Chapter 6 - THE CUSTODY PETITION

Adam spent four hours inside an interrogation room with no windows.

Lieutenant Ellis sat across from him.

A camera recorded from the corner.

The black medical bag had disappeared into police custody.

The flash drive containing the apartment footage had been taken from Victor’s desk.

Adam had asked for his attorney.

Ellis continued questioning him anyway.

“When did you last see Detective Ortiz?”

“Outside First Chicago Bank.”

“Why was she there?”

“She was assisting me.”

“With what?”

“Evidence connected to the attack on my wife.”

“What evidence?”

“My family records.”

“You removed material from a safe-deposit box.”

“That is not illegal.”

“You refused to tell responding officers what you took.”

“I did not trust them.”

“You mean you did not trust me.”

“I had never met you.”

“You had seen me at Foundation events.”

“That made me trust you less.”

Ellis leaned back.

“Detective Ortiz’s phone contained a photograph of you inside the bank.”

“Someone sent it after taking her.”

“The message instructed you to contact Victor Hale.”

“Yes.”

“You then went to Carter Tower.”

“Yes.”

“Where Mr. Hale claims you attacked him.”

Adam stared at the one-way mirror.

“Victor has not filed a complaint.”

“He does not need to.”

“Then why am I here?”

“Your vehicle was recorded near an industrial property where Ortiz’s blood was found.”

Adam turned back.

“What property?”

“A warehouse owned by Carter Logistics.”

“I have never been there.”

“Your car has.”

“My mother’s office has access to family vehicle records.”

“Your explanation for everything appears to be your mother.”

“My mother entered my apartment with a physician who tried to harm my wife.”

“Allegedly.”

Adam leaned forward.

“Did you watch the building footage?”

“It was corrupted.”

“Victor has a copy.”

“We found no usable recording on the drive.”

Adam went still.

“That is impossible.”

“Mr. Hale may have deceived you.”

“Or your evidence technician replaced the drive.”

Ellis closed the file.

“You are making dangerous accusations.”

“You arrested me while my pregnant wife is under a forged transfer order.”

“The court determined she requires psychiatric evaluation.”

“The declaration used my forged signature.”

“A handwriting analyst will examine it.”

“When?”

“During the proceedings.”

“The transfer is scheduled now.”

Ellis did not respond.

Adam understood.

This was not an investigation.

It was containment.

Evelyn needed him away from the hospital.

Adam stood.

“I want my lawyer.”

“You have already requested one.”

“Then stop asking questions.”

Ellis’s phone vibrated.

He read the message.

His expression tightened.

“You have a visitor.”

“My attorney?”

“Your mother.”

Adam laughed.

“Absolutely not.”

“She claims to have information that may secure your release.”

“I do not need her help.”

Ellis rose.

“You may want to hear what she says.”

Evelyn entered wearing the same cream coat.

She sat across from Adam.

Ellis left them alone.

The camera remained active.

Evelyn looked toward it.

Then she placed her handbag on the table.

“What have you done?” she asked.

Adam stared at her.

“That question belongs to me.”

“You assaulted Victor.”

“He admitted he was in my apartment.”

“Victor admits many things when frightened.”

“He had Mercer’s medical bag.”

“Did he?”

“The police took it.”

“Then I am sure they will find whatever Victor placed inside.”

Adam watched her.

“You framed me for Ortiz’s abduction.”

“I warned you that Lily was manipulating your judgment.”

“Where is Grace Bell?”

For the first time, Evelyn’s expression changed completely.

The color drained from her face.

Adam leaned forward.

“I know her name.”

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the handle of her bag.

“Who told you?”

“My father.”

“Jonathan is dead.”

“He planned for that possibility.”

“You found a recording.”

Adam did not answer.

Evelyn recovered quickly.

“Grace Bell was disturbed.”

“She gave birth to me.”

“Is that what you believe?”

“I have the original certificate.”

“Paper can be forged.”

“Mercer signed both versions.”

“Thomas signed thousands of documents.”

“Where is Grace?”

Evelyn looked toward the camera.

“You do not understand what she is.”

“She is my mother.”

“No.”

The word came out sharper than intended.

Evelyn lowered her voice.

“I am your mother.”

“You raised me inside a lie.”

“I gave you everything.”

“You stole me.”

“I saved you.”

“From what?”

“From a woman who would have destroyed your life.”

“You locked her in a facility.”

“She required care.”

“For thirty-eight years?”

“She remained dangerous.”

“To whom?”

“To you.”

Adam looked at her in disbelief.

Evelyn continued.

“Grace was obsessed with Jonathan.”

“She was carrying his child.”

“She wanted his money.”

“She wanted her son.”

“I was your mother in every way that mattered.”

“A mother does not try to end her son’s child.”

Evelyn’s mouth tightened.

“I tried to prevent a catastrophe.”

“You planned Lily’s pregnancy loss.”

“I arranged an intervention.”

“With a sedative and forged records?”

“Lily had discovered information she could not understand.”

“She understood enough to frighten you.”

“She was going to release documents that would destroy the Foundation.”

“Then the Foundation deserves to be destroyed.”

“You say that because you have never built anything.”

“My father built it.”

“And I preserved it.”

“You murdered him.”

Evelyn stared at him.

“Be careful.”

“Mercer poured his drink.”

“You have no proof.”

“Claire Donovan witnessed the argument.”

“Claire Donovan is a thief.”

“Where is she?”

“I do not know.”

“Where is Detective Ortiz?”

“I do not know.”

“Where is Grace?”

Evelyn opened her handbag.

She removed a document and placed it on the table.

It was a custody petition.

The petitioner was Evelyn Carter.

The requested dependent was the unborn child of Adam and Lily Carter.

Adam read the first page twice.

“What is this?”

“Protection.”

“You are trying to take our baby.”

“The court may grant me temporary guardianship if both parents are determined incapable.”

“You forged my declaration against Lily.”

“You have now been arrested for kidnapping a police officer.”

Adam looked up.

“You created two unfit parents.”

“I created a solution.”

Rage surged through him.

He forced himself to remain seated because the camera was recording.

Evelyn smiled faintly.

“You see how difficult self-control has become for you.”

“You will never touch my son.”

“I already have court approval to oversee his medical welfare.”

“No judge would grant that.”

“Judge Wren did.”

“Your friend.”

“A respected member of the judiciary.”

“A corrupt member.”

Evelyn gathered the papers.

“You can stop this.”

“How?”

“Publicly acknowledge that Lily suffered a psychiatric episode.”

“No.”

“Withdraw the allegations against Thomas.”

“No.”

“Transfer your voting shares to the family trust until you recover from this emotional crisis.”

“No.”

“Then you may remain here while Lily is moved.”

Adam stood.

Evelyn did not move.

“You knew I would be arrested.”

“I knew your behavior would have consequences.”

“You built every step.”

“I gave you choices.”

“No.”

Adam’s voice remained calm.

“You gave me a maze and called each wall a choice.”

Evelyn rose.

“Sign the statement.”

“Never.”

“Then you will lose your wife, your child, and everything Jonathan left you.”

Adam leaned close enough that she could hear him whisper.

“If my father left me nothing but the truth, it would still be more than you ever gave me.”

Evelyn’s eyes hardened.

She turned and knocked on the door.

Before leaving, she looked back.

“Lily will be transferred at six.”

Adam checked the wall clock.

It was 5:27.

He demanded his attorney again.

No one came.

At 5:36, the fire alarm sounded.

Red lights flashed above the door.

Ellis entered with an officer.

“Stand against the wall.”

Smoke drifted through the corridor.

The officer unlocked Adam’s restraints.

A second alarm began.

Ellis reached for his radio.

The lights went out.

Someone struck the officer in the darkness.

Adam heard a body hit the floor.

A hand grabbed his arm.

“Move.”

He recognized Detective Ortiz’s voice.

She pulled him into the corridor.

Emergency lights illuminated the smoke.

Ortiz had a bruise along her jaw but moved quickly.

“You’re alive.”

“Disappointed?”

“Where were you?”

“Victor’s safe apartment.”

“He kidnapped you.”

“He saved me badly.”

They entered a stairwell.

“Did he tell you about the warehouse?”

“Yes.”

“He owns it?”

“Evelyn does through a shell company.”

“My car was recorded there.”

“Your car was cloned.”

“What?”

“Same model, copied plates.”

They descended.

“Why did Ellis arrest me?”

“He works for Judge Wren.”

“Can you prove it?”

“I recorded him speaking to Evelyn.”

They reached the basement.

A black SUV waited near the service exit.

Victor sat behind the wheel.

Adam stopped.

“I’m not going anywhere with him.”

Ortiz shoved him toward the vehicle.

“Your wife is being moved in eighteen minutes.”

Adam climbed inside.

Victor accelerated before the door fully closed.

Ortiz sat in the back beside Adam.

“I saw the custody petition,” Adam said.

“So did I.”

“How do we stop it?”

“We expose the forged declaration.”

“Before six?”

“No.”

Adam looked at the dashboard clock.

“Then what?”

Ortiz checked her weapon.

“We stop the ambulance.”

They reached the hospital at 5:58.

An unmarked medical transport van was pulling away from the loading entrance.

Adam saw Lily through the rear window.

Her eyes were open.

Her wrists were secured to the stretcher.

A man in medical scrubs sat beside her.

He turned toward the glass.

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Dr. Mercer smiled at Adam.

Then the van accelerated into traffic.