Because of the very public nature of Ari’s disappearing act, Lydia Coogan was able to get an audience with the judge within twenty-four hours of her return. It was only through the fast-talking of Robert Barth that Pru and any of the family were present for the occasion to present their side. It wasn’t enough time for Robert to work up any kind of a solid defense. They’d barely had time to fill him in on what was actually happening before making the collective pilgrimage to the courthouse, where they were nearly late for lack of parking.
“All rise for the Honorable Jefferson Moseley.”
As she got to her feet, arm tight around Ari, Pru felt the first glimmer of hope. Judge Moseley had been on the bench since God was a boy. He himself had presided over her own adoption and that of all her s
