Okay, even though it may seem like I'm diverging into 4^th and 5^th plot tracks, this is all headed for a convergence. Really. Honest. I mean it. Stop looking at me that way! Anyway, I hope you're enjoying it!

Wendy leaned against the wall outside the 'interview' room, and a moment later Sheila joined her. The two women looked at each other, and both giggled.
“Ow. My pride,” said Wendy.
“No kidding,” remarked Sheila, “as far as that man is concerned Women's Lib never happened. No wonder his wife left. Did you hear that remark about women wearing pants being 'just a fad' that we would get past sooner or later?”
“Do you want Kerry to finish the rest of this? I mean, I don't think the courts will see it any other way than to give him custody,” asked the ADA.
“No, I can handle it. Yakko's got that mean streak about anything referring to people being owned,” responded the detective.
“Ugh,” said Wendy, “Er — no pun intended — yeah, I can see the line, 'That there woman stole what was rightfully my property and the fruit of my loins,' pissing him off. Well, I don't think there's much else to do, though. I'll finish up, you go get your partner and the kid, and we'll meet back up later.”
* * * * * * *
Kerry knocked on the door a third time, stepped back off the porch to see if there was any activity upstairs, then checked his notebook again for the address.
“Can I help you, mister?” said a voice behind him.
He turned and there was his goal. “Jeffrey Parker?”
“Maybe. Hey, I know you...” said the boy.
“You need to come with me to the station, kid. There's a lot of stuff going on that you need to know about,” Kerry informed the boy.
However, the response took him off guard, “No.”
“Whaddaya mean, 'No,' kid?”
“Are all cops as dumb as you? I'm not going anywhere with you. Don't try to make me, either. Crime Watch. Who will they believe, the kid that lives here or the guy attacking him? Besides, I'm younger and faster, you're out of shape, and I know the neighborhood.”
This kid was smart. “Look, son, I —“
“Don't. Just... don't. I know you were right in the station. I'm not your son, for one. I came home and searched and found my mother's diary. Her real name wasn't Janette Parker, it was Marlene Ugg. I know she took me from my father when I was two. But she's not a criminal. She saved me from him.”
Kerry took a step forward, to try to comfort the boy, but Jeff interpreted it as an attempt to rush him and took off running.
“Aw, piss in the wind!” exclaimed Kerry. He grabbed his radio and called dispatch while he ran to the car, wondering why whatever deity was in charge hated him.
* * * * * * *
Emily stared up at Brenda. That's what she'd been told to call her. She was still having trouble believing that this woman that looked almost like a model was her father. The door swung shut again, and she said, “Clear.”
Brenda smiled down at Emily. Emily shuddered. “I'm sorry, Em. I just... I couldn't... I mean... When you... We were... And then I... After your... ah... I'm just sorry,” she said and reached to give Emily a hug. Emily flinched away.
With a sad smile, Brenda said, “If it's any consolation, your mother knew and supported me as a part of Matthew. So did Janette.”
“That's supposed to help me deal with the fact that my father looks like he belongs on the stinking cover of Cosmo?”
Brenda looked sharply around, “Please, Emily, call me Aunty Brenda? I brought you out here to help you understand. But you're not even willing to talk to me? You gave me the silent treatment all the way here, all night.”
Emily frowned. “Do you think Jeff will find the note we left?”
“I put it on the microwave, he can't miss it as soon as he uses it. We'll be back tonight and he'll have had a good alone-time day.”
"Fine," the girl finally said, "EXPLAIN. But, dearest Aunty, this had better be good."