Chapter 2 - Nine O’clock
By eight-thirty, my mother's wrist was in a temporary splint and June Alvarez was sitting beside her hospital bed.
June spoke to Helena, not around her.
She explained that the emergency hearing concerned a petition for temporary guardianship and that a judge could reject it, narrow it, or set a later evidentiary hearing.
"You will make your own decisions unless a court determines otherwise," June said.
Mom nodded, relieved by the simple respect of being addressed directly.
A medical social worker conducted an initial assessment and found Mom fully oriented to time, place, and recent events.
The woman documented the injuries and her concern about possible financial abuse.
June arranged for Mom to appear at the hearing by secure video because of her condition.
I went to court only as her daughter.
Miriam had placed another state attorney, Daniel Reese, in charge of reviewing the alleged police misconduct.
I would not see his sealed findings unless he lawfully shared them with our family as complainants.
Arthur was already in the courtroom when I arrived.
Brooke sat beside him with her tiny bandage carefully visible.
Evelyn Price occupied the row behind them.
She wore a pearl-gray jacket and wouldn't look at me.
Across the aisle, a young lawyer named Martin Keene was arranging a stack of papers.
He represented Arthur.
The judge, Patricia Bell, began by asking why an emergency petition had been filed before anyone obtained a current medical evaluation.
Keene pointed to the police incident report.
He claimed Helena had become violent during a household confrontation.
June stood.
"Your Honor, that account is materially disputed, and my client is presently in a hospital with injuries consistent with being attacked."
She submitted the hospital documentation and requested time to test the allegations.
Keene objected that the report was an official record.
Judge Bell removed her glasses.
"An official report is not a substitute for competent evidence, counsel."
Evelyn took the stand.
She testified that Mom had confused payments and misplaced checks.
June asked for the underlying ledgers.
Evelyn said they were in storage.
"Which storage facility?"
"I would have to check."
"Have you personally seen Ms. Carter give ten thousand dollars to a stranger?"
"Arthur told me about it."
June waited.
"So you swore to a fact you did not witness?"
Keene objected.
The judge overruled him.
Evelyn's lips parted, but the answer wouldn't come.
Then June produced a copy of the proposed property-sale order.
"Why would a temporary guardian need authority to sell a longtime residence today?"
Arthur shifted in his chair.
Keene said the sale would prevent mounting expenses.
June laid a one-page bank statement on the lectern.
It showed Mom's accounts in good standing and no delinquent property taxes.
Judge Bell stared at the document for a long moment.
"Emergency relief is denied," she said.
"I am setting a full hearing with proper notice, and I direct the parties to preserve all potentially relevant records."
Arthur appeared briefly unable to breathe.
For one hopeful second, I believed we had stopped them.
Then the clerk handed June a document filed just before the hearing.
It wasn't a guardianship paper.
It was a deed, apparently executed by my mother two months ago, conveying the six acres to a company called Cedar Glen Holdings.
The signature looked like Mom's.
May you like
And the witness signature belonged to me.
