Chapter 29 - The Burner Phone
My heart pounded, but I kept my voice entirely flat and devoid of emotion. I knew exactly what I needed to do. I needed him to keep talking.
"Derek, you are violating the protective order by calling me," I stated calmly, ensuring the legal parameter was clearly recorded on the audio file.
"Screw your protective order!" Derek shouted, the clinking of glasses in the background giving away his location. "You manipulated the system! You bought that shark lawyer with money that belonged to me! I built our life, Lena. You were nothing before I married you. Nothing!"
"The court disagreed, Derek. You need to stop calling me."
"I will never stop!" he roared, his voice cracking with unhinged fury. "Maya is my blood. You can't keep her locked away in that fortress forever. I'm going to take her back, Lena. One way or another, I'm taking my daughter, and there is nothing you or your glorified bodyguard can do to stop me."
I didn't argue. I didn't yell. I simply pressed the red button, ending the call.
I looked up at Elias. His dark eyes were cold, calculating. "We have the audio file. Clear admission of intent to violate custody, verbal threats, and obvious intoxication, which violates his probation terms."
May you like
Naomi, who had been sitting quietly in the corner reviewing case files, closed her laptop with a satisfying snap. "Forward that audio file to me immediately. I am submitting it to the district attorney and his probation officer first thing tomorrow morning. This isn't just a violation, Lena. This is a threat of kidnapping. We are going to petition the judge to revoke his supervised visitation entirely."
The walls weren't just closing in on Derek; they were about to crush him.
