Chapter 8 - The Legal Tides Turn
The corporate victory was swift, but the true battle remained at home. At 4:30 p.m., two social workers from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services arrived at the Lincoln Park mansion, accompanied by Cassandra’s attorney. They carried an emergency intervention order, authorized by a family court judge who had seen the morning broadcast.
Richard met them in the grand marble foyer. Ethan stood behind him, clutching his father’s trousers, his eyes filled with that familiar, cold terror.
"Mr. Blackwood," the lead social worker, a woman named Clara Harrison, said with a professional detachment. "We are here to execute a temporary placement order for Ethan Blackwood, pending a full investigation into the domestic safety of this residence."
Cassandra’s attorney stepped forward, a smug look on his face. "My client is prepared to take temporary custody to minimize the child's relocation trauma, Your Honor—sorry, Ms. Harrison."
Richard did not move away from the doorway. He reached down, picking Ethan up and holding him against his chest. The boy buried his face into his father’s neck, his small hands locking behind Richard’s collar.
"Ms. Harrison," Richard said, his voice entirely calm, backed by the certainty of a father who had found his purpose. "Before you take my son, I want you to read the medical report that was uploaded to your agency’s portal one hour ago by the Chief of Pediatrics at Chicago Children’s Hospital."
Thomas Vance handed Clara a digital tablet. "The report details four years of chronic nutritional deprivation, psychological intimidation, and forced isolation, all documented by the child’s former stepmother, Cassandra Vale. It also includes the statement from St. Jude Academy's cafeteria supervisor, detailing how the child was forced to hoard food because the kitchen at home was locked by Ms. Vale."
Clara Harrison looked at the tablet, her professional detachment cracking as she skimmed the horrific logs Cassandra had kept. She looked at Cassandra’s attorney, then at the terrified child clinging to Richard’s neck.
"Ms. Harrison," Richard said softly. "Look at my son. He isn't afraid of me. He’s afraid that you are going to send him back to the woman who starved him. I failed him for four years because I was looking at spreadsheets instead of my own house. But I am here now. And if you try to take him out of this doorway, you will have to bring the state militia to do it."
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Clara Harrison stared at Richard for a long, silent moment. She turned to the second social worker. "Cancel the emergency placement order. File an immediate injunction against Cassandra Vale, barring her from coming within one thousand yards of this child or this property. We are shifting this case to a criminal child endangerment investigation."
Cassandra’s attorney turned white, spinning on his heel and leaving the mansion before the front door could close behind him.
