Chapter Nine – Forgiving The Forgotten
Jaime Clark was a beautiful little girl. And she seemed to take a shine to Peter immediately. As soon as he had sat down, Jaime had jumped onto his lap, showing him pictures that she had done at school, her speech slightly stilted and slow.
"She's a good judge of character."
Sandra Clark watched them with a small smile, her hands wrapped around the mug of coffee that she had made a few minutes before.
"He's very patient with her."
"Peter has a way with people."
Sandra sat back with a sigh.
"So Agent Dunham, what was it you wanted to know?"
"We are investigating Trualific Sciences and your name came up."
"About the IVF?"
"Yes."
Sandra nodded slightly.
"We knew the risks. But they made it sound less than nothing. It wasn't until later that we found out the connection between IVF and Down Syndrome."
"So you followed the protocol?"
"Yes. We went for every scan and every test under the sun. They all came back normal."
"So why didn't you pursue legal action? You could have had a case."
Sandra smiled as she looked at Olivia.
"Because there was no need. My husband and I dreamed of being parents. Jaime made that dream come true."
Sandra glanced at her daughter again and Olivia wondered if she had that same look in her eye when she looked at Etta. Sandra didn't see the Down Syndrome when she looked at Jaime; all she saw was the child that she so desperately wanted.
"People forget Agent Dunham, that Down Syndrome isn't a death sentence. She hasn't got a terminal illness. She will live a full life, a happy life and that is all that matter's to me."
Olivia sat back, watching Peter and Jaime talk, the conversation easy between them. These were the moments that she remembered just how much she loved Peter. Because all he saw was a little girl as well.
The difference between the Clark family and the West family was that of night and day. Sandra wasn't angry or disappointed, she adored her daughter. But the West's were something else entirely. Anna West had sighed, all elegance and angles, allowing them in, barely glancing at their identification. She lead them into a spacious kitchen where a little girl sat at the counter, her legs swinging in the air, singing to herself as she ate a bowl of fruit. Anna let out a huff of frustration at the sight of her daughter whose face was smeared with strawberries.
"Loretta, wipe your mouth."
Her tone was harsh and Olivia could almost see the happiness flow from the little girl. Her legs stilled, the singing stopping mid-sentence as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
"Not with your sleeve Loretta! Use your napkin."
Olivia saw the tears in Loretta's eyes as she did as she was told, wiping her mouth with the pristine napkin that sat by her bowl. Anna finally turned back to Olivia and Peter.
"So how may I help you?"
"We are investigating Trualific Sciences."
Anna smiled bitterly.
"Ah yes, Loretta's birth. Which was a waste of money by the way. We decided to pursue IVF because of the difficulty we had conceiving Margaret."
Olivia nodded slightly and glanced at Loretta. She was eating her fruit again, in silence this time.
"Is there any reason that you didn't pursue a lawsuit?"
"Our lawyer advised against it."
"Did he give you a reason why?"
"Because they gave us the risks and by the time we realized that Loretta had the retardation, it was pointless."
"Mom, I'm home!"
Anna's smiled turned from bitter to real as her eldest daughter Margaret came bouncing into the room. She threw her backpack on the floor, barely passing a glance at Olivia and Peter before settling herself in a seat beside Loretta.
"Mom, Suzy is having a sleep over this weekend. Can I go?"
"We'll talk about it later Margaret. We have guests right now."
Margaret finally seemed to realize that there were other people in the room, her smile bright.
"Hi."
Peter offered her a small wave.
"Hello."
Olivia watched as Margaret turned her attention to Loretta, who seemed to come to life at the entrance of her sister. They were chatting animatedly while the adults talked, there heads bent together, the words flying thick and fast between them. Olivia caught the patience that Margaret exhibited when Loretta stumbled across a word or struggled to find an explanation.
"Trualific Sciences means nothing to this family."
They stayed for a few more minutes before slipping from the house.
"That poor little girl."
Olivia frowned.
"Sorry?"
"Did you see how Anna was with her? Some people should not have children. And she's one of them."
"I saw how Margaret what with her. Someone's got her back at least."
The silence that sat between them on the way to the next family on the list was a thoughtful one.
The Marr family was the quietest one despite the large size. Peter and Marie Marr were parents to three children, triplets, all three of whom were sitting quietly on a narrow faded sofa, a large Bible spread out over their laps. Olivia felt like she was in a different world as she took in the crucifixes that were affixed to the walls and the different depictions of Jesus that accompanied them. There was no TV and the large book shelf was lined with religious books and multiple copies of the Bible. Each question was answered in soft measured tones and the children barely glanced up as their parents answered the questions.
"Patricia, Mary and Jolene are blessing from God."
Olivia smiled slightly at Peter Marr's words.
"So you never confronted Trualific Sciences about the issue of their birth?"
Marie shook her head.
"No. We were blessed with three children. Why would we go after the very people that helped us with that?"
"Did you follow the suggested protocol?"
"Of course. However, as their lawyer explained it, with the triplets the tests could be severely affected. The initial scan said that it was one baby before they finally concluded I was carrying three."
Marie laughed slightly.
"One of the great mysteries and challenges that God gives us."
The Anderson house was run down. It didn't look like anyone had cared about the house for a very long time. When Olivia knocked, she was truly surprised when the door swung open and a young woman frowned at them.
"Hi, I'm Agent Olivia Dunham and this is Peter Bishop. We have a few questions for Chloe Anderson."
The young woman frowned.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"I'm Rebecca by the way, Chloe is my aunt."
"Rebecca, it's really important that we talk to your aunt."
Rebecca studied them for a moment before stepping out of the way, allowing them into the home. It was neat and tidy but the shades were drawn, casting everything into shadow. The TV was playing softly, a small, hunched figure in front of it.
"Aunt Chloe, there are people here to see you."
There was no response. Olivia moved closer, taking in the woman in front of her. Chloe wasn't there anymore, that was the only way to describe it. Her eyes saw through the movement of the TV, focusing on something else entirely. She was barely breathing, her body thin and frail. She looked much older than she should have. Olivia moved back to Rebecca, who shook her head.
"She's been like that for the last few years. The only reason that she's still here is I refuse to have her put into the Looney bin."
"What happened to her?"
Rebecca frowned.
"My uncle Brian and Mikayla were coming back from day care. A drunk driver went through a red light and wiped out the car. They were both killed instantly. Aunty Chloe blames herself, she was meant to pick up Mikayla. After the accident, she kind of left us. She snapped at the funeral and she hasn't been the same ever since. She barely eats, needs help showering and she doesn't seem to care."
Olivia nodded, glancing at Peter.
"Sorry to have bothered you."
Rebecca frowned.
"What was this about?"
"Just about Mikayla's conception. However, it's obviously redundant now."
"Clearly."
Rebecca showed them out, closing the door quietly behind them. When they got back to the truck, Olivia paused, leaning on hood. She took a deep breath and waited for inspiration to strike. They had picked off the scientists and now the families that may have any issue with Trualific Sciences.
"Peter?"
"Yeah?"
"Where is the lead you promised me?"
"Well, we have narrowed it down. That has to count for something right?"
"I suppose it does."
Olivia was about to get into the truck when her phone rang.
"Dunham."
"Dunham, we have a new lead."
Olivia glanced at Peter.
"What's happened?"
Broyles sighed, the sound traveling down the phone line.
"The Wainwright's a got a warning as well. And far less polite than yours."