Chapter 5 - THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMMAZ
For the next three weeks, Claire lived in a nightmare of legal motions and restraining orders. Marcus Vance moved with terrifying speed, filing an emergency injunction that prevented Daniel from transferring any family assets or signing any agreements on Emma’s behalf without court approval.
Claire had moved into a small, secure apartment paid for by a temporary stipend Marcus secured from Daniel’s accounts. Every afternoon, she picked Emma up from school, guarding her like a hawk. The physical burns on Emma’s face were slowly healing, but the pink, raised scars on her cheeks remained, a constant visual reminder of Christmas morning.
One chilly Tuesday afternoon, Claire waited outside Emma’s elementary school in her car. The dismissal bell rang, and children began streaming out of the double doors in bright winter coats.
Claire stood near the flagpole, scanning the crowd. She saw Emma’s bright yellow backpack coming down the sidewalk.
Beside Emma walked a tall, elegant woman in a camel-hair coat.
Victoria Pierce—Daniel’s older sister.
Claire’s blood ran cold. She sprinted across the school yard, her boots slamming against the pavement. “Victoria! Get away from my daughter!”
Victoria turned, her face a mask of calm, polished arrogance. She held Emma firmly by the hand. Emma looked confused, holding a small toy box Victoria had just given her.
“Claire,” Victoria said smoothly, not letting go of Emma’s hand. “Don't cause a scene in front of the children.”
“Let go of her!” Claire shouted, lunging forward and pulling Emma behind her back. “You have no right to be here! There is a court order restricting the Pierce family from contact with Emma!”
“I am her aunt,” Victoria said, stepping closer, her voice dropping into a venomous whisper. “And I am executing a court-approved visitation modification filed two hours ago by our attorneys.”
Claire stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
Victoria pulled a folded legal document from her designer handbag and tossed it onto the hood of a nearby parked car. “Daniel signed a temporary custody delegation to me this morning. Since you’re currently residing in an unapproved temporary residence and facing a CPS investigation, the family court judge granted my emergency petition for weekend custody.”
“That’s impossible!” Claire gasped, grabbing the paper. The stamp at the top was real: IN RE: CUSTODY OF EMMA PIERCE - EMERGENCY ORDER GRANTED.
“It is very real, Claire,” Victoria sneered. “You thought you could hire Marcus Vance and go to war with us? My father built this city. You’re a schoolteacher. You really thought you could win?”
Victoria reached past Claire to grab Emma’s arm. “Come on, sweetie. Grandpa is waiting to see you.”
Grandpa is waiting.
The words echoed in Claire’s mind like an explosion. Richard wasn't out of the country. He wasn't hiding in a cave. He was right here, in the city, using his daughter to pull Emma back into his web.
“No!” Emma shrieked, pulling back in terror. “No! I don't want to see Grandpa! Mommy, help!”
“Don't touch her!” Claire screamed, slamming her shoulder into Victoria, shoving the woman backward onto the ice-slicked grass.
Victoria gasped as she hit the ground, her expensive coat covered in slush. “You crazy bitch! You just assaulted me!”
Claire grabbed Emma, hauled her into her arms, and ran toward her car. She threw Emma into the backseat, scrambled into the driver’s seat, locked the doors, and slammed her foot on the gas just as Victoria scrambled to her feet, pointing her phone at Claire’s license plate.
Claire’s hands shook so violently she could barely keep the steering wheel straight as she merged onto the main road.
“Mommy, where are we going?” Emma sobbed from the backseat, clutching her knees. “Is Grandpa going to hurt me again?”
“No, baby. No one is touching you,” Claire said, tears blurring her vision as she looked at her phone mounted on the dashboard. She hit speed dial for Marcus Vance.
“Claire?” Marcus answered on the second ring.
“They tried to take her!” Claire cried out. “Victoria had a court order! She said Richard is waiting for her! How did they get a court order without a hearing?”
Marcus cursed softly over the line. “Judge Harrison. He’s on Pierce Logistics’ payroll—Richard funded his election campaign five years ago. Eleanor filed an ex-parte emergency motion behind my back.”
“What do I do?” Claire pleaded. “If I take her home, the police will come to enforce the order! They’ll take Emma away from me and hand her to Victoria!”
“Do not go home,” Marcus ordered sharply. “And do not go to your apartment. Drive straight to the precinct. Ask for Laura Bennett. I am leaving my office right now to file an emergency appeal with the State Appellate Court to stay Harrison’s order.”
“Marcus, Victoria said Richard is with her!” Claire shouted. “He’s here!”
“Then Bennett can arrest him on the spot,” Marcus said. “Get to the precinct. Now!”
Claire hung up and checked her rearview mirror.
A heavy, dark-tinted SUV was trailing three cars behind her. It matched the exact make and model of the fleet vehicles owned by Pierce Logistics.
It wasn't following at a distance. It was speeding up, aggressively cutting through traffic, closing the gap between them.
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“Mommy...” Emma squeaked, looking out the back window. “That car is coming fast.”
Claire pushed her foot down on the accelerator, her heart hammering in her throat as the winter sky darkened into night.
