Echoes & Ink: Raven by Emily Rose
Chapter Three
RAVEN
Ishould have known better than to think it would all be simple. Or that my uncle would let things lie. That’s probably why I’m currently answering the door to a damn CPS worker, who is looking at me like she can’t wait to scrape me off her shoe.
I know her type. She’s in her early fifties wearing a pantsuit, a crisp white button down blouse without a single wrinkle, and a pair of no-nonsense black heels that click on the floor as she stalks past me into the apartment. Her cold blue eyes sweep the open space, thin lips pulling down into a hard frown, and contempt flashing across her face.
She’s the type of social worker that spends all of her days at her desk pushing papers, not caring one bit about the kids under her charge, until she’s forced to leave her precious office. I’ve dealt with more of her kind in my time than I care to think about. It’s workers like her that kept sending me back to that hell hole, ignoring the bruises and obvious neglect, because they didn’t want to do their job. More worried about their paycheck than of their charges.
“Sure, come on in,” I drawl sarcastically, not in the mood to act polite. “Why don’t you start with telling me who you are before I call the cops for breaking and entering?” I ask pointedly.
The woman purses her lips and informs me coldly, “I’m Jane Liscumb, from Child Protective Services. I was informed by a Nero Dixon a minor that was left in his care is no longer there and is now living with you. I’m here to ensure you’re suitable enough to be looking after the child.”
I pin the woman with a cold look of my own, and I see unease leak into her eyes. I might be small, but most people learn pretty quick not to fuck with me. “Let’s not kid ourselves here, Ms. Liscumb,” I say icily. “You’re here because you have to put in an appearance, not because you want to be. You and your department left a thirteen year old boy with a man with a history of abuse, neglect, and drug use, as well as whatever else he’s into now. Your department did the same to me when I was Falcon’s age. You’re clearly not the expert on what’s suitable.”
The woman’s features don’t so much as twitch at the information I just laid out for her. Instead, she pretends like I haven’t spoken and says, “I’ll be doing an inspection and speaking with the child. Without you present. If I’m satisfied, and only then will I begin the paperwork to name you as his guardian. And let me be clear, that is a big if, considering what I’m seeing right now.” She takes in my apartment again and I want to snarl.
My apartment is small, but it’s also my place. One I’ve worked hard to make my own. The building is older and a bit worn, I know it needs repairs, but the super isn’t exactly the best for making sure things get done. The walls are mostly bare, other than the occasional superhero painting or picture, a bookshelf near the window that holds my vast movie collection, and the few books that I enjoy. A few dirty dishes are in the sink from our pizza dinner last night, but otherwise, the place is tidy.
I know that to make sure that Falcon isn’t hauled away from me, I need to be civil with this woman, but it’s taking everything in me not to order her out. I hate people like her.
Before I can reply to her judgmental statement, Falcon comes out of the bathroom wearing the new clothes that Wolf dropped off when he picked up Ember last night. The kid looks much better in clothes that fit him, and I have to give Wolf bonus points for getting him a t-shirt with Iron Man on it.
Falcon stops when he sees the woman, and I see his shoulders go rigid. I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile, but he just looks at the woman with a frown and licks of fear in his eyes.
The woman looks him over assessingly. She glances at her paperwork and then looks back at him and says, “Are you Falcon Dixon?” Falcon looks at her and then at me. Before I can say a word, the woman frowns at him and barks, “I’m talking to you, young man. I expect an answer when I speak to you.” Anger flashes on her face when he still doesn’t respond and looks at me.
“Did you not read his file before you came here?” I ask her with a pointed glare. “He’s deaf. He can’t hear you.”
The woman’s eyes narrow at me and then at him, like she’s sure we’re lying to her. “Then how the hell am I supposed to communicate with him?” she snaps.
I level her with a hard stare. “If you were actually doing your job properly, you would have looked at his file before you came here and brought an interpreter with you.”
“And you don’t do sign language I suppose?” she sneers.
“Nope, I don’t. He only got here yesterday, so haven’t had time to ace it just yet,” I add sarcastically.
She looks annoyed at the prospect that her job just got harder, and I can’t help but smirk. Serves the old bitch right. I move to the table and grab the paper and pen. I motion Falcon forward, and when he makes his way to me, I note the stiffness in his gait. The poor kid is wired so tight he looks like he’ll shatter if you touch him in any way..
Writing on the paper I turn it towards him.
Me: It’s alright. This is Ms. Liscumb and she is the social worker assigned to you. She’s here to make sure that I’m a good guardian for you.
Falcon’s eyes widen at my words and I see the fear there. Guilt sucker punches me in the gut, but I have to push past it. Now is not the time to panic. The old bat will probably use it as an excuse to take him from me and put him in a group home or something.
Falcon looks at the woman, who is silently watching the exchange and reading the words over my shoulder. Her lips are pursed in annoyance, but she’s silent. Falcon nods but doesn’t take the paper from me, almost as if knowing that if he writes anything, the woman is going to use it as ammunition to get him out of here. Something I can’t allow to happen.
Ms. Liscumb looks at me and orders, “Tell him that if he doesn’t want to be here, he doesn’t have to be. I have a perfectly good group home that he’ll do well in.”
I glare at her but do as she says. Falcon reads it and shakes his head vehemently, grabbing the paper from my hands and writing as fast as he can.
Falcon: No. I like it here. I want to stay with my sister.
Ms. Liscumb takes the paper and writes on it herself. I see what she’s writing and feel fury burn through me. The fucking bitch.
Ms. Liscumb: Your sister is not equipped to take care of you. This apartment is too small, and she doesn’t have the resources to help you with your disability. You would be better off with people who could help you properly. I know what’s best for you, you don’t have to worry.
Falcon reads her words and those icy blue eyes of his go hot. The glare he levels at her makes me so damn proud. The woman barely keeps herself from rearing back at the obvious anger she sees. The words he writes break my heart, but I’m so damn happy that he isn’t afraid to tell her like it is.
Falcon: You know nothing. I don’t know you. CPS put me with a man who starved me for days, hit me for no reason, and never let me learn to communicate with other people. Before that, you left me with junkie parents who did the exact same thing. I’m better off here than with anyone you think would be “proper”. At least my sister is trying. You didn’t even know I was deaf. You’re no better than the rest of them.
Ms. Liscumb’s eyes flash angrily and her lips thin until they’re practically white in color. She’s not angry about the things that happened to him. She’s angry that he called her out on it, and that he’s not falling in line. She glares furiously at me. “Do you honestly think that a woman like you can handle a kid like him?”
“A kid that is exactly like me when I was growing up?” I ask her coldly. “He’s perfectly happy to stay with me, Ms. Liscumb. He’s enrolled in school already, and tomorrow will be his first day. I’m looking for a larger apartment so he can have his own room. I have a job and savings that mean I can support both of us just fine. I don’t give a flying fuck if you don’t like me, but you’re not going to uproot a kid that has been through so much at his age. He has a roof over his head, food in his belly, new clothes that fit him, and someone who is willing to take care of him. You have no reason to take him from here, and you know it.”
She does know it from the look in her eyes, but she’s not about to let this go. “I looked into you, Ms. Dixon,” she informs me smugly, “and I know you work at some tattoo shop, have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and your own trouble with the law. You’re about as fit of a guardian as his previous ones, with your history.”
Icy cold rage beats through me. The reminders of my past are already fresh in my mind, and her bringing them up is like pouring salt on a open wound. Memories assault me, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I refuse to let this bitch see me sweat.
Instead, I reply, “Since you decided to spend more time looking into me than the child that you’re supposed to be worrying about, let me remind you of a few things. I was in my teens when that happened, and you’d know why if you looked at my history and my files. You’ll also know it all stopped the minute I turned eighteen. I worked my ass off to get where I am now. Falcon is safe with me, and I don’t give a rat’s ass if you don’t like it. Do your fucking job and get out of my apartment. He’s not going anywhere.”
She looks like she wants to keep arguing with me, but instead says, “Fine, he can stay with you in the interim. You have fifteen days to find a suitable apartment, and I will be doing random spot checks to ensure that everything is as it should be. I suggest you get working on it, Ms. Dixon, or I’ll make sure that your brother won’t be allowed within ten feet of you.”
With that she stalks out, slamming the door behind her as she leaves. Falcon grabs my arm, drawing my gaze back to him. His eyes are wide with fear.
I don’t want to worry him so I give him a reassuring smile and take the paper and pen from him.
Me: It’s alright. She’s gone and you can stay with me. I need to find a new apartment within 15 days, and she’s going to be doing random checks to make sure that you’re all good.
Falcon’s shoulders lose their tension but I can see the fear hasn’t abated at all.
Falcon: How are we going to find a new apartment so soon?
Yeah, that’s going to be a problem. Ash said that she was going to work on it, but I’m going to have to kick things up into high gear if I’m going to find something. I love a challenge, but this is really going to be pushing the limits.
I don’t want Falcon to worry though.
Me: Don’t worry, I’m working on it, ok? Now, are you ready to go and see your new school and get all the paperwork done?
He doesn’t look convinced but nods and turns away to get his backpack.
I blow out a breath and hurry to grab my things. I only have today off, though Wolf and Talon promised me any additional time I needed, so I don’t have time to waste.
Grabbing my phone, I send an SOS message in my group text with the girls. I might like to do things on my own the majority of the time, but right now I need to rally the troops.