Chapter 7 - The Custody Ambush
I sprinted toward Captain Vance's cruiser, throwing myself into the passenger seat before he even had a chance to ask what was wrong.
"Get me to St. Mary's Hospital right now," I ordered, my voice trembling with sheer panic. "Victoria is trying to kidnap my daughter."
Vance hit the lights and sirens, tearing out of the warehouse district and speeding wildly through the city streets.
My mind raced desperately, trying to understand how Victoria could possibly have a legitimate court order to remove Maya from the hospital.
As we swerved through heavy traffic, I pulled up the state's secure judicial database on my phone to check for any emergency filings.
The search results made my blood run completely cold.
Victoria had filed an emergency custody petition exactly an hour ago, claiming that my recent federal arrest for embezzlement made me an unfit and highly dangerous mother.
Because the federal charges against me were still technically active in the system, a corrupt family court judge had blindly rubber-stamped the emergency transfer of custody to Richard's legal wife.
They were using the fake federal frame-up to legally steal my daughter in broad daylight.
Vance slammed on the brakes as we skidded into the hospital's ambulance bay.
I burst out of the cruiser and sprinted through the automatic doors, ignoring the startled security guards in the lobby.
I reached the pediatric wing just in time to see Victoria standing by the elevators, holding a terrified Maya tightly by the arm.
Maya was still wearing her hospital gown, her broken arm hanging awkwardly in the temporary splint, crying hysterically for me.
"Let her go right now, Victoria," I screamed, marching directly toward them with absolute fury.
Victoria turned to face me, completely unfazed, holding up the signed court order like a shield.
"I have temporary legal custody of this child, Elena," Victoria stated coldly. "You are a suspected federal felon, and you have no legal right to interfere."
Two hospital security guards stepped cautiously between us, clearly unsure of how to handle a dispute between a Chief Judge and a woman holding a signed court order.
"Mommy, please don't let her take me," Maya sobbed, trying desperately to pull away from Victoria's tight grip.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only Victoria could hear my lethal promise.
"If you take one step onto that elevator with my daughter, I will personally ensure you spend the rest of your life in a maximum-security prison."
Victoria simply laughed, a hollow, mocking sound that echoed in the hallway.
"Richard already warned me that you were prone to dramatic threats," she sneered, pulling Maya toward the open elevator doors.
I knew I could not physically attack her without risking an assault charge that would permanently ruin my chances of regaining custody.
I needed to invalidate the court order right here and now.
I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and dialed the personal number of the governor of the state.
May you like
"Governor, I need an immediate, executive override on a fraudulent family court order," I demanded the second he answered.
Before the governor could respond, a sudden, massive explosion rocked the entire hospital building, shattering the glass windows at the end of the hallway and plunging the floor into complete darkness.
