Chapter 16 - The Case That Didn't Exist

Sofia called at seven the next morning. I'd sent her photographs of the envelope before we left. She had a colleague checking the court information.

"Don't let that date make you panic," she said. "The document has no filing stamp or case number. We're verifying it through the clerk. It may be another draft Helen wants you to believe is official."

Mara listened from Dana's couch. Her eyes were swollen from a night spent waking at every creak. Dana had slept across the hall to be nearby.

By lunch, Sofia confirmed it. No custody hearing had been scheduled on the date printed in Mom's envelope. The paper was an unsigned draft decorated with a copied court heading. A judge had not ordered us to surrender our child.

"That doesn't erase the threat," Sofia said. "It tells us more about how she's making it."

There was an attachment I hadn't noticed: a supposed letter from Mara's obstetric practice describing her as "incapable of independent infant care." It carried the name of Dr. Ellen Park, who had helped deliver Elsie. Mara stared at the copied letterhead and shook her head.

"Dr. Park told me asking for counseling was responsible," she said. "She said the exact opposite."

With Mara's permission, Sofia contacted the practice. Dr. Park confirmed through the proper channel that the letter was not hers and that her office was investigating misuse of its name. She arranged a direct follow-up appointment for Mara and provided accurate records of the care Mara had received.

That evening, Dana sat across from me at her kitchen table.

"Mom always had a reason," she said. "When Dad got sick, she said nobody could manage his medicine but her. When he died, she said we'd have fallen apart without her. And we believed her because we were scared."

"We also let her hurt people," I said.

Dana rubbed her eyes. "I did. I signed that paper."

"Then tell the truth about it. It's the only thing we can do now."

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Sofia called one last time. Our application for immediate protection had been accepted for review, with a hearing date assigned and notice procedures under way. But the officer handling the assault report had a new question.

He wanted to know why Mom had bought a one-way infant seat for the flight out of Columbus.