Case of the Black Widow Ch. 03

"Good point. Okay, I'll take your advice and do that." Melina said. I handed the baby to Nurse Ratchett, who was going doing some tests on him, as well as her desire to get me out of there so Melina could get some rest. I congratulated Melina again, then left the room and went and found the two men, who were now in the waiting room with my mother. Jeanine Olivet Burke had also arrived, and was telling them she had no idea what to do legally.

"Uncle Don," Todd said, "Grandma said she told you about the name issue. What should we do?"

"I just talked to Melina and met my new grand-nephew." I said. "Congratulations to all of us, by the way. I suggested that Melina name the baby after Todd for now, as he's the biological father. Daniel, if and when you adopt the baby, the name will change then, so for now it's 'no harm no foul'."

"That sounds like the best solution, for now." my mother said. Daniel didn't seem to be happy about it, but nodded in acquiescence. And for the record, that is what Melina did: two hours later, the Certificate of Live Birth was filed for Douglass Errol Burke.

"I'll walk you out." Jeanine said as I made my goodbyes. As we walked to the elevator, Jeanine started right in: "Todd wants at least some custody of the baby," she said, "and he wants to fight any adoption of the baby by Daniel."

"What's the law on that?" I asked.

"I'll have to research it, but while Todd is under 21 it's an uphill battle."

"Even though he's a father already?" I asked. Well, sort of, I thought to myself.

"I'm telling ya, Don, 'Days of Our Lives' is contacting us about script rights over all this." Jeanine joked. "I really don't know, though I think Todd has every chance of retaining some custody rights. I'm just afraid it'll get ugly, and none of us wants that."

"I agree." I said. "Do me a favor, Jeanine, and let me know how things are going as they progress. Especially if I need to keep Todd in line."

---

Later that day, Laura discussed Melina's condition with me. I had given her my observations of my former wife earlier that morning.

"First of all," Laura said, "Melina is not doing very well making breast milk for the baby. She's producing almost none. That's not a problem in that we can bottle-feed the baby, but Melina's not taking that well."

"In addition," my wife said, "I think she's nearly at a state of postpartum depression. I'm concerned about how she's been since the birth. She's fairly despondent, and she's not responding to the baby the way I'd expect a new mother to."

"Hmmm," I said, "do you think the friction between Todd and Daniel have anything to do with it?"

"Maybe." said Laura. "There's no actual friction between them, but Todd being the biological father, and asserting some of his rights as such, may be a problem."

Part 19 - Her Fatal Mistake

It was New Year's Eve, and Laura and I were attending the party at University President Wellman's home. It was mostly University people, but Britt Maxwell and Campus Police Commissioner Dexter Robinson were there, giving me outlets of conversation. Britt was worried about the impending fate of Teresa Croyle, with whom Cindy Ross was staying. I told them not to worry, that several people had Teresa's interests at heart, the Thin Blue Line would circle the wagons around our fellow officer, and she'd land on her feet.

The party began breaking up shortly after midnight. Of course Laura and I had shared a warm kiss to ring in the New Year, and Daniel and Melina had done likewise. But just as we were about to leave, I received a call on my police cellphone. It was Angela Harlan, who had drawn the short stick to be on call that night.

"Lieutenant, it looks like the Black Widow has struck again." Harlan said. She gave the address: it was the J.P. Goldman Bank!

To be continued...