Chapter 13 - The Investigator's Visit
The knock on the door came at mid-afternoon, a sharp, official sound that made the entire house feel tense.
Mark opened the door to find a woman in her late forties, wearing a professional gray suit and carrying a leather clipboard.
"Mr. Miller? I'm social worker Diana Ross from Child Protective Services," she said, her expression neutral and unreadable.
"Yes, please come in," Mark said, stepping aside and forcing his voice to remain calm and polite.
Diana stepped into the entryway, her sharp eyes scanning the neat, clean living room immediately.
"I am here regarding a report filed containing allegations of neglect and emotional distress concerning your daughter, Emma."
"I am aware," Mark said, gesturing for her to take a seat on the sofa. "And I have something you need to see before we begin."
He handed her the folder containing the police report, the digital forensic logs, and the pending restraining order petition.
"This report was filed by a woman named Evelyn Vance, who is currently under active police investigation for extortion against me."
"She filed this false accusation less than twelve hours after I discovered her fraud and demanded she leave my life."
Diana looked surprised, her professional demeanor shifting slightly as she accepted the documents and began to read.
As she scanned through the police report, her eyebrows raised, the gravity of the situation becoming clear to her.
"This is quite substantial, Mr. Miller," Diana said, looking up from the paperwork with a softer expression.
"However, my primary duty is to evaluate the well-being of the child, regardless of the source of the report."
"Of course," Mark agreed completely. "Emma is upstairs in her room. You are welcome to speak with her privately."
Mark led Diana up the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest as he knocked on Emma's bedroom door. "Emma? The lady is here to talk to you."
The door opened, and Emma stood there, holding her teddy bear tightly against her chest, her face pale but determined.
Diana smiled warmly, dropping to her knees to bring herself to Emma's eye level. "Hi, Emma. I'm Diana."
"Can we sit down and talk for a little bit? Just you and me?"
Emma looked at her father, who gave her a reassuring nod and a soft smile, before she turned back to Diana.
May you like
"Okay," Emma said softly, stepping back to let the investigator into her sanctuary.
Mark closed the door gently, standing in the hallway alone, praying that his daughter's innocence would shine through the lies.
