Chapter 3 - The Gathering Storm
The next seventy-two hours passed in a blur of sterile rooms, fluorescent lighting, and endless official questioning.
Because of the physical evidence—the medical evaluation confirmed Lizzy was severely underweight, suffering from mild dehydration, and bore matching friction marks on her wrists—the state placed an emergency temporary hold on her custody. Gloria and Walt’s legal guardianship was suspended pending a formal hearing.
CPS Investigator Sarah Vance was a tired-looking woman in her late forties with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor. She sat in our living room three days later while Lizzy slept upstairs in our guest room, surrounded by stuffed animals Adam and Noah had bought her.
"Your parents have already retained a high-powered family law attorney," Vance told Adam and me, adjusting her glasses as she reviewed her notebook. "They are claiming that Natalie broke into their home, assaulted them, and abducted Lizzy. They’ve filed a police report for burglary and felony child abduction."
"They locked her in a closet!" I said, my hands shaking as I held a mug of tea that had long since gone cold. "I have the pictures! I have the call log!"
"I know, Natalie. And those pictures are the only reason you aren't sitting in a jail cell right now," Vance said gently. "The police investigated the scene. They saw the broken window and the unscrewed latch. But your mother is very clever. She told the police that you brought the latch and installed it yourself while they were sleeping to create fake evidence."
Adam scoffed in disbelief. "That's insane! Who does that?"
"Desperate people," Vance replied. "Your parents have a spotless record. Walt is a retired city inspector; Gloria serves on three charity boards. To the outside world, they are pillars of the community who stepped up when their addict son couldn't raise his daughter. You, on the other hand, have a broken window and a forced entry on your hands."
"What about Ian?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. "My brother. He’s in rehab, but he’s her father. Can’t he speak up?"
Vance sighed softly. "Ian’s parental rights were temporarily suspended when he entered the court-mandated treatment program. Right now, he has no legal standing to grant you custody. The state has temporary custody, but the emergency shelter hearing is in four days. If the judge decides your parents' home is suitable, or if they manage to convince the court that you are an unfit caregiver due to the burglary charge, Lizzy will be returned to them."
My blood ran cold. The thought of Lizzy being handed back to Gloria— knowing that Gloria would punish her for calling me—was a nightmare I couldn't stomach.
That night, after Noah and Lizzy were asleep, Adam and I sat at the kitchen table surrounded by folders, photographs, and legal documents.
"We need a lawyer who doesn't flinch," Adam said, pulling up a list of top family law attorneys in the state. "And we need proof that Gloria and Walt have been doing this long before tonight."
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"They have," I whispered, staring down at my hands. "They did it to Ian. When we were kids, whenever Ian misbehaved, Mom would lock him in the basement pantry for hours. She called it 'cleansing the spirit.' Ian turned to drugs because he couldn't escape her. I thought... I thought because I was the 'good' child, they were fine. I was blind, Adam. I let them take Lizzy because I thought they had changed."
Adam reached across the table and took my hand, squeezing tightly. "You saved her, Nat. You broke a window and you pulled her out of the dark. Now we just have to finish the job."
