Chapter 10: Colors in the Dust
Inside Judge Harris’s private chambers, the mood was quiet and serious. Judge Harris, a dignified woman with kind gray eyes, sat behind a large mahogany desk without her formal robes.
""Mia,"" Judge Harris said gently, leaning forward. ""I know this is scary, but I need you to tell me what happened the night your arm was hurt.""
Mia sat in a chair that was far too big for her, her feet dangling a few inches off the floor. She looked back at Hank, who gave her a reassuring nod from the corner of the room.
Taking a deep breath, Mia told the judge everything—about the dark room, the missing letters, the way Julian grabbed her arm when she tried to keep her mother's memory, and how she ran through the woods to the neon lights of the gas station.
When she finished, Judge Harris signed a document on her desk and looked directly at Julian’s attorneys, who were sitting near the back.
""Based on the physical evidence provided by the medical examiner, the child’s testimony, and the suspicious nature of Mr. Vance’s private medical care, I am issuing an immediate temporary protection order,"" Judge Harris declared sternly. ""Child Protective Services will retain temporary custody, with physical placement granted to Mr. Hank Lawson pending a full investigation.""
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Julian stood up abruptly. ""This is an outrage! You are giving a child to an unrefined biker over a respected businessman!""
""Mr. Vance,"" Judge Harris said, her tone icy cold. ""One more outburst and you will spend the night in a cell for contempt. Furthermore, I am signing a search warrant for your residence effective immediately.""
