Chapter 4: The Evidence
981 Words
Marcus's POV
The phone felt like a ticking bomb in my hand, Sarah's face had gone pale as she stared at the photo on the screen our intimate photo. The one that could destroy everything we had just started rebuilding, and give David an upper hand against us.
"David was watching." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"He knows where we are."
I forced my voice to stay calm. "He's trying to scare you, this changes nothing, Sarah just be calm please." I said with a soft plea.
But inside, I was calculating, David had moved faster than I anticipated. The photo was professional quality, taken with a long-range lens.
He hadn't just sent thugs this time he'd hired professionals.
"We need to move." I told her, already gathering our things.
"This location is compromised."
While Sarah dressed, I made calls. My security team would sweep the perimeter. My paralegal would file motions to block the photo as illegally obtained evidence. But I knew David he would have anticipated every legal move.
The drive to the new safe house was silent. Sarah stared out the window, her knuckles white where she gripped the door handle.
I wanted to comfort her, to tell her everything would be alright. But I'd made that promise once before, ten years ago, and failed to keep it.
The new safe house was more secure top-floor apartment with reinforced doors and my own security team stationed downstairs. As soon as we entered, Sarah turned to me.
"What happens now?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.
"Now we fight back harder." I said. "David wants you scared, he wants you to make mistakes."
"But......Sarah was about talking, when the buzzing of her phone interrupted.
"Sarah speaking." She said gently, I couldn't hear the conversation, but I could see colour draining from Sarah's face as she ended the call, her hands trembling dangerously she looked like she would slump at any moment.
"Sarah!" I exclaimed helping her to the nearest sofa.
"Sarah what did the caller say?" I asked fearing for the worst.
She hugged herself, looking younger than her years.
"He has Chloe Marcus, he has my daughter."
The pain in her voice cut through me.
"How? I thought you gave the school, orders not to release chole to anyone except you?" I asked confused.
"Mrs Dale, just called. She said David stomped the school, with some policemen and a court order, granting him custody of chole." She explained softly trying to stiff her sob, her right brows were trembling, something does anytime she is trying to stop herself from crying.
"We'll get her back i promise, don't cry Sarah."
But immediately as I said the words, my phone buzzed with another alert. David had filed an emergency motion with the family court, attaching the photo and alleging "moral unfitness." The hearing was set for 9 AM tomorrow.
I showed Sarah the notice, I noticed her breath caught sharply. "That's impossible, how can they schedule a hearing that fast?"
"The same way they can grant custody to one parent, without invite both parents. David owns the judge Sarah." I said oddly calm.
"Or at least, he owns enough people who know the judge."
We worked through the night, preparing our response, I called in every favor I had reaching out to colleagues who owed me, former clients with connections but nothing could suffice, David's influence ran deep, deeper than I'd realized.
At dawn, as we gathered our documents for court, Sarah looked exhausted but determined. "What are our chances?"
"Honestly?" I met her gaze and she nodded.
"Not good, it's zero to ten. But we're not done fighting."
Creek courthouse
Marcus Pov
The courtroom felt different this time from how it always feel to me. This time it felt hostile. David sat at the opposite table, surrounded by three lawyers, he didn't even look at us as we entered.
When the judge called the case, David's lead attorney stood. "Your Honor, we have evidence that Mrs Vance is engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her attorney while her daughter remains in protective custody."
He presented the photo. The judge examined it, her expression unreadable.
"Mr Thorne?" she said, turning to me.
"Care to explain this?"
I stood, keeping my voice even. "Your Honor, this photo was obtained through illegal surveillance.”
“Furthermore, it shows two consenting adults in a private moment, which has no bearing on Mrs Vance's capabilities as a mother."
David's lawyer jumped in. "This shows a pattern of poor judgment and moral failure!"
The judge held up a hand, silencing him. She studied me for a long moment. "Mr Thorne is correct about the surveillance laws, however..." She turned her sharp gaze to Sarah. "I am deeply troubled by this appearance of impropriety."
She set the photos aside. "For now, current custody arrangements remain unchanged. But I'm ordering a full psychological evaluation for Mrs Vance, and I'm warning you, Mr Thorne one more misstep, and I will not only remove you from this case but report you to the bar association."
She banged her gavel. "Court adjourned."
As the judge left, Sarah sagged in relief but I knew better. We had survived this round, but barely.
Outside the courtroom, David finally approached us. "Round one goes to you." he said softly.
"But the fight's just beginning."
After he walked away, Sarah turned to me. "We won, didn't we?"
"Not even close." I said grimly.
"He wanted the psychological evaluation ordered, that was his goal all along."
My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a notification from the bar association, a formal complaint had been filed against me citing.
"gross ethical violations."
I showed Sarah the message. Her face fell.
"What does this mean?"
"It means." I said quietly.
"That David just proved he can reach me too, and this is only his opening move."
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