Chapter 10 - Forty-Six Minutes
"She's trying to take my mother away," Adrian said.
June stopped him at the courthouse entrance.
"She's filed papers. She hasn't won. Those are different things."
The petition called Evelyn irrational and accused Naomi of manipulating her. An attached video showed Evelyn struggling to answer a question.
"That was the night after Celeste gave her the unlabeled pills," Naomi said.
Dr. Singh had supplied a preliminary written statement: the hospital was investigating unprescribed sedation, and Evelyn was now awake, oriented, and able to communicate her wishes. It didn't identify who had administered anything.
"Evidence, not assumptions," June reminded them. "That's how we keep her safe."
They sought an emergency order preventing changes to Evelyn's care and freezing any disputed trust transfers pending a hearing.
Inside, Adrian watched a judge read the documents without looking impressed by his name.
"Your mother has her own rights," the judge said. "I want to hear directly from her when it's medically appropriate."
"She wants Celeste nowhere near her," Adrian answered.
"Then we'll address that with evidence."
The judge issued a temporary order preserving Evelyn's medical decision-making and scheduled an expedited review. The financial request went to another judge handling the trust dispute.
Outside, Adrian checked his watch.
8:14.
June was already dialing the bank.
"We have forty-six minutes until the trustee meeting," she said. "And sixteen before the first scheduled disbursement."
"What if the bank doesn't stop it?"
"Then we go after the money. But we don't pretend a phone call can do the work of a court order."
A message arrived from Martin Cross: BOARD CONSENT ALREADY EXECUTED. NO MEETING REQUIRED.
Adrian showed June the screen.
She read it twice.
May you like
"He isn't waiting until nine," she said.
"He never intended to."
