Chapter 8 - THE LAWYER WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
The name was Voss Document Services. Its owner, Adrian Voss, had once handled loan closings for small businesses around Dallas. His license had been suspended after complaints about questionable documents, but he still worked as a private consultant.
Chen obtained records before visiting his office. Rebecca separately petitioned to preserve any material relevant to the civil financial claims. Neither wanted a careless search to give the defense an opening.
At the hotel, Daniel tried to make breakfast feel ordinary. Noah threw pieces of banana on the floor. Lily asked for a blue cup, then cried when Daniel handed her one.
“I don't want the blue cup,” she sobbed. “I want to go home.”
“I know, sweetheart.” He crouched beside her. “We're staying somewhere safe while people fix some things.”
“Is Mom coming?”
Daniel took a breath. “Not today.”
Lily's lower lip trembled. He held her until the question passed, knowing it would come again.
That afternoon Chen called. Voss had been found in his office, packing boxes. He claimed he knew nothing about Amanda's household, then recognized the forged authorization before detectives told him what it was.
“He asked whether Cody was talking,” Chen said.
“Was he?” Daniel asked.
“We haven't located Cody. Yet.”
Then she sent Rebecca a court-approved document for review: a client intake sheet from Voss's files.
TARGET: D. BLAKE. PRIMARY EXPOSURE: CHILD CUSTODY. COOPERATING SOURCE: A. BLAKE.
And on the bottom, in block capitals, was a handwritten instruction:
May you like
DO NOT CONTACT THE FATHER UNTIL THE CHILDREN ARE REMOVED.
