Chapter 13 - NINETY MINUTES
We arrived at court with too little sleep and too much evidence.
Carmen arrived in cream-colored wool and pearls.
She looked like a grieving grandmother.
Daniel came separately.
He sat behind me.
Lena whispered, “Do not react to anything.”
Carmen’s new lawyer painted me as an absent executive mother who abandoned her child for work.
He said Carmen had provided daily care.
He said Daniel feared my temper.
Then he said the balcony incident was a misunderstanding.
Lena stood.
“May we play the video?”
Carmen’s face changed.
The judge watched Camila behind the glass.
Watched Daniel glance toward her.
Watched Carmen eat dinner.
Then Ms. Gomez testified about the hospital report.
Dr. Patel’s notes were admitted.
Valeria’s timestamps were admitted.
The judge looked at Daniel.
“Did you know your child was outside?”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
My chest tightened even though I already knew.
“Why didn’t you bring her in?”
Daniel looked toward Carmen.
Then toward me.
“Because my mother told me not to.”
The judge’s expression hardened.
“And you obeyed?”
Daniel’s voice broke.
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Carmen whispered, “Daniel.”
He didn’t look at her.
The judge granted me temporary sole physical custody and ordered supervised visitation for Daniel pending investigation.
Carmen was ordered to have no contact with Camila.
I should have felt relief.
Instead, Lena squeezed my arm.
“Wait.”
The judge turned to Carmen’s attorney.
“There is another matter.”
A court officer approached the table.
He handed the judge a sealed envelope.
She opened it, read one page, then looked directly at Carmen.
“Mrs. Ruiz, law enforcement has submitted evidence that the notarized custody declaration attached to your petition may be fraudulent.”
Carmen’s lawyer went pale.
The judge continued.
“And the notary whose seal appears on it died eight months before the document was supposedly signed.”
May you like
Every head in the courtroom turned toward Carmen.
For the first time, she had no answer.
