Chapter 9 - The Roadside Showdown
Detective Miller stepped out of his car
raising his hand to stop the local deputies who were moving forward.
"Hold on a minute
gentlemen,"
Miller called out
his voice commanding respect.
"This is an active investigation out of Cook County
Chicago."
The sharp-suited lawyer stepped forward
shaking the paperwork in Miller's face.
"We have a signed emergency order from a judge
Detective,"
the lawyer sneered.
"Megan Evans is to be remanded to the care of her legal guardian
Linda Evans
immediately."
I opened my door and stepped out
standing beside Miller
my anger giving me a strength I didn't know I possessed.
"She is my wife!"
I shouted at the lawyer
then looked directly at my mother.
"You are a monster
Linda
and everyone is going to know what you did."
My mother's expression didn't change
remaining smooth and unaffected.
"Jake
darling
you are under her spell,"
she said softly
trying to sound like a grieving parent.
"The girl is sick
she needs medical attention that you can't provide."
"Look at how you've dragged her out here to this filthy cabin."
One of the local deputies
an older man with a gruff demeanor
stepped between us.
"Detective Miller
we have to honor this court order
it's valid in this jurisdiction,"
the deputy said
looking at me with suspicion.
"The order was obtained under fraudulent terms
Deputy,"
Miller countered
stepping closer.
"I have just witnessed evidence of severe physical abuse on the victim
inflicted by Linda Evans."
The crowd went silent for a second
the accusation hanging heavily in the cold air.
My mother's smile faltered for a brief moment
her eyes narrowing into slits of pure venom.
"That's a lie!"
she snapped
her composure slipping.
"She did that to herself
she's unstable!"
"We are going to an independent hospital right now to get a forensic medical exam,"
Miller stated firmly.
"If your order is valid
it can wait until a doctor verifies her condition."
The lawyer whispered something into my mother's ear
his face pale.
They knew that an independent evaluation would ruin their plans.
"We are enforcing the order now
Deputy,"
the lawyer demanded
turning back to the local law enforcement.
"If you don't assist us
we will sue the department for negligence."
The local deputy looked conflicted
torn between the legal paperwork and the word of a Chicago detective.
He reached for his handcuffs
stepping toward my car.
"Sir
I need your wife to step out of the vehicle,"
he said to me.
My heart stopped
the nightmare becoming real as they prepared to tear my family apart.
Suddenly
the back door of my car opened.
Megan stepped out
holding the blue blanket around her waist
her face set in an expression of fierce defiance.
"You want to see if I'm crazy?"
she shouted
her voice echoing through the woods.
"Look at what she did to me!"
She dropped the blanket completely
revealing her legs
which were covered in deep
dark contusions that looked horrific in the bright daylight.
The local deputies stopped in their tracks
their faces filling with disgust as they looked at the injuries.
"She did this to me because I wouldn't let her control our baby,"
Megan cried
pointing her finger directly at my mother.
May you like
The visual evidence was undeniable
and the legal paperwork in the lawyer's hand suddenly felt very worthless.
