Chapter 3 - The Staged Photos
The CPS agent handed a thick manila envelope directly to Judge Lawson.
"We received an anonymous tip this morning containing photographic evidence of severe child neglect," the agent stated.
Judge Lawson pulled a stack of glossy photographs out of the envelope.
I leaned forward and caught a terrifying glimpse of the pictures.
They showed my pristine home completely trashed, with empty liquor bottles and dangerous prescription pills scattered across my sons' beds.
I instantly knew that Paige had taken those staged photographs when she visited the house under the guise of dropping off corporate paperwork last week.
"Mommy, what is happening?" Emmett cried as a police officer gently pulled him away from my side.
Wyatt tried to bravely step in front of his brother, but he was completely overpowered by the authorities.
I screamed and lunged toward my children, but a bailiff physically restrained me by my shoulders.
Barrett rushed forward and dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms protectively around the crying boys.
"Don't worry, boys, Daddy is going to fix all of this," Barrett whispered, playing the role of the perfect, devastated father.
I looked desperately toward the bench, tears streaming freely down my face.
"Please, Your Honor, grant me a brief recess so I can call my longtime family doctor to clear this up!" I begged.
Judge Lawson looked deeply conflicted, but she slowly nodded her head.
"You have exactly fifteen minutes, Mrs. O'Connell."
I sprinted out of the courtroom and frantically dialed Dr. Aris Thorne's emergency cell phone number.
The phone rang three times before someone finally picked up the line.
"Hello, Dr. Thorne, I need your help immediately," I sobbed into the receiver.
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The voice that answered the phone did not belong to my trusted doctor.
"Dr. Thorne is unfortunately indisposed at the moment, Loretta," Douglas Croft chuckled darkly through the speaker.
