Chapter 8 - The Report
The child welfare investigator did not arrive with flashing lights.
That surprised Derrick.
She came to his townhouse in a gray sedan, carrying a tablet and a calm expression.
Her name was Naomi Bell.
“I’m here because a mandated reporter made a report regarding physical discipline by an unrelated household adult.”
Derrick let her in.
Malik was in the living room with Renee building a model airplane.
Naomi spoke with Derrick first.
“What did Malik tell you?”
Derrick repeated only the words Malik had used.
“He said Terrence grabbed him and hit him because he talked back.”
“Did Malik describe an injury?”
“No.”
“Did you observe one?”
“A little redness on his wrist that night. I didn’t photograph it because I didn’t want to make him feel like evidence.”
Naomi nodded.
“That’s understandable.”
Derrick immediately worried he had made a mistake.
“Should I have?”
“My role isn’t to grade you.”
She asked about custody, prior concerns, Aisha, Terrence, discipline practices in both homes.
Derrick answered.
“Do you use corporal punishment?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“When Malik was little, I popped his hand once or twice. Not since preschool.”
“Has Aisha?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you and she discussed discipline?”
“Not enough.”
That answer felt like a confession.
Naomi spoke with Malik privately in the dining room, door open but adults out of earshot.
Twenty minutes later she emerged.
Malik returned to his airplane.
Derrick wanted to ask what he said.
He didn’t.
Naomi explained that she would also speak to Aisha and Terrence.
“Are you removing Malik from her?”
“Placement decisions depend on safety assessment. Right now he is with you.”
“She let it happen.”
“That will be assessed.”
“Terrence shouldn’t be around him.”
“That may become part of a safety plan.”
Derrick’s frustration rose.
“May?”
Naomi’s voice remained steady.
“Mr. Carter, physical discipline laws vary by circumstance and severity. An unrelated adult using force is concerning, especially where the child reports fear. But our job is fact-specific.”
“He was scared to tell me.”
“I heard that.”
“He was told family business stays in the house.”
“I heard that too.”
Derrick stopped.
Malik had told her.
Good.
Terrible, but good.
Across town, Aisha sat opposite Naomi at her kitchen table.
Terrence had left for work.
Naomi asked, “Were you aware he used physical discipline?”
Aisha’s fingers trembled.
“I knew he grabbed Malik once before.”
“And this incident?”
“I came in right after.”
“What did you see?”
“Malik crying. Terrence angry.”
“Did Malik say he had been hit?”
“Yes.”
Naomi waited.
Aisha looked down.
“What did you do?”
“I told Terrence that wasn’t okay.”
“Did Terrence leave?”
“No.”
“Did Malik remain in the home with him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell Malik he could talk to his father?”
Aisha swallowed.
“No.”
“Did you tell Malik not to discuss household matters outside the home?”
Aisha’s face tightened.
“I said that weeks earlier about arguments between adults.”
“Do you believe he may have understood it more broadly?”
“Yes.”
Each yes sounded like a door closing.
Naomi asked whether Terrence had ever threatened Malik.
“No.”
Aisha hesitated.
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“He says things like, ‘You need to decide what kind of boy you’re going to be.’”
“Anything else?”
Aisha remembered a sentence she had ignored because it sounded like discipline at the time.
“If Malik said he wanted to call Derrick after getting in trouble, Terrence once told him, ‘Your dad can’t rescue you from consequences every time.’”
Naomi typed.
Aisha’s stomach turned.
“Do you believe Terrence sees himself as having parental authority?”
“Yes.”
“Do you agree?”
“No.”
“Did you previously?”
Aisha’s eyes filled.
“I think I let him believe I did.”
That answer changed the room.
Naomi closed the tablet.
“I need to discuss an immediate safety plan.”
Aisha nodded.
“No unsupervised contact?”
“That is what I’m recommending while the assessment continues.”
Relief and shame collided in her chest.
Then Naomi asked a final question.
“Is Terrence currently living here?”
“Yes.”
“Are you comfortable requiring him to leave?”
Aisha hesitated.
It lasted only two seconds.
But Naomi noticed.
“Why did you pause?”
Aisha looked toward the mortgage statement on the counter.
“Because I’m not sure he’ll go.”
That afternoon, Derrick received Naomi’s call.
A voluntary safety plan had been established.
Malik would have no contact with Terrence pending further review.
Derrick closed his eyes in relief.
Then Naomi continued.
“One more thing. Mr. Cole told me he believes you are manipulating Malik to damage his relationship with Ms. Carter.”
Derrick’s body went cold.
“He said what?”
“He also claims Malik has made similar allegations before when disciplined.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Do you know that?”
“Yes.”
“Can you prove it?”
Derrick opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because once again, the next stage would not be decided by what he felt.
May you like
![92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Father’s Arrival Exposed a Secret Powerful People Had Buried for Years]](https://cdn.treeiq.biz/site_590/2026/11/clone-0-0915d882-53d7-4d17-b43a-a010ca1a1068.webp)
It would be decided by what could be shown.
---
