Besides you are not entirely to blame."
"You don't know that, Jan."
"What I do know is the mother, the boyfriend, the child protection system and the medical care professions have all failed to protect Baby George."
"How are they to be blame, Jan?"
"Listen to me, Naomi, there was a systematic failure of communication between the different agencies together with a combination of a lack of skills, inexperience, inadequate resources and a lack of support from senior social workers resulted in the death of Baby George."
"A disaster was waiting to happen, Naomi."
"Wow, I didn't see it like that. What should I do now, Jan?" said Naomi.
"You must join the union and get some legal advice immediately. There is no time to waste."
"I have never thought about joining a trade union before."
"Don't let the management make you into a scapegoat, Naomi. They need to be made accountable too for their lack of support and supervision of you in managing this case."
"Have you got the trade union phone number?"
"Yes. It's in my mobile phone. Here it is."
"Thank you for your support, Jan. I'll ring them straight away."
There was no one available at the trade union branch to answer Naomi phone call.
Eight
A few moments later, Gilbert Walker entered into the main admin section of the open office with a smirk on his face. He obviously knew about the email sent out to Naomi as he was well informed by his wife, Sangeeta Walker, the out of hour's social worker who was the author of the email. Sangeeta was an Indian woman who gained her British citizenship through marriage to Gilbert. She spent years retraining as a social worker at the University of Upper Ashworth. In contrast, Gilbert was employed by the council as an unqualified social worker who had gained his social work qualifications whilst working for the council.
They lived in Upper Ashworth, in a mainly middle class, white suburban area mile away from the poor minority communities of Lower Ashworth. Gilbert resented the council for giving permission to private builders who built social housing rented properties for the unemployed on his housing estate.
"Why am I paying a mortgage for my house when my next door neighbours who live in a brand new three bedroom house have never worked a day in their lives? They all have their housing cost paid."
"There are not enough jobs out there," said Sarah.
For Gilbert, the lack of employment opportunities for the poor was not due to the decline in the manufacturing sector but the main factor was the work-shy culture of the poor.
He hated Naomi with a passionate because she had challenged him about his refusal to assess the mental health needs of a client. A few days later the same client had killed himself and is two of his children when he was separated from his wife. Naomi was proven right to Gilbert disgust. But she was more concerned about the deceased than proving a point. She didn't like playing mind games with people lives whilst Gilbert wanted to get his revenge and the death of Baby George gave him the opportunity to get even with Naomi.
"Why are you looking so pleased with yourself, Gilbert," laughed Sarah, the admin officer.
"You don't want to know, Sarah," teased Gilbert.
"Know what, Gilbert," said Jan.
"Naomi is in deep shit."
"Don't you be so vulgar, Gilbert" and "Please don't you forget that there are some ladies here present," argued Jan.
"Speak for yourself, Jan," said Sarah.
"I am speaking for myself, Sarah."
There were loud giggles and laughter echoing throughout the open office making Naomi feel unease. At that point, Naomi walked straight into the admin office and collected her post. The admin office went suddenly quiet. The faces in the office ranged from one of amusement to one of sincerity. At the first sighting of Naomi they lowered their heads glancing directly at their computers trying to avoid eye to eye contact with her. News of the email had travelled to them by courtesy of Gilbert. Naomi had a sixth sense. She knew intuitively that they were aware of Baby George. She had a gut feeling deep within her stomach.
"What's going on here?" said Naomi.
"Nothing is going on here," claimed Sarah.
"There is obviously something going on here. What is it?"
"An email is going around the office about the death of a baby."
"Who is sending out this email?"
"It doesn't matter who is sending out the email. You are better out than in, Naomi."
"What do you mean by that, Gilbert?"
"Let me be plain speaking, Naomi."
"I don't expect anything less from you, Gilbert."
"If you had followed the child protection procedures Baby George would still be alive today," argued Gilbert grudgingly.
"I admit I have made a few mistakes but I am not a danger to children," replied Naomi.
"Naomi is not admitting to anything and she has withdrawn those comments categorically."
"Who appointed you as her attorney, Jan?"
"How dare you, Gilbert," said Jan.
"What have I said?"
"You are accusing Naomi of not following the child protection procedure when you had already known that the senior managers, the hospital staff, the school and the police have dismally failed to talk to each other."
"Yes, but Naomi had a duty of care to carry out an assessment on Baby George."
"How do you know that Naomi had not carried out an assessment?"
"I don't. But I assumed they weren't completed."
"Don't you assume any, Gilbert?"
"Do you know if the other agencies involved had carried out an assessment on Baby George?"
"No."
"But you are willing to hang Naomi out to dry without any substantial evidence, Gilbert. It is not Naomi's fault? It is the failure of the system," answered Jan.
The whole admin staff team was in totally silent and fazed by the row between Naomi, Gilbert and Jan. Office morale was low and divided. The conversation between them shifted from being rational to that of animosity.
"Have you got a problem with me, Gilbert?" argued Naomi.
"Why don't you get another job, Naomi?" said Gilbert.
"No!" said Naomi.
"Why don't you leave her alone, Gilbert?" said Jan.
"Just read the email, Jan," said Gilbert.
"Why don't you get a life, Gilbert?"
"You can talk, Jan. When was the last time you went out on a dinner date?"
"I don't need a man to make me feel complete. Don't get to any wrong ideas about my sexuality I am just like any other women who like real men. Men who have substance and they are not flaky like you, Gilbert.
"Sangeeta has no complains in that department."
"That is not what she has been telling the team."
"What has she been telling the team, Jan?"
"It is not for me to say, but for you to find out."
"At least I have someone to go home to."
"I may not have someone to go home to. But, at least I'm not living a lie, Gilbert."
"What do you mean by that statement, Jan?"
"You know exactly what I meant, Gilbert."
"No, I don't. Why don't you enlighten me on my lifestyle, Jan?"
"Don't delude yourself, Gilbert. Your whole life is a lie. Everything about you is a lie."
"Why don't you explain yourself, Jan?"
"Forget it, Gilbert. It's nothing, really."
"Jan, you are just full of hot air," laughed Gilbert.
"Don't you dare laugh at me, Gilbert?"
Gilbert persisted in humiliating and belittling Jan in front of the staff. He told them Jan was too ugly to have a boyfriend. Jan became increasingly furious with Gilbert continuous taunting of her. She exploded on him in an unfamiliar way.
"Your marriage to Sangeeta is a sham. Your marriage has been over for years."
"You don't know what you are talking about, Jan. You don't know anything about my marriage to Sangeeta,"
replied an even angrier Gilbert.
"You are in total denial, Gilbert. You are only deluding yourself that your marriage is a happy one. Well it isn't. Your marriage is a sham. Get real and do something about it."
"My marriage is no sham, Jan. I admit we have an open marriage. But that is none of your damn business, Jan."
"Your marriage is none of my business. But it is my business when Sangeeta has the hot for one of my female friend."
"You're telling me lies, Jan."
"Am I, Gilbert."
"You are only jealous."
"I am not jealous of a marriage which is open to others. I believe in a strictly monogamous relationship only."
Gilbert's face was a picture of embarrassment. He was caught out. His marriage to Sangeeta was evidently flawed. They lived like brothers and sisters. They became less intimate with each other. There was no more hugging and kissing of each other ever since they cared for their disabled child. They were both far too physically and mentally exhausted from feeding, lifting, washing and supporting their son that they had forgotten to spend quality time together over the years. They decided to stay together for the sake of their son and to have an open marriage. The marriage became one of convenience.
"I'm sorry, Gilbert. I hadn't meant to say that. You've got me quite annoyed."
"I am having minor problems in my marriage. It's just an itch. It will be right as rain, you'll see."
"I am sure it will be okay. Here is the telephone number of a friend who is a marriage counsellor."
"Thanks, but no thank you."
"I am trying to help you, Gilbert."
"I don't need your help, Jan."
Gilbert walked away sulking without saying another word to the admin team. He was extremely annoyed with Jan. The admin team turned their attention towards Jan. The lioness pride had set their sight for the kill. But, Jan was saved by the telephone ringing in the background.
"Naomi, there is a