would like what it revealed to him.

And he was right.

Neighbors didn't remember anyone coming or going. After all that had been many years ago...However, they all remembered the couple having a huge argument a few nights before the incident.

One neighbor clearly heard the words, "How could you do this to me?" from Mr. Greene.

Valentine sighed. It wasn't hard proof of anything, but if one wanted to speculate and put the pieces together then...it fit. He knew that the courts wouldn't turn Elodie over to a stranger of speculation. That made him a little less stressed.

He looked over to where Elodie was laying. She'd insisted he sit beside her until she fell asleep. Soft sighs were coming from her tiny mouth and he knew that she was sleeping soundly.

The next morning Valentine was in a much better mood. He felt sure that there wasn't enough sufficient evidence to support the claims of Mr. Fancis. However, at noon when he was about to take Elodie to lunch, the social worker walked in.

"Mr. Valentine,"

Valentine sighed, exasperated by it all. "What is it now?"

She looked sympathetic and suddenly he felt ill. "I have to tell you that John Francis has provided me with a letter, a signed document from Elodie's mother stating that he is indeed her biological father."

Elodie's hand gripped his tighter, and he in return pulled her closer to his side.