Chapter 6 - The Judge’s Question
Family court was crowded by nine the next morning.
Harper wore a borrowed navy dress from Mrs. Morrison.
Makeup covered the mark near her eye.
Nothing could hide the stiffness in her ribs.
Noah sat beside her holding a small plastic dinosaur Gabriel had somehow found at seven in the morning.
Derek entered with two lawyers.
He wore his police uniform.
Harper’s stomach turned.
Of course he did.
The badge.
The polished shoes.
The respectable face.
Derek looked nothing like the man who had kicked through a bedroom door.
He looked like someone people trusted.
Gabriel did not enter the courtroom.
Harper had asked him not to.
His presence would only strengthen Derek’s argument.
Gabriel had agreed.
Rebecca sat beside Harper.
Judge Evelyn Parker entered.
Everyone stood.
Derek’s attorney spoke first.
He described Derek as a decorated officer concerned for the welfare of his young brother-in-law.
Harper nearly laughed.
Then he described Harper.
Emotionally unstable.
Financially irresponsible.
Recently unemployed from two jobs.
Living in dangerous housing.
Now residing with Gabriel Ashford.
Every fact contained enough truth to make the lie powerful.
Rebecca stood.
“Your Honor, we have video showing Officer Lawson forcibly entering Ms. Queen’s residence and grabbing an eight-year-old child.”
Derek’s attorney smiled.
“He was preventing the boy from falling from a fire escape.”
Rebecca played the recording.
The courtroom watched Derek kick the bedroom door.
They heard Noah crying.
They heard him tell Derek to stop.
Derek’s lawyer did not smile afterward.
Judge Parker turned toward Derek.
“Officer Lawson, why were you inside the apartment?”
“I was concerned.”
“You had no warrant.”
“My wife disappeared.”
“Ex-wife.”
Derek’s jaw tightened.
Judge Parker noticed.
“She is my family.”
“That was not my question.”
The judge looked through the file.
“Where is the boy’s father?”
“Deceased,” Harper answered.
“Mother?”
“Also deceased.”
“You are his legal guardian?”
“Yes.”
“Was Officer Lawson ever granted guardianship?”
“No.”
Judge Parker looked at Derek.
“Then why are we here?”
His attorney stood.
“Because Ms. Queen has placed the child in a dangerous criminal environment.”
Judge Parker turned to Harper.
“Where are you currently staying?”
Harper hesitated.
“At Mr. Ashford’s residence.”
“Why?”
“Because Derek found our apartment.”
“Mr. Lawson’s attorney claims you are romantically involved with Gabriel Ashford.”
Harper almost choked.
“No.”
“Employed by him?”
“Yes.”
“As what?”
“A housekeeper.”
Derek laughed quietly.
Judge Parker looked at him.
“One more sound from you and you may wait outside.”
Derek stopped.
The judge returned to Harper.
“Do you feel safe at Mr. Ashford’s residence?”
The question was simple.
The answer was complicated.
Harper thought of Gabriel unlocking the bathroom door when she became afraid.
She thought of him sitting six feet away from Noah so the boy would not feel crowded.
She thought of him telling every guard never to enter Harper’s room without permission.
“Yes.”
Derek’s face darkened.
Judge Parker looked at Noah.
“I would like to speak with the child privately.”
Harper’s heart clenched.
Rebecca touched her arm.
“It’s normal.”
Noah disappeared into the judge’s chambers with a court officer.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Derek stared at Harper the entire time.
When Noah returned, his face was pale.
Judge Parker sat down.
“My ruling is temporary.”
Harper gripped Rebecca’s hand.
“Mr. Lawson has no legal guardianship rights.”
Derek’s jaw tightened.
“Ms. Queen retains custody of her brother.”
Harper exhaled.
“However, I am appointing a guardian ad litem to evaluate the current living arrangement.”
Rebecca nodded.
The judge looked at Derek.
“And Mr. Lawson is ordered to remain at least five hundred feet from Ms. Queen and Noah until further notice.”
Derek shot to his feet.
“This is ridiculous.”
Judge Parker’s expression hardened.
“Sit down.”
“She’s living with a gangster.”
“Sit down, Officer Lawson.”
Derek slowly obeyed.
Judge Parker lowered her voice.
“You should be particularly familiar with the concept of obeying a lawful order.”
For the first time, Derek looked afraid.
Court adjourned.
Harper left through a side exit with Rebecca.
Gabriel’s SUV waited across the street.
But before she reached it, Detective Grant appeared.
She looked over her shoulder.
“We need to talk.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Officially?”
“No.”
Grant handed Harper a small plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a cracked phone.
Harper stopped breathing.
“My phone.”
Grant nodded.
“We found it in a dumpster behind Precinct Twelve.”
Harper stared at her.
“Does it still work?”
“We recovered part of the recording.”
Rebecca’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s on it?”
Detective Grant looked at Harper.
“Your husband talking about Gabriel Ashford.”
May you like
She paused.
“And someone inside the district attorney’s office.”
