Chapter 3 - Papers Dated Before the Fight
Two officers stood in the foyer when Daniel came downstairs with Lily in his arms.
Victoria was already crying.
“She grabbed me,” Lily whispered.
“I know.”
Officer Ramirez noticed the child’s face first.
“Sir, put her down for me.”
Daniel obeyed slowly.
Victoria pointed at him. “He came home furious. He took my phone. He threatened me.”
Daniel held the phone out.
“Watch the last recording.”
Victoria’s head snapped toward him.
“Daniel.”
“Watch it.”
Ramirez did.
Nobody spoke while Victoria’s recorded voice ordered Lily to cry and repeat the accusation.
When it ended, the second officer looked at Victoria differently.
Victoria wiped her face. “It was a therapy exercise.”
“Whose therapy?” Daniel asked.
“Lily’s.”
“I never approved it.”
The front door opened.
Mason Reed walked in carrying a leather folder.
Daniel stared at him. “How did you get here so fast?”
Mason ignored him and addressed the officers.
“I represent Mrs. Morgan. Given Mr. Morgan’s history of emotional instability, we are requesting immediate separation tonight.”
“History?” Daniel said.
Mason opened the folder.
Inside were photographs of overturned furniture, screenshots of messages Daniel did not remember sending, and a petition for an emergency protective order.
Daniel took one page before Mason could stop him.
It accused him of threatening Victoria and Lily.
It also requested temporary control of Lily’s residence and medical decisions.
At the bottom was today’s date.
But in the upper corner, next to the document-production code, was another date.
Three days earlier.
Daniel looked up.
“You prepared this before tonight.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
Victoria said, “Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of a fight that hadn’t happened yet?”
Ramirez took the folder.
Mason tried to reclaim it. “That is privileged.”
“Then you can explain it downtown.”
For the first time, Mason looked uncertain.
Daniel looked through the remaining pages.
One exhibit was a psychiatric evaluation describing him as volatile, controlling, and potentially dangerous.
The name at the bottom belonged to Dr. Naomi Carter, a respected child and family psychologist.
Daniel had never met her.
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But the report said she had evaluated him twice.
And according to the signature line, she believed Lily was not safe in his care.
