Chapter 5 - The EscalationThe next morning broke clear and hot over Edmond. By 7:00 a.m., Marcus Miller was sitting in my kitchen drinking black coffee, reviewing the encrypted text logs and bank records spread across the table.
Marcus was a broad-shouldered man with a sharp mind and zero tolerance for corporate bullies. He scanned the screen, his eyebrows rising higher with every line.
"This isn't just a bitter divorce case, Grant," Marcus said, setting his mug down. "This is conspiracy to commit real estate fraud, grand larceny, and child endangerment. Evelyn’s signature on these transfer papers without a notarized power of attorney makes the letter of intent legally void—if we present this to a judge first."
"How fast can we file?" I asked.
"I’m filing an emergency ex-parte petition for sole temporary custody and a temporary restraining order within the hour," Marcus replied. "We use Tessa’s statement, the call logs from your phone when she reached you from the kitchen floor, and these text timestamps showing Evelyn was with Vance when she claimed to be running errands."
Before I could answer, a loud, aggressive knock echoed from the front door.
I looked out the side window. A tall man in a navy suit stood on the porch, holding a thick manila envelope, flanked by a local process server.
I opened the door.
"Grant Bennett?" the man in the suit asked stiffly. "You've been served. Emergency petition for protective custody and immediate surrender of minors Miles and Tessa Bennett, filed by Vance & Associates on behalf of Evelyn Bennett."
I took the papers. "On what grounds?"
"Unstable home environment, neglect, and maintaining hazardous working animals on residential property," the process server recited monotone before turning back toward his vehicle.
I looked at Marcus, who had walked up behind me.
Marcus took the papers, skimmed the top page, and let out a cold laugh. "They filed in Delaware County instead of Oklahoma County—they’re trying to venue-hop to a judge Vance has in his back pocket. They want a hearing at 2:00 p.m. today."
"They think I won't show up with representation," I said.
"They're wrong," Marcus said. "Get your kids packed up. We're taking them to my sister's secure property in Norman, then we're driving straight to the courthouse."
Forty minutes later, after dropping Tessa and Miles off under safe care, Marcus and I pulled into the parking lot of the county courthouse.
As we walked up the stone steps, a black luxury sedan pulled up to the curb. Evelyn stepped out, wearing a high-end cream suit, her hair styled perfectly. Beside her was Ryan Vance, looking confident in a tailored charcoal jacket, accompanied by two corporate attorneys.
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Evelyn caught my eye across the courtyard. For a fraction of a second, hesitation flickered across her face—a remnant of the woman I’d been married to for ten years. But Vance placed a hand on her shoulder, whispered something in her ear, and her expression hardened into cold defiance once again.
"Keep your eyes forward, Grant," Marcus whispered beside me. "Let them talk in court. We hold the real cards."
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