MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW DRAGGED MY 3-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER ACROSS THE FLOOR—THEN I WALKED IN.

At the children's hospital, the doctor spoke gently to Maya and quietly to me. Her wrist was badly strained, not broken. The bruises were consistent with someone gripping her too tightly. The doctor documented everything and contacted the appropriate child-protection authorities.

Maya fell asleep in a room that smelled of clean sheets and disinfectant. Rosa sat beside her, refusing to let go of her stuffed rabbit.

I stepped into the hallway and called my attorney, Naomi Brooks.

"Tell me the truth," I said. "How much damage can a forged guardianship order do?"

"A great deal, if someone at the courthouse believes it is real. I have your original documents. Don't sign a thing."

"And Halden?"

"He's already filed an emergency motion claiming you abducted Maya from her lawful guardian."

I leaned against the wall. Vanessa hadn't even waited for the chocolate stains of the gala to be cleaned before opening a second front.

Theo arrived with a small paper evidence bag. "The van driver left his phone on the seat. Police took custody, but before they did, an incoming call displayed a name."

"Whose?"

"Julian Swift."

I thought the floor moved beneath my feet.

"A saved contact doesn't prove he was calling."

"I know. I told the detective the same thing."

My son had taught me that. A label on a screen was not evidence of a living man.

Then Naomi sent me a photograph of the newest petition. Attached was a sworn statement supposedly from Julian, authorizing Vanessa's plans.

At the bottom was his signature, dated just nine days earlier.

He could not have been legally declared dead and signing papers at the same time. Someone had gotten careless. Or someone was daring us to notice.

My phone rang again. Unknown number.

I answered without speaking.