Limited Immunity

CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA Sunday Morning:

Christian Davis walked into the downtown CSI Office. He was a welcomed face and treated friendly by the staff that works there. He had only left his job 9 months earlier to head off and make his own way with his ranch. He signed himself in and asked the receptionist for Carl Mc Mannis. Christian sat in the area for no more than five minutes before Carl arrived.

"Christian, good to see you. Glad you could come help us out on this one. You were always the best." Carl said in a voice loud enough for the receptionist to hear.

"I always said I am here in whatever way I can help, Carl" Christian responded as loudly.

The two men, Carl leading the way, headed into the back offices and labs and ultimately stopped at Carl's small office. The men went in; Carl slid in behind his desk and pointed toward a chair for Christian to take. Christian sat down as Carl brought out 2 cokes from underneath his desk. Offering one to Christian, Carl opened his and drank half of it in one gulp.

"So why am I here Carl?" Christian asked opening his coke and taking a pull from it.

"Chase Roberts. Does that name ring a bell?" Carl asked wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"No it doesn't. Should it?"

"We were hoping it would. Basically this little boy has been put through hell and back and has no where to go. I know you are still allowed by law to take this child into custody and keep him safe and I honestly think that is the best option for the child."

"Do you really?"

"Yeah, this kid has serious trauma and will need serious emotional care for a little while. The only thing that kept this kid going was the flier for your ranch. I honestly think his only reason for living was going to your grand opening."

"Is he able to speak? I mean I know he is old enough but I don't want to over shadow the trauma and cause him more pain, but I would like to talk to him before I make up my mind. If he is too far gone then I am not going to invite him to the ranch."

"Sounds fair enough. The legal implications that he does not know about are going to be a long drawn out process. I am talking years before it is said and done and before he can officially become yours."

"I know. If I am sure about him and that I will be able to care for him the way he needs to be cared for then I will be fully prepared to fight that battle when the time comes."

"All right; let's go meet Chase then."

Carl and Christian walked down the hall into the interrogation room holding Chase Roberts. Christian peered through the door and observed the youngster staring at his flyer and closing his eyes in deep prayer. Christian knocked on the door and caught the youngster's attention before entering the room. Chase nodded and Christian walked in.

"Hi. My name is Christian how are you?" Christian asked the youngster.

"Good sir. My name is Chase. Are you going to ask me a lot of questions too?"

"Not many. I am interested in that paper you are holding can I ask you about it?"

"Oh yeah, "Chase said his eyes brightening "this is for the Limited Immunity Ranch trip that my Boy Scout troop was supposed to go on. They have horses and trails and four wheelers and canoes and a lot of fun stuff. I was really looking forward to going." Chase said with sadness as he spoke the last words of his sentence.

"Why are you sad Chase?"

"I don't think I am going to go on the trip now?"

"Why do you think that?"

"My daddy is gone and I have no money since they took Rico away. Plus I don't have a way to the meetings anymore, if I can even get back home. That Carl guy said he would make sure I got home soon."

"Well can I ask you a few more questions on different subjects if you don't mind?"

"Sure go ahead. Can I not answer them if I don't want to like Carl said?"

"Of course. I don't think you will find the questions to bothersome though."

"OK Go ahead"

"Okay Well I just want to know a little bit about you. What you like in school, what you like to do for fun, stuff like that. So tell me a little bit about yourself."

"Well sir, I am just me. I like school and go everyday and am good in math and love reading. I don't get to have much fun cause I am either working or my dad is drunk and I can't do anything. The boy scouts are the only thing I have ever done for fun and I like that a lot."

"What about the Boy Scouts do you like?"

"I like the other members of my troop even though they don't like me too much cause of where I am from. I like the trips we take camping and getting to see different things other than the block that I grew up on and the city."

"So you like the peace and quiet of the country then?"

"Yeah I do. It is one thing that I am going to miss."

"Well what if I were to tell you that I happen to own the Limited Immunity Ranch and I would very much like it if you came out to see what the place is like and if you like it then I would like for you to live there."

"What? You own the Limited Immunity?"

"Yes I do. So do you want to come out and see what the place is like?"

"Oh very much. That would be good. I would love to see what you have out there. How long can I stay?"

"That is entirely up to you. You get to make that choice once you get there."

"When can we go?"

"Well let me go talk to Carl and I will have an answer for you in a minute."

Christian leaves Chase and goes out the door to find Carl. They meet each other in the hallway, as Carl was in the room listening in through the two way mirror.

"So you are going to take him?" Carl asks excitedly.

"On a trial basis yes. I have to make sure he likes the place before I decide it is the best to keep him long term." Christian said smiling.

"I am glad you are excited. Okay, so to make this official it is going to have to wait until Monday morning. Until then he has to go into protective custody as a ward of the state. If you have a good lawyer I would call them right now and arrange for him to come to you on a short term basis. No judge in their right mind would not grant you that request. You are an upstanding member of the community, a former law enforcement agent, and rich as hell."

"Well I don't have anyone local. You got someone that handles this kind of thing usually?"

"Yes I do. She is good and she is waiting my call. She knows all about you and the paperwork is already prepared. She will have you sign first thing in the morning and set it in motion. If all goes well he should be with you by Friday."

"Friday? No that is too long to wait as a ward of the state. I think that Monday afternoon at the latest we should be on our way back to Beauford."

"Well that is an option but of course it is going to take money for a retainer. It is like bonding the child to go with you. You could ask the court to set a bond for Chase and then make it and then you will be on your way with him, as long as you make the court appearances."

"I don't see money or making the appearances as a problem. Have your lawyer do it that way. I will be staying at the Radisson in the Earnhardt Suite. Contact me there. I am going back to talk to Chase."

"OK. I will make the calls. CPS should be here in an hour or so to take him. My lawyer will see you this evening. I have other business to attend to so if you need me please let me know."

"Thanks Carl. If you and Cathy decide to come out to the ranch, let me know and you will be comped for everything."

"I appreciate that, and give my best to Marcus" Carl said as he shook Christians hand and walked away smiling.

Christian returned to the room that Chase was in to break the news to him.

"Chase I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like first?"

"Well I am used to nothing but bad news so lay that on Me." 

"Child Protective Services are coming by to get you and should be here within an hour. Do you know who they are?"

"Yes, they are the ones that take kids and put them into foster homes. There they sit until they turn 18 and then they go out and usually become criminals."

"Well you are correct about part of it, but that isn't important. The good news is that on Monday I will be picking you up and taking you to Limited Immunity where you can stay for a while."

"Well that's good, when can I see the ranch? Is it far away?"

"Well after I pick you up we have a little business to conduct here and then we will go to your house, pick up your clothes and things and then head off and should be there before sunset. It is only 3 hours away."

"OK packing will be easy; I am wearing everything that I own."

"You have no other clothes?"

"No sir. None at all This is my school clothes and my scout uniform and my play clothes. The only time that I change clothes is when I went to work and then it was just a robe."

"We will fix that problem as soon as possible. I will make sure I can pick you up so we can go shopping. Do you have any toys or video games or anything like that?"

"No sir. Everything I own is here with me except my bible and other small books at my house."

"We will get those tomorrow as well."

There was a knock at the door. Christian went outside and talked to the CPS woman. She said it would be fine for him to take Chase in the afternoon and she would help out in any way that she could. She took Chase and led him out the hallway. Chase broke the grip with her hand and ran back and gave Christian a big hug and thanked him. As soon as they were out of sight, Christian immediately ran to his car and drove to his hotel.