Chapter 7 - The Battle for Guardianship
Four days after the raid, the Cook County Family Court convened an emergency custody hearing before Judge Margaret Campbell.
Julian and Victoria appeared via video link from the county detention center, dressed in orange inmate jumpsuits. Julian’s high-priced defense attorney attempted to argue that Chloe should be placed in state foster care pending trial, claiming I was too old and emotionally compromised to provide adequate care.
"Your Honor," the defense argued, "Mrs. Evelyn Vance is sixty-eight years old and suffers from hypertension. The state foster system has specialized medical facilities to care for a child recovering from this level of trauma."
Judge Campbell adjusted her glasses, glaring over the bench with palpable disdain.
"Counselor, your clients put a living child in a casket," Judge Campbell said, her voice like cracking ice. "The only reason that child is alive to have a custody hearing today is because Mrs. Vance had the vigilance, courage, and instinct of a true mother."
The judge slammed her gavel down.
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"Temporary sole legal and physical custody of Chloe Vance is awarded immediately to Evelyn Vance. All parental rights of Julian and Victoria Vance are suspended with prejudice. No-contact protective orders are issued in perpetuity."
When the gavel struck, I exhaled a breath I had been holding for years. We were one step closer to true peace.
