Chapter 2 - The Emergency Order
I stared at the military police officers standing on my porch.
My sister Monica stood safely behind them, feigning a look of deep concern.
"Rachel, please just cooperate so they don't have to use force in front of Eli," Monica said loudly.
I ignored her and focused on the lead officer.
"Show me the warrant," I demanded, relying on my eleven years as a JAG attorney.
The officer handed me a folded document.
I scanned the paper, my legal training kicking in instantly.
It was not an arrest warrant at all.
It was an emergency custody transfer order signed by a civilian judge.
"You are military police," I said smoothly.
"You have no jurisdiction to enforce a civilian family court order off-base."
The officer shifted uncomfortably, realizing I knew exactly what I was talking about.
Dana Reyes stepped out of my living room and onto the porch.
"What is going on here?" the CPS investigator asked.
Monica pointed a shaking finger at me.
"She's unstable and she's trying to resist a lawful order!" my sister cried.
I turned to Dana and handed her the document.
"This is an ex parte order granting temporary custody to my sister," I explained.
"It claims I am deploying to a combat zone in forty-eight hours and abandoning my child."
Dana looked at the paper and then up at me.
"Are you deploying?" she asked.
"I am a shore-based legal officer," I replied.
"I haven't been on deployment orders in four years."
Monica's smile faltered for a fraction of a second.
I pulled out my phone and dialed my commanding officer.
The call went straight to a disconnected number tone.
I tried the base operator, but the line was completely dead.
I looked up to see a black SUV idling at the end of my street.
A man in a dark suit was watching us from the driver's seat.
May you like
He held a phone to his ear, staring directly at me.
And sitting in the passenger seat was my ex-husband, David, the man who had abandoned Eli three years ago.
