Elijah gave him a sharp frown. "He is an adult, you can't just hit him. If he does something you don't want to be responsible for, you throw him out. Plenty have done it before and will do it. If kids who reach adulthood in the other homes came to me and showed me actual injuries, I'd have to take their fathers in too. I can't just let it go, it is the law, Ben. Just like if he had punched you in the face, you could come in and I'd arrest him. Understand?"

Ben sat back and looked at Elijah with disgust. Who the hell did he think he was, telling him off? "If I toss him out, he'll end up drunk, criminal, and will probably get himself killed. I've done him a good turn. Ye write that in yer report."

Elijah frowned and leaned back in his seat and folded his arms. "Until you take this seriously, I can't do anything for you. I explained what happened and you are not answering my questions. Just explain things objectively. If you keep him home,you can't hurt him like this. Someone might report him again. I can't ignore what I see."

Ben glared at Elijah and sat in silence.

Elijah rolled his eyes and relaxed in his chair looking away. "I have all night."

Ben continued to sit in silence.

Rose knocked on the door. She had wrapped a scarf around her head, and underneath, her hair was messy. She looked pale and frightened.

Elijah opened the door and blinked letting her in. "Rose?! What are you doing here? You should be at home."

"What's goin' on?" Rose said. "Why've you taken 'im?"

"Rose! Go home, lass!" came Ben's voice.

Elijah ignored Ben. "I've taken him in because someone reported him for assaulting Simon. I've seen the injuries myself, and I believe he just went too far with disciplining, Simon isn't a child any more. He can report him and get Ben arrested. Which is why we are here. He won't fill out the paper work so I can't do anything."