Chapter 6 - THE EMERGENCY PETITION
David’s emergency petition was scheduled for review at eight the next morning.
He had chosen a county judge who played golf with Sheriff Benton.
He expected the order to be signed quietly before my attorneys could respond.
He forgot my father had taught me to read court filings before I was old enough to drive.
He also forgot that I had spent four years working as a legal researcher before I married him.
Pain medication made the words move across the page.
I read every line anyway.
David described me as isolated, paranoid, and emotionally unstable.
He attached statements from Sylvia and Sheriff Benton.
Both claimed I had screamed without reason.
Both claimed I had thrown myself into the counter.
Neither mentioned the broken phone.
Neither mentioned the blood.
Neither mentioned David refusing to call an ambulance.
“He filed this while Grace was fighting to breathe,” I said.
My father stood at the window.
“He filed it because he knows the criminal investigation has begun.”
“If he controls your medical decisions, he controls access to your records.”
“If he controls the child, he controls the narrative.”
I looked at him.
“Who can represent me without creating a conflict?”
“Someone who has defeated me twice.”
An hour later, attorney Maya Brooks entered my room wearing a gray suit and snow-covered boots.
She was in her early forties, sharp-eyed and direct.
She did not greet my father like a celebrity.
She nodded once.
“Chief Justice.”
“Counselor.”
Then she turned to me.
“Anna, your father has agreed to stay out of every legal decision.”
“He will receive no private updates from investigators.”
“He will not contact the judge.”
“He will not contact the prosecutor.”
“Do you consent to my representation?”
“Yes.”
Maya opened her laptop.
“Good.”
“Then we begin by destroying this petition with facts.”
At the virtual hearing, David appeared from Sylvia’s study.
He wore a dark suit and looked rested.
Sylvia sat behind him in pearls.
Sheriff Benton joined from his office.
The judge entered at precisely eight.
David spoke first.
“My wife suffered a breakdown caused by pregnancy-related delusions.”
“She attacked my mother and endangered our unborn child.”
Maya waited until he finished.
Then she uploaded the paramedic report.
The report noted bruising on both shoulders consistent with forceful contact.
It documented the broken phone.
It documented my repeated requests for emergency assistance.
Next came Agent Monroe’s recording.
David’s voice filled the courtroom.
“There will be no ambulance.”
“The neighbors will talk.”
The judge’s expression changed.
David looked toward his camera.
“That statement has been taken out of context.”
Maya uploaded Evan’s video.
Sylvia’s voice came first.
“Servants don’t sit with the family.”
Then came the sound of the impact.
Then my voice.
“My baby.”
David’s face went still.
The judge denied his petition.
Then she issued a temporary protective order.
Before ending the hearing, she looked directly at Sheriff Benton.
May you like
“Sheriff, remain online.”
“I have several questions regarding your sworn affidavit.”
