Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 23:04:45 -0500
From: Darrin Thomas <Djthomas4@charter.net>
Subject: Dylian Chapter 1

         I was working late again.  Well, as my staff would say I was just
working.  I am a single 35 year old man who has worked very hard to get
where he is.  Where is that you ask?  The Top!  There isn't anywhere to go
from here except for down.  And that is where my mood has been heading.  I
was at my desk looking over some reports when my second in command came
into my office.

	"Drew, man you have got to stop this!"  Miles said.

	"Miles?  What are you doing here at this time?"  I was a little
startled to say the least.

	"The Night watchman called and said that you were still at your
desk again.  I had told him to keep me posted on how late you had been
staying.  Debbie and I are very worried about you.  I think you need to
take some time off, go on a cruse or something.  You are driving the staff
nuts and frankly pulling everybody down.  I know this company can withstand
you taking some time off.  By the way, this is not a suggestion, if you
don't take time off; the staff is ready to strike."

	"Fine Miles!  I was thinking about that same thing earlier today.
I am taking a month off, but, I will remain in contact with you.  Now, if
you wouldn't mind getting out of my hair, then I can finish what I was
doing so that my desk is cleared and I can start my VACATION tomorrow.  I
still have to figure out where I am going to go or just what I am going
to."  I told Miles with mock anger.

	"Ok, call me if you need anything."  He laughed.  And with that
Miles left me.

	I finished up what I was doing and left a long list of things for
my asstiant to take care of while I was gone and headed out.  I took the
elevator down to the parking garage.  Normally I would come to work in the
company Limo, but today I decided to drive my ole Bronco.  Seeing how I
don't normally drive, I don't have an assigned parking place so I had
parked way out right next to the trash dumpsters.  As I got near my truck I
heard what I thought was a child crying.  I looked around my truck,
nothing.  Then I looked inside the U shaped cinder block area that the
dumpsters were kept in.  I checked inside the first two dumpsters and found
nothing.  As I approached the third I saw a small pair of sneakers sticking
out from behind the large green dumpster.  I stopped and held my breath.
What if the child is hurt?  What if the child is sick?  What if the Child
runs?  The same answer came with each question.  I will make it right!

	I stepped around the corner of the Dumpster and what I saw made me
want to through up.  There was a small child, a boy, maybe no more then 8
or 9 years old.  He was very dirty and he had a lot of what looked like
blood in his blond hair, and on the front of his shirt.

	Carefully I knelt down and got his attention.  "Hi, my name is
Drew.  It looks like you could use some help.  Would it be ok if I helped?"
I asked is as calm voice as I could muster.

	"Why?"  Came a small timid voice.

	Well, that wasn't the response I was expecting so I had to stop and
think for a moment.  "Why?  Well, I guess that's a good question.  My best
answer would be that I am here, and I am able, and willing to help you, and
see if we can't find a solution to what ever problems lead you to hiding
behind this trash dumpster.  Now, it's late, and I am hungry what about
you?"  He gave a very small nod, but hadn't said anything else, so I
continued.  "What say we go get you cleaned up, take a look at your head,
and get some food?"

	"Ok."  Was all the response I got.

	I picked him up and carried him over to my Bronco.  He looked at
the truck and then back at me like something was a little strange.  I asked
him if he liked Pizza, and got that little nod, so I called the pizza place
near my Condo and ordered a few.  Not knowing what the little one would
like on his, and not wanting to push for too many answers right now.  When
we got the the Condo, I suggested he take a bath while we waited for the
food.  Again I got that little nod.  "Do you need any help taking your
bath?"  I asked with a lot of uncertainty

	"No, Not really, but could you come in and wash my hair when I am
ready?"  He asked looking at his feet.  I was kind of shocked that I got a
full sentience seeing how up tell now it was only one word answers.

	"Sure, just give me a shout.  How about you leave your clothes just
outside the bathroom door, and I will get them washed and dried.  And while
you are in the tub, I will see about finding something for you to wear."
And with that he was in the bathroom and started undressing before I even
got the door shut.  I was starting to wonder what I had around that would
fit this little guy, and then it hit me, Donnie.  Donnie was the spoiled
son of Miles and Debbie.  Why was he spoiled, well that would be MY fault.
But, Donnie did keep clothes here for when he stayed on the weekends.  The
only problem would be that Donnie is almost 12 years old and much bigger
then this little guy.  After looking around I was able to find an older
pair of Donnie's PJ's that had a draw string and an old T-shirt.  I figured
he could go with out undies for at least a few hours.  I went and gathered
his old clothes and got them in the washing matching, when the bell rang.
I went and got the pizzas and popped them in the oven so that they would
stay warm.  About that time I heard a small "Sir, I am ready now." from the
bathroom.

	As I entered the bathroom, the fist thing I was that he had already
gotten his hair wet.  I had thought that he would keep his back to me, but
he didn't, he did keep his hands in his lap the whole time.  When I tried
to get him to turn around so that I could wash his back for him, he said
loudly, "I DID that already!"  I knew I now had a problem.

	"Ok, Ok.  I just thought that I would help you out.  But, you know
Little One, I said I wanted to help you and find a solution to your
problem.  I can't do that unless you are honest with me and tell me the
truth.  OK?"  I hoped that I was getting through to him.  Slowly, very
slowly he turned around in the tub.  When I saw the marks on his back I
couldn't help but scream, "Oh, Mother of God!"

	This reaction was the worst possible one there could have been.
The Little One jumped up and Dashed out of the bath room faster then I
could believe.  He was acting like a caged animal not knowing what way to
go.  I finally caught him and wrapped him in a huge soft towel and hugged
him to me and just rocked back and forth.  I kept telling him it was Ok,
that I was not upset with him, but about what had happened to him.  Finally
he seamed to calm down a bit, and I was able to get him in to the PJ's that
I had taken from Donnie's stash.

	Once he was dressed, I stood him in front of me and looked into his
eyes.  "OK, Little One.  You know that we are going to have to talk about
what has happened to you, and why you were behind that dumpster, but I am
only going to ask you one thing tonight, then we are going to eat, and go
to bed.  Tomorrow we can talk all we want and figure out what we are going
to do.  OK?"  I waited until I got a small nod.  "OK, here is my Big
Question for tonight. Remember it's the only question that I am going to
ask tonight.  You Ready?"  He got a very serious look on his face and in
his beautiful blue eyes, then a small nod.

	"What is your name?"  I asked.  There was nothing.  Not a sound.
Then all of a sudden he burst out laughing and giggling and squirming all
over the place.

  	"I thought you were going to ask me something hard, or to do
something weird!"  He said while trying to calm down.  "My name is
Dylian. Dylian Price.  I am 9 years old.  I ran away from my Foster Dad
last week after he beat me again for something stupid.  I have been living
off food out of the dumpsters where you found me.  I was doing good until
earlier today I fell and hit my head, that's where all the blood came from.
I had just woke up when you found me.  I don't care where I live as long as
I don't have to go back into a foster home.  I will run from any Foster
home they try to put me in. and I will not stop surchin.  I don't care what
happens to me, but..."  By this time he was sobbing his eyes out.  I picked
him up and held him close to my chest and rocked him until he quieted down.

	"Dylian, would it be ok if I became your Fos...Temporary Dad?"  I
asked but before he could answer, "Wait, Dylian, what do you mean 'I will
not stop surchin'?"  I asked with a little force in my voice.

	"My big brother was sold, and I have been trying to find him."
Dylian said with a straight face.

	"What do you mean, "SOLD"?  Who SOLD him, and why?"  Now I was
getting upset.  I was trying hard not to let it show to Dylian.

	"My Old Foster Dad.  He found Simon and his friend doing stuff
together.  He made Simon's friend leave the he beat Simon real bad.  Told
him he was a slut and a whore and that he would get to be all that he was
soon enough.  Later that night I heard him talking with someone and he said
that it was a small price to pay for such a nice piece of boy pussy, and
that when he was ready he would pay another $10,000.00 for me.  About a
week later he came into my room and told me that I needed to start learning
the 'Family Trade'.  When I fought back was when he beat me for the first
time.  That's where the marks on my back came from.  I told my CPS worker
and was told to stop making up stories.  The next night he tried again, and
again I fought back, so I got beat again.  After that I didn't come home
from school."  Dylian was not crying like I thought he would be, but he was
just starring off in to space.

	"Dylian, I promise you I will find Simon.  I will make sure you and
him are back together and safe!"  He just looked at me.  "Why don't you
start eating I have some calls to make, OK?"  He nodded and started in on
the Pepperoni pizza.

	The first call I made was to Miles.  "Hello....?"  Miles answered
sounding like I had woken the dead.

	"Miles, this is Drew.  I am your Boss, I am your Friend.  I need
your help Right NOW!  Will you please come over to the condo, bring Debbie,
and Donnie.  As Soon As Possible.  This is an all out emergency of the
highest importance!"  I didn't give him a chance to respond.  Before he
could say anything I had hung up.  Debbie was a pediatrician, and I figured
Donnie could help with Dylian, keep him company at least.

	The next call was to my chief of security, Bruce.  He was an ex
navy Seal who had a heart of gold and 5 kids.  I knew I could count on him.
Then I called my Lawyer and told him to get his but out of bed and get over
to the condo as well, and that I didn't care how much it was going to cost
me by making him miss a few hours of sleep.

	About 30 min after the first call went out, people started to
arrive.  First to arrive were Miles and Debbie followed by a very sleepy
Donnie.

	"Drew, what the hell is going on?"  Miles asked as soon as he
rushed into the condo.

	"Miles, Debbie, thanks for coming.  Debbie I need to hire you, but
I need you to hold off reporting anything at least for tonight.  Please?"
I took her and Donnie into the Kitchen where Dylian and the Pizza was.
Knowing Donnie as I do I knew Pizza would wake him up.  "Dylian, this is
Debbie and her son Donnie.  Debbie is a friend of mine who is also a
Doctor.  Would it be OK if she has a look at you to make sure that cut on
your head is ok and your back?"  I asked him hoping he wouldn't get upset
and try to bolt.

	"Sure, if you think I should then I don't have a problem with it."
He said with a straight face.

	Debbie looked over at me with questions in her eyes.  "Debbie,
Donnie, This is Dylian.  Donnie, there is pizza in the oven keeping warm,
please don't eat it all."  With that I was leaving the Kitchen when I saw
Donnie stick his tongue out at me.  We all started laughing except for
Dylian that is.

	While Debbie was looking over Dylian, I headed back out into the
Living room to talk with Miles and Bruce who had now shown up.  "OK, I know
this is a little unusual, but trust me, it is important.  I need to go over
a few things with you guys once Brian and Mark get here, Oh, Great there
you two are.  Ok. So let's get started."  They all sat down in the living
room.  I told them the whole story as I knew it and reinforced the fact
that Dylian was to be treated as my son and they all should walk carefully
around him about what is asked.  "Ok, so now how do we go about getting
Simon back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?  I don't want this kid out there any longer
then possible."

	Mark, one of my lawyers, said that he would start on CPS first
thing in the morning seeing how the offices aren't open during the night.
Bruce said that they always have an Emergency person on duty 24/7 so call
and get started NOW!  Mark jumped and got started making phone calls.
Bruce said that once the Former Foster Father was located, he would get a
team together and pay him a visit, in the hopes of finding out whom he sold
Simon too.  I for one wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that
meeting.

	Mark came back into the room looking distressed, "Um, Drew.... Um
how sure are you that there is a Simon?"  I looked at him for a while.

	"After what I saw on that kids back, I don't think he would make up
a big brother.  But, why do you ask?"

	"I spoke with two different CPS workers.  Both are aware of
Dylian's run, but both claim according to his file he was an only child and
they have no record of a missing Simon."  Mark Replied.  "Both are spitting
nails about why am I asking about Dylian or this so called Simon.  I told
them that Dylian was or had been seen by a client of mine and we were
looking for him.  Also I asked for info on the Foster dad and was told that
that was privileged information and would not be given out to any one.
Further more they said that I would be being charged with obstructing
Justice if "I didn't produce the kid ASAP" and they would be in front of a
judge first thing tomorrow to make that happen."  Now I was pissed.

	"Drew, I don't like the sound of this and feel we need to protect
ourselves as well as that child.  I think we should play a little hard
ball.  In all of our government contracts we put in the right to Ground any
and all helicopters for maintance or what ever reason we felt needed for
safety.  The Governor and his cabinet are about to do a bunch of flyovers
to see the storm damage from last weekend.  It would be very embarassing to
him if he didn't have a helicopter to complete these flyovers and seeing
how he has already announced that he is doing them, it could cause the
pressure needed for us to get the foster fathers name released.  Not to
mention bring the attention of the governor's office about this Selling of
a child."  Miles said with a smile that made me worry.

	"Better yet."  I said picking up my phone.  I dialed the number and
waited.  "Get me Tom, Yes this is Drew Thomas, now get him."  I waited
seeing what would happen.

	"Drew, god man do you know what time it is?  I got a ton to get
done tomorrow.  This had better be important."  Governor Tom Dailey said
when coming online.

	"Tom, I think it's important.  A couple of things are going to
happen tomorrow.  First in about 2 min. all DJ Enterprise Birds are going
to be grounded for an indefinate amount of time, and yes I said ALL.
Second, I am going to call a press conference at 9 am and inform our not so
friendly Press that the STATE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE is in fact selling
kids into slavery.  And that you The Governor has done nothing to stop or
prevent this."  Stopping to take a deep breath, "I just thought that you
should have a little bit of a heads up seeing how we were once Family."

	"Damn it Drew, you know damn well that you are still family.  Your
sister, god rest her soul, loved you right to the end.  But, what the hell
are you talking about CPS selling kids?"  Tom asked, "And if I had been
made aware of it and didn't correct you know damn well I will take my
licks!"  Drew did know this.  I told him the story of Dylian, leaving out
the fact that he was with me.  I told him a little lie that he ran, but I
guess he did do that.

	"Drew, I don't think that this is a state wide problem, I am sure
that it's just that one office.  I will get people working on things from
my side RIGHT now.  Make sure that you keep that little boy safe til we can
get you his big brother."  And with that he hung up.

	When I looked up I saw that Debbie and the boys were back in the
room.  Both boys looked very tired.  I got up and went to them.  Kneeling
down in front of Dylian, I spoke very quietly, "Dylian, all these guys are
here to get Simon back.  We have been working on it while you were with
Dr. Debbie.  But, not much is going to happen tonight, so I think you
should get some sleep.  Donnie, why don't you take Dylian to your room and
you too can get in bed.  Your mom and I will be right there."

	"OK, Unk.  Come on Dylian, my room is this way."  With that they
headed down the hall.
	I looked over at Debbie, "OK, tell me how bad it is."

	"Drew, that boy has been abused badly.  The scars on his back are
just part of it.  He has scars on his scrotum from what looks like
cigarette burns, as well as scars on the back of his legs and bottom.  The
cut on his forehead is small and not of importance.  Cuts like that
ussually bleed a lot.  I am worried about some of the scars on his back;
they are some what hard, sometimes that is a sign that there are more
problems then we can see on the surface.  I would like for him to be seen
by a plastic surgeon sometime soon.  Now, for the big problem, I am a
Mandated Reporter.  I have to report this abuse."  Debbie told me with a
sad look in her eyes.
	"Well, that's a problem about Reporting the abuse.  The abuser is
who you would report it to."  I told her.

	"You mean to tell me that the state is responsible for that Childs
abuse?"  She demanded.

	"Yes."  I said

	"Then reporting it would put the child at greater risk, I have to
not report this, but I have to, Damn it Drew!"  With that she stormed off
and went to my bedroom.  Knowing that would be where she and Miles would
sleep tonight, me on the couch.

	The rest of us sat around drinking coffee talking about what would
be coming up and trying to make plans with out having all the info that we
would need.  About an hour after Debbie stormed off to bed, I got a phone
call.

	"Drew, its Tom.  The Foster Father's name is John Nesco.  Address
is 144 south 10th street.  Madison.  I don't want to know what happens from
here, but I do want to be kept in the loop.  Drew I did this as your
Brother-in-law, Not the Governor."  And hung up.

	I jotted down the address and name and then handed them over to
Bruce.  "Bruce, do what you do.  What ever you need you, get!  I want this
boy!"  I told Bruce as he was getting up to leave.