The DNA testing for Conroy took place as scheduled. I was surprised to see that they tested Reverend Julian’s brother Jeffrey instead of one of his sons. As a matter of fact all of the Reverend’s seven children turned up to be tested, I guess Reverend Julian’s wife Shirley (Maud reminded me of her name) was not taking any chances! So now we await the results which, we were told would be ready in two weeks. Maybe I have been watching the Maury Show too long because I thought the results would have been ready in a couple of hours!
Anyway, I relished the time I got to spend with Conroy just in case I would have to give him up to that woman! Matron told me I could take some time off from work until the matter was settled so I did just that. Maud’s new job was put on hold because her new employers wanted to refurbish the canteen so she was also able to spend some time with Conroy also.
It was overcast the morning when we went to get the results of the DNA test. I had received an email from Miss Brown that I should meet her in her office at the Child Development Agency so I had Ricky pick us up. On the way I brought him up to date on all that had transpired and as usual he could not stop laughing. He said something that made me think differently about the Reverend. Ricky said that he did not believe that Reverend Julian was the father of any of the children regardless of what anyone said. When I asked him why not, he said he knew the Reverend from he, Ricky, was a boy and the Reverend was a man of principles. He was adamant that the Reverend he knew would never cheat on his wife so something was not adding up. Maud was in agreement with what Ricky said. She said that she and Cassie were very close and there was nothing that Cassie did not tell her and if Reverend Julian was Conroy’s father Cassie would have told her. Cassie was so in love with the father of her children and they were so inseparable that there was no way she had time for the Reverend in that manner. When we reached the Child Development Agency I told Maud to wait with Conroy in the car while I went to meet with Miss Brown. Barrister Foreman was already there along with the lawyer that was representing Reverend Julian’s wife. She arrived shortly after followed by the Reverend’s seven children and Cassie’s Grandmother. Miss Brown went to get additional chairs saying that she was not expecting so many persons to be there. While she was away from the office Shirley asked me for Conroy and I just looked straight through her. She obviously got the message and turned back to her lawyer. Barrister Foreman patted me on the hand and said I was not to worry because he had everything under control. Miss Brown returned and told us that the Ancillary Staff would be bringing the additional chairs. Five minutes later the men came with the chairs and after everyone present was seated Miss Brown addressed us. She told us she had the results of the DNA tests ready and she asked us to remain quiet until she had finished reading all the results. Officer Bailey came into the room, closed the door behind him and stood in front of it. Miss Brown picked up a large brown envelope from her desk and showed us that it was still sealed from the company that did the DNA testing. She said she purposely did not open it before we came because she did not want, herself or the CDA, to be accused of tampering with the results. Shirley stood up and said she wanted to know the whereabouts of Conroy. Miss Brown told her that the whereabouts of Conroy was only relevant if the result of the DNA test revealed that Reverend Julian was indeed his father. Shirley gave us a look! If looks could kill Miss Brown and I would be dead! I laughed and that made her even more irate. Officer Bailey admonished us to be quiet so that Miss Brown could do her job. Miss Brown removed the documents from the envelope and scanned it quickly before saying anything to us. Clearing her throat she said that based on the results of the DNA tests Reverend Julian Carmichael Stokes was not the father of any of the seven children that were tested. You could hear a pin drop in the room! As it related to Conroy, she continued, Reverend Julian Carmichael Stokes was not his father! I jumped from my seat with glee! Ricky was right after all! Officer Bailey gave me a stern look and I sat back down in my seat with an ear-to-ear grin on my face. Shirley jumped to her feet and said she did not care what the DNA results said because she had a birth certificate that stated that Conroy was the son of her late husband! Barrister Foreman squeezed my hand and stood up and asked Miss Brown if he could say something. She told him he could. Barrister Foreman said that he had done some investigation into the matter while he was awaiting the results of the DNA test for little Conroy and what he found out about Reverend Julian was very enlightening. The Reverend was more than just a Social Worker, he was a very kind person that took every case assigned to him personally and always went way above his job description to help these women. Barrister Foreman then dropped a shocker. All of the seven children present were all born in prison. “What!” we all exclaimed. “Yes, they were all born in prison,” repeated Barrister Foreman. “To ensure that the babies not be placed in a Children’s Home, Reverend Julian had his name added as the father on their birth certificates so that he could get custody of them. He then took the babies to the relatives of the mothers so that they could raise them until the mothers came out of prison. The relatives who said that the Reverend paid then to keep his secret confirmed this and I have signed statements from these relatives.” Barrister Foreman said. Wow! I was shocked! All the children began to cry and I went over to them to try and console them. Cassie’s Grandmother said, “Well Cassie has never been to prison and Conroy was born in a hospital!” I looked at Barrister Foreman as Shirley stood up once again to say that the result of Conroy’s DNA test must be wrong based on what Cassie’s Grandmother said! Barrister Foreman asked Miss Brown if she still had the original birth certificate that the Reverend’s wife had presented purporting to be Conroy’s birth certificate? Miss Brown said she still had it. Barrister Foreman opened his briefcase and took out a document which he handed to Miss Brown and asked her to compare the two documents. Barrister Foreman handed me a copy of the document. It was Conroy’s birth certificate but the Reverend’s name was not on it! He then turned to Shirley and asked her if she had anything to say? Shirley said she had no idea what he was talking about and grabbed her bag and made an attempt to leave the room but Officer Bailey prevented her from doing so. Barrister Foreman told Miss Brown that the birth certificate that the Reverend’s wife had taken to the CDA was a fraudulent one and he had noticed the discrepancies on it when it was shown to him at my house. He said he personally went to the Registrar's General Department where he obtained a copy of Conroy's original birth certificate which was what he had handed over to Miss Brown. I looked at Shirley and I could see the blood draining from her face. Barrister Foreman handed me another document. It was the Last Will and Testament of Reverend Julian Carmichael Stokes. “Read it,” said Barrister Foreman. I started to tremble as I read the document. “But-t but-t Shirley said everything was left to her!” I stuttered. “Another forgery!” said Barrister Foreman. There was a knocking on the door. When Officer Bailey opened the door three gentlemen entered the room. They introduced themselves to Miss Brown as Detectives from the Fraud Squad. One of them said that they were there to arrest a Mrs. Shirley Stokes for forgery with the intent to defraud. Shirley fainted.
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