When Finche went in the next morning, he found out Junior's name was Bobby Meadows. His mother, Denise, had been found, and she was demanding her baby. She called the police, the DCW, the hospital, and the mayor's office, cursing and threatening lawsuits. She called Finche several times at his office, but he "disconnected" her first two calls and unplugged the phone jack after that.
Finche knew that this would go to court, and he would bet a month's salary that it would be a nasty fight. And not a particularly hopeful one, as most judges favored the biological mother in rulings.
Finche agonized over this a few days. He actually cared what happened to the kid, beyond how it would look on his case record. So one day, Finche came into his office and started reviewing the paperwork on Bobby, really pouring over the law books and studying other cases of child abuse and neglect. He would do everything he could to swing the impending case toward the state.

The media got wind of the case of course, and no one -- Finche, nor plaintiff, nor lawyers -- was able to get in and out of the courtrooms easily once the trial began. Denise Meadows and her attorney did a good share of grandstanding, playing the remorseful victim of a deadbeat dad to the hilt. To her credit, her regret seemed genuine, but this didn't sway Finche at all. The state prosecutors were equally as slick, and armed with Finche's research argued the child's safety and even his life over his mother's whims. It was a good strong counteroffensive, but Finche still had doubts whether the state would win the case because of former mother-friendly precedents made by Judge Heimbeckner, who had the bench.
The trial only lasted about a week, not nearly as long as it could have. Bobby got lots of company during the trial; Every day, Finche, Maricio or both would go play with Bobby. He was given a bigger room and toys to play with by the hospital (probably more for Mother's Grace's public relations than actual concern for the child, Finche figured.) The judge gave the mother free access to Bobby, who was obviously terrified of her. During those months, he bit Denise twice, drawing blood once. Finche was glad to note that neither Finche or Maricio were bitten by Bobby, even on his moody days. The press was mercifully barred from coming in and broadcasting pictures of the fabulous "dog-boy," but they always ended up with enough material for daily stories on him somehow. His story even ended up on Dateline.
In short order, the state was awarded custody of the Meadows child, among cries of appeal and mistrial from the defense. He was put in a special home for learning-impaired children in upstate New York. Denise Meadows was denied visitation indefinitely through an injunction. She was shortly thereafter tried for malicious neglect, but she managed to plea down to simple neglect and was sentenced to twelve months of parole.

A few months later, Finche came into his office to see a manila folder sitting on his desk. He never failed to cringe a little at the sight, but he picked it up and turned it over in his hands. He sat in his chair and let his mind wander back.
He often thought of Bobby, who Finche never saw after the trial. But he rested easy knowing that he was better off wherever he was. He hoped that wherever he was, he had a dog to play with. Since fighting for that case he felt more optimistic about his job than ever before, and had handled has cases with enthusiasm that hadn't felt in years. Everyone at the office was happy because he was easier to deal with, Maricio didn't target him with pranks so much, and he even seemed to argue with his wife less back at the home front. Overall, the case had been a good thing for him, though Finche would never in the world do something like that again, if he could at all help it.
He opened the folder and looked at the document inside, which wasn't a case file as Finche expected. It was an offer for promotion to Custody Director of the Department of Child Welfare. Finche leaned back in his chair, not fully believing it. Apparently the higher-ups were pleased with his victory in the high-profile case and his increased performance with his other cases. A promotion. Finche wasn't sure he wanted the extra responsibility, and Custody Director was an administrative job, Finche liked doing things himself rather than delegating. But the 15% pay increase and vacation options sure looked nice. Finche smiled, and decided if he decided to take the job, he would be sure to request Maricio as his assistant, upon whom Finche would unload his toughest paperwork. There was more than one trickster at the office.

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