The chief took Patricia’s papers.
He studied the signature.
Then he looked at me again.
“Do you recognize this as yours?”
“No.”
Patricia finally realized.
Her face went white.
“You’re actually a judge?”
“Superior Court.”
Melissa whispered, “Daniel said you stayed home.”
“I was on maternity leave.”
Chief Cole ordered Patricia and Melissa separated.
Patricia suddenly shouted, “She’s abusing her position!”
I shook my head.
“No. Which is why I won’t touch this case.”
She looked confused.
I continued evenly.
“An independent prosecutor can handle the forgery, coercion, unlawful restraint, and attempted removal of my child.”
Then the door opened again.
Daniel walked in.
He saw the officers.
He saw his mother.
Then the papers in Chief Cole’s hand.
His face told me Patricia had been truthful about one thing.
He knew.
“Emily,” Daniel whispered.
I had never heard fear in Daniel’s voice.
Now every syllable shook.
“Tell me you didn’t sign those documents.”
He looked at his mother.
Patricia spoke first.
“Don’t say anything.”
That was my answer.
Daniel sat down slowly.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”
My chest constricted.
“There was a version of stealing our daughter that was supposed to happen better?”
“No! Mom said Melissa was desperate. She said the papers were just to establish temporary custody if you became overwhelmed.”
“You signed them?”
He buried his face in his hands.
“Yes.”
Patricia snapped, “Stop talking!”
Chief Cole immediately had Daniel separated from us.
A hospital attorney arrived, followed by another administrator.
The original papers went into a sealed evidence envelope.
The room Patricia had entered like a queen was now a crime scene.
I stayed in bed.
I didn’t scream.
I didn’t threaten anyone.
I held both babies while trained professionals handled everything.
That frightened Patricia more than anger could.
“You’re destroying this family!” she screamed as police escorted her toward the door.
I looked at her.
“No. You tried to turn my daughter into compensation for Melissa’s infertility.”
Melissa broke into tears.
“You don’t understand what it’s like!”
“You’re right,” I said quietly.
“But grief does not give you ownership of another woman’s child.”
Daniel tried to come closer.
An officer blocked him.
“Emily, please. I made a mistake.”
“A mistake is forgetting an anniversary.”
I looked at the forged papers.
“This required meetings, signatures, planning, and an infant carrier.”
