Chapter 11: The Petition Is Denied

The courtroom was small, and every seat was full by five to nine.

Ingrid sat in the second row behind Tobin's lawyer, in a gray suit with her hair pinned perfectly.

She sat with her hands folded and her back straight.

I sat at the other table in Britt's blazer with my lawyer beside me. Joel was in the back row with his arms folded.

Tobin sat at the front, and he did not turn around.

The judge came in and read the file in silence.

"This is an emergency petition for temporary custody," she said. "Mr. Halvorsen, your counsel may open."

His lawyer stood. He was young and smooth.

"Your Honor, the mother of this child was hospitalized last week with a fever of one hundred and four."

"She left the hospital with the child, and has since been living in a one-bedroom apartment with her sister's cat."

A few people in the gallery shifted.

"She has no income, no residence and no plan. Her husband has done nothing but try to protect the child."

"He locked her out of her own home," my lawyer said.

"Counsel will wait her turn," the judge said.

I kept my eyes on the table.

"The petitioner calls his wife," the young lawyer said.

I walked to the stand, took the oath and sat.

He asked me about the hospital. I told him the truth.

He asked me whether I had checked myself out.

"I was discharged. A doctor signed it."

"Against advice?"

"The doctor said it was fine as long as I rested and took the antibiotics."

"And you took them?"

"My cards were cancelled. A pharmacist turned me away on the first night."

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