Chapter 5: What They Called Unstable
Patricia Voss arrived at Carol's house at seven the next morning with a leather folder, two coffees, and no small talk.
She sat across from me at the kitchen table, read the custody form twice, and set it down.
"Walk me through your work schedule," she said.
"I work four days a week.
I'm home by five most nights.
I've never missed a school pickup.
I've never left Noah unsupervised."
"Have you ever been treated for anxiety or depression?"
I paused.
"I saw a therapist for eight months after my mother passed.
Three years ago."
Patricia wrote something.
"Ryan's petition lists emotional instability as a primary ground.
They'll use the therapy."
"I went to therapy because my mother d*ed."
"I know.
But they'll frame it as a pattern." She looked up.
"Has Ryan ever suggested you needed help?
In front of witnesses?
In writing?"
I thought back.
Text messages.
A conversation at dinner once, in front of Diane, where Ryan had said I seemed overwhelmed.
Diane had nodded and said, "We've all noticed."
"Yes," I said.
"A few times."
"They've been building a record." Patricia tapped the form.
"This wasn't filed in a panic.
This is a constructed case.
They've been collecting moments, framing them, and now they're presenting a version of you that they built on purpose."
Carol set a hand on my arm.
"What about the chain?" I said.
"What Noah told me about the closet?"
"That is your counter-evidence.
And it is significant." Patricia leaned forward.
"But we need Noah's account documented by a professional before Ryan's team gets to him.
A child forensic interview.
I can arrange one for tomorrow if you're willing."
"Of course I'm willing."
"Good.
Second — the civil case against Diane nine years ago.
I'll pull the full record today.
If the neighbor is willing to speak, that establishes a pattern of behavior that directly contradicts the image they're trying to build of Diane as a stable caregiver."
"And the videos?" I said.
"Noah said Ryan had videos."
Patricia was quiet for a moment.
"If those videos exist, they'll surface in discovery.
At that point, we'll be able to examine them.
Edited footage, selectively recorded moments — a forensic analyst can identify manipulation." She paused.
"But I want you to think carefully.
Is there anything in your home that Ryan might have recorded without your knowledge?
A camera you didn't install?
A device that seemed out of place?"
I went still.
There was something.
A small white device on the bookshelf in the living room.
Ryan had said it was a speaker.
A gift from a colleague.
I had never questioned it.
"There might be something," I said.
Patricia's expression didn't change, but her pen stopped moving.
"Don't touch it.
Don't move it.
I'm going to call someone this morning who handles exactly that."
She closed her folder and stood.
"One more thing," she said.
"Ryan will likely make contact today.
He may be conciliatory.
He may threaten.
He may send Diane.
Whatever he does — do not respond without calling me first."
I nodded.
She picked up her coffee, took one sip, and set it back down.
"They thought they were ahead of you," she said.
"They're not anymore."
She left.
The door closed behind her.
Noah wandered in from the living room in his pajamas, holding the corner of his blanket.
"Mommy," he said.
"Is Daddy coming?"
I pulled him into my lap.
"Not today, baby."
He leaned his head against my chest.
I held him and looked at the custody form still on the table.
Ryan called at 9:14 that morning.
I watched the phone ring and did not pick up.
He called again at 9:31.
Then Diane called from her own number.
May you like
Then a number I didn't recognize called twice.
I set the phone face-down on Carol's kitchen counter and went to sit with my son.
