Although she worried that it might be another case of “using” him, she did talk to him about Janie’s needs, explaining what Janie had revealed about her parents. “Are channels available that would enable you to find out who her father is or where he might be? I think Janie is as well off if she doesn’t know where her mother is. The woman apparently abandoned her.” “Maybe not. Judging from what you’ve told me, she could have died unidentified in some emergency room. In large cities, many incidents like that occur and are never reported to the police.” “Is there any way we could find some member of her family?” “In this day of computerized record keeping, there isn’t much information that can be concealed. I can make inquiries, if you like, but what does Janie think about this?” “I believe the child is happier now than she’s ever been. Mrs. Grady has given her a good home, and she said that if she contacted her father and he didn’t want her, it would hurt her.
