Chapter 8 - The Emergency Order
It was a Tuesday afternoon when the storm hit the Vance estate, not from the sky, but from the legal system.
Julian was in the library, helping Lily with her math homework, while Clara was in the garden with Artie.
The heavy brass knocker on the front door echoed through the house. Mrs. Gable opened the door to reveal two state social workers in dark suits, accompanied by three Boston police officers.
"Can I help you?" Mrs. Gable asked, her voice instantly turning defensive.
"We are here to execute an emergency custody order for the minors, Lily Vance and Arthur Vance Jr.," the lead social worker said, holding up a official-looking document. "There have been allegations of illegal human experimentation, genetic harvesting, and an unsafe environment."
Julian strode into the foyer, his winter-blue eyes instantly turning to ice as he saw the police officers. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Mr. Vance," the social worker said, her voice professional but cold. "We have a court order signed by Judge Raymond of the family court. We are removing the children from your custody pending a full investigation into the legality of their births."
"You are not touching my children," Julian said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low vibration that made the police officers instinctively reach for their belts.
"Mr. Vance, please," the lead officer said, stepping forward. "We don't want any trouble. We are just executing the court's order. If you resist, we will have to arrest you."
Elias Mercer stepped out from the hallway, his hand resting near his lapel. "Julian," he said quietly. "Don't. If you fight them now, they’ll use it to claim you’re unstable. We fight this in the courtroom."
Julian’s chest rose and fell with heavy, ragged breaths. He looked at Lily, who had run to the top of the stairs, her face pale with terror as she looked down at the police.
"Dad?" she cried. "Are they going to take us back?"
Julian walked up the stairs, kneeling beside her and pulling her into a tight, protective embrace. "No, Lily. No one is taking you. I promise you. I need you to go with Mrs. Gable for just a few minutes. I am going to resolve this."
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He turned back to the social workers, his face a mask of absolute, terrifying resolve.
"Tell Charles Harrington and Thomas Sterling that they have just made the worst mistake of their lives," Julian said. "I am going to bring this entire city’s political system down by morning."
