Chapter 12: Papers

"Hallie Dunning?" the deputy said.

"That's me."

He held out a thick envelope, and I didn't take it.

"I've been asked to serve you with an emergency petition for temporary custody. The hearing is Thursday at nine."

"Custody of who?"

"Your son."

I looked at Brock.

He stood very straight on Dot's porch with his hands folded in front of him.

"I'm his father, Hallie," he said. "I'm on the birth certificate. I changed his diapers for two years."

"You didn't change one."

"I paid for the roof over his head."

"My name was on nothing, because you made sure it wasn't."

"That isn't a legal argument," Brock said, and for the first time his voice had an edge.

He had been practicing.

I took the envelope.

It was heavy and cold, and the paper was creamy and expensive.

Behind me the truck door slammed, and I heard Gage's boots on the walk.

"Deputy," Gage said.

The deputy was a young man, with a crew cut and a nervous mouth.

"Sir. You're Mr. Rutledge."

"Yes."

"Are you here to cause a problem?"

"I'm here to stand on a public sidewalk," Gage said.

Brock turned and finally looked at him.

"You've got nothing in this, Gage."

"I've got a paper that says otherwise."

Brock's mouth went flat.

"A razor from a locker. A hair from a toddler. That isn't a court test. It's a stranger's guess, and I'll have it thrown out in a minute."

"You tested him."

"I never said I did."

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