Chapter 8 - In the Judge’s Chambers
Judge Thorne called an immediate thirty-minute recess, ordering me, Julian, Hayes, the child advocate, and the district attorney into her private chambers.
Maya was taken to a secure, child-friendly waiting room under the protection of two female officers, clutching Barnaby and eating a cup of ice cream Sarah had brought her.
Inside the wood-paneled chambers, the atmosphere was suffocating. Julian was seated between two armed bailiffs, his wrists still bound in stainless steel.
Judge Thorne sat behind her massive desk, looking down at a stack of freshly printed search warrants presented by DA Wright.
"Mr. Hayes," the judge began. "Do you have anything to say before I issue emergency injunctive relief?"
Hayes cleared his throat, looking thoroughly defeated. "Your Honor, I have formally filed my petition to withdraw. My client intentionally misled me, provided forged documents to my office, and committed multiple felonies in my presence. I cannot ethically continue representation."
"Withdrawal granted," Judge Thorne said curtly. She turned her eyes onto Julian. "Mr. Vance, your emergency custody petition is dismissed with extreme prejudice."
Julian looked up, his eyes bloodshot and full of venom. "You think she's innocent?" he hissed, glaring at me. "Clara is a calculating, vindictive snake! She spent months gathering those records behind my back! What kind of wife audits her own husband?!"
"A wife who realized she was married to a sociopath," I answered without hesitation.
Judge Thorne leaned forward, resting her elbows on her blotter. "Mr. Vance, you systematically abused the legal system to terrorize a mother and child. You planted surveillance to stalk your wife, then inadvertently recorded your own conspiracies. You bribed a licensed psychiatrist to falsify mental health records, and you planned to abduct your child to an extradition-free jurisdiction."
May you like
She pulled out her pen.
"I am issuing an immediate, permanent protective order prohibiting you from coming within one thousand yards of Clara Vance or Maya Vance. I am granting Clara Vance sole physical and sole legal custody of Maya, effective this very second."
