Chapter 5 - The Legal Ambush
I instinctively pulled Lily tighter against my chest, taking a defensive step backward into the foyer.
"These accusations are completely insane," I shouted at the man in the gray suit.
"My wife is the one who was arrested for child abuse two days ago!"
The social worker remained completely expressionless, tapping a finger against the thick legal folder.
"Mrs. Carter's charges were dropped this morning due to a lack of concrete evidence," he stated.
"The court order demands that the child be placed in state custody pending a full psychiatric evaluation of both parents."
I looked out onto the street and saw a marked police cruiser parked behind Vanessa's black SUV.
An actual uniformed officer was standing by the car, watching the confrontation with a neutral expression.
If I tried to physically fight these people, I would be arrested for assaulting a state worker.
That would instantly destroy any legal chance I had of keeping my daughter.
Maria stood behind me, crying silently as she packed a small diaper bag for Lily.
With a shattered heart, I gently handed my crying daughter over to the social worker.
"I am going to get you back, I promise," I whispered to Lily as a tear rolled down my cheek.
Vanessa let out a cruel, condescending laugh.
"You will never see her again, Ethan," Vanessa whispered so only I could hear.
As the social worker turned around to walk down the steps, his collar shifted slightly in the wind.
For a fraction of a second, I saw a distinctive, jagged black scorpion tattoo on the side of his neck.
My blood instantly ran ice cold.
I had seen that exact same tattoo on a shady private investigator Vanessa had hired years ago.
This was not a legitimate government operation sanctioned by a judge.
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The court documents were flawless forgeries, and the police officer on the street was likely a paid actor.
I was watching my daughter being kidnapped right in front of my eyes.
