Chapter 8 - The Report.
The charity dinner ended early.
David told guests there had been a private security incident and apologized for the disruption.
Natalie left with a driver after Rachel warned David that physically preventing her from leaving could create legal problems.
Grant disappeared before David could stop him for another conversation.
Owen reviewed every available camera angle.
No recording showed anyone placing the rabbit in David's car.
The garage camera had frozen for nine minutes shortly before the toy disappeared.
David stood beside the torn rabbit on the library table and felt as if someone were dismantling his life one hidden piece at a time.
"They want you to think your own systems cannot be trusted," Rachel said.
"They can't."
"Then we build outside them."
Evelyn sat near the fireplace with Emily's sealed envelope in her lap.
David had not opened it yet.
The condition had been that the rabbit was safe.
Now it was not.
"Open the letter," David said.
Evelyn looked at him.
"Emily was specific."
"Emily is not here."
The words came out harsher than he intended.
Evelyn looked down.
David closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"So am I."
She handed him the envelope.
Before he could break the seal, the front doorbell rang.
Owen's voice came through David's phone.
"Mr. Walker, there are two county family services investigators at the gate."
David stared at Rachel.
"At ten thirty at night?"
Rachel stood.
"Ask if they have an emergency order."
Owen returned to the call a moment later.
"They do."
David's blood went cold.
"For what?"
"Temporary protective supervision of Lucy pending an investigation."
Evelyn whispered, "Natalie."
Rachel held out her hand for the phone.
"Let me speak to them."
David paced while she did.
The investigators had received a report alleging that David had violently attacked Natalie in front of Lucy and that the child had been exposed to escalating conflict in the home.
The report also claimed David was attempting to isolate Lucy from her designated caregiver.
"Designated caregiver," David repeated.
Rachel nodded grimly.
"Those forged papers."
The emergency order did not remove Lucy from the family entirely.
It required that she stay for forty-eight hours with an approved relative or licensed temporary caregiver while the facts were reviewed.
David felt rage burn through him.
"They created the emergency they needed."
"That appears to be the strategy," Rachel said.
"Can we stop it?"
"Not tonight without a judge."
"Then find a judge."
"I am trying."
Evelyn stood.
"I can take Lucy."
David turned toward her.
"You?"
"I am her maternal grandmother."
"A grandmother she has met in secret twice."
"Which still makes me family."
Rachel considered it.
"If family services approves her, that may keep Lucy away from a stranger."
David hated every option.
He hated even more that the people behind this had anticipated his reaction.
The investigators entered the house fifteen minutes later.
One was a calm woman named Dana Ellis.
She spoke softly to David and did not treat him like a criminal.
That almost made the situation worse.
"Mr. Walker, this is temporary," she said.
"Temporary is still one night my daughter spends thinking I sent her away."
"I understand you're upset."
"Do you understand these documents are forged?"
Rachel handed Dana copies of the guardianship forms.
Dana studied them.
"The court accepted them this afternoon."
"How?"
"They were filed with electronic verification attached."
Rachel's eyes sharpened.
"Whose verification?"
Dana turned the page.
"Jonathan Hale."
David almost expected the name.
"Where is Hale now?"
"I don't know."
Dana continued reading.
"There is also a sworn statement from Natalie Mercer."
"Of course there is."
"And one from Grant Keller."
David went still.
Rachel looked at him.
"What does Grant say?"
Dana hesitated.
"He says Mr. Walker has shown increasing anger since his wife's death and that tonight's incident was not the first time he has lost control."
David laughed once in disbelief.
"Grant has never seen me hurt anyone."
"I'm not making a finding tonight."
"But you're taking my daughter."
"I'm following an order."
Lucy began crying when Maria carried her downstairs.
David's anger vanished beneath a deeper pain.
He knelt and held out his arms.
Lucy ran the few unsteady steps toward him.
"Daddy."
"I'm right here."
He hugged her tightly.
"You're going with Nana Eve for one sleep."
Lucy shook her head.
"Daddy come."
David swallowed hard.
"I can't tonight, sweetheart."
"Daddy come."
He closed his eyes against her hair.
Evelyn looked away.
Dana gave them another minute.
Then Lucy had to go.
David stood on the front steps and watched Evelyn's car disappear through the gate.
He felt empty enough to break.
Rachel came outside holding her tablet.
"David, I found something in the court filing."
He did not turn around.
"What now?"
"The electronic verification attached to your signature is real."
David looked at her.
"I didn't sign it."
"I know."
"Then how is it real?"
Rachel turned the screen toward him.
The verification had been generated by a secure signing device registered to David himself.
The device had not been stolen.
According to the system, it had been used from inside Walker House at 4:12 that afternoon.
At 4:12, David had been in a board meeting downtown.
Someone inside his home had copied not only his signature.
May you like
They had copied his identity.
Page
