Chapter 9 - THE EVALUATOR
Tessa Monroe arrived before sunrise.
She watched three clips, studied the photograph, and immediately called her firm’s investigator.
“Margo Vance is supposed to be neutral,” Hannah said.
“She is supposed to disclose prior contact with either side,” Tessa answered. “If Vanessa met with her privately, that matters.”
Tessa looked at him. “Did your attorney recommend Vance?”
“Yes.”
“Who gave your attorney her name?”
Daniel swallowed. “Vanessa.”
Create videos.
Create school paperwork.
Then deliver all of it to a “neutral” evaluator already prepared to believe the story.
At nine, Tessa filed for an emergency temporary order limiting Vanessa’s contact with Sophie and preserving all electronic evidence.
At ten-thirty, Vanessa’s attorney filed first.
Hannah learned about it when a process server knocked on her door.
The petition accused Hannah of emotional instability, parental alienation, repeated interference with Daniel’s custody time, and “implanting false memories in a minor child.”
One came from Vanessa.
One came from Daniel’s sister, who had barely seen Sophie in months.
One came from a neighbor Hannah did not know.
One came from Margo Vance.
Hannah read his signature twice.
Daniel had stayed in her guest room after watching the videos.
She found him there packing.
“You signed this?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Before any of this?”
“Vanessa said it was a contingency statement in case you tried to keep Sophie from us.”
“And you signed a declaration saying grief made me unstable?”
“I didn’t read the final version.”
Hannah’s hands shook.
“You keep saying that as if not looking makes you innocent.”
“I’ll withdraw it.”
“You can’t withdraw what you were willing to say.”
His phone rang.
“Vanessa.”
Tessa appeared in the doorway. “Answer it. Speaker.”
Daniel did.
Vanessa did not say hello.
She said, “If Hannah takes this to court, tell her I still have the basement video.”
May you like
Daniel went completely still.
Hannah whispered, “What basement video?”
