"Thank you, Mrs. Jones." We hang up, and I drink a few more slurps from my coffee mug, procrastinating since I'm not sure what to say to Mrs. Finch, but I can't put this off any longer.
She takes more work to reach. I call the main CPS line and get transferred around a bit before she picks up, sounding busy and slightly out of breath. "This is Finch."
"Hello, Mrs. Finch. My name is Caleb Ward. I have a few questions and perhaps a favor to ask of you." She doesn’t know me from Adam, so this is a long shot, but I hope her heart is as kind as Helen's.
"Mr. Ward, what can I help you with?"
"I'll keep it short… I have phone records showing that the complaint filed against Olivia Bennett came from the personal cell phone of her ex-husband, Derek Bennett. The same number also made calls to her employer and her son's school, making identical claims about her mental stability. All within the same timeframe."
Mrs. Finch sighs and pauses for a second. I'm not sure if she's trying to remember or forget that interaction with Olivia. "I remember… But that's a serious allegation you've got. I can't divulge the credibility of that claim or the anonymous caller's name."
"I have the documentation to back it up," I tell her, " and I'd like to submit the phone records formally through your office. I'd also like to ask whether you'd be willing to provide a written summary of your findings from the home visit for Olivia's attorney. Or maybe you'd come to the trial to testify on her behalf."
"My visit resulted in no concerns whatsoever, and I noted that in my report." I hear her typing and then she says, "If Ms. Bennett's attorney submits a formal request through our office, I can provide a summary. And yes, please send those phone records. If someone used our complaint system as a weapon in a custody dispute, we need to know about it."
"As for being a witness?" I say, almost holding my breath as I wait for her to respond.
"I'd be happy to attend a hearing if a subpoena is issued. I have no problem doing my job as an expert witness."
I get a rush of adrenaline at her response and almost whoop in celebration. But I manage to wrangle my emotion into a smile and say, "Thank you. I'll pass that on to her lawyer, and I'm sure he'll be in touch."
I write down her direct number and the fax number, thank her again, and hang up. Then I sit there for a minute finishing the last of my coffee, watching the morning crowd start to trickle in. A few more people grab drinks at the counter and settle into tables, and the shop starts to fill up. That's my cue that it's time to leave.
I leave cash on the table and gather my notes into the folder, pushing through the front door into the sun. The street was empty when I parked, and now it's full, including a delivery truck almost blocking my way. I get in, toss the folder on the passenger seat, and start the engine, heading toward home.
I make it about two blocks before my phone buzzes, and I glance down at it where it lies on the center console. Reilly's name flashes on the screen and I tap the hands-free button on the steering wheel as I stop at a red light.
"Gunny. Got a minute?"
"Yeah, I do… And I have good news." The light turns green and I pull through the intersection, settling into the drive. "Helen's on board for a written statement with a personal reference, and Mrs. Finch said she'll testify as an expert witness if David subpoenas her."
"That's huge." I hear him shuffling papers and then he says, "I've got something too. Mick pulled Derek's records going back ten years and found a sealed complaint connected to a name you'll recognize—Matt Frasure."
I served with Frasure for two years and he was a good man, kept his head down. "What's Frasure got to do with Derek?" The entire reason I got into this fiasco was because Derek helped Matt Frassure win his custody case. We were all so grateful because of what Matt went through. All he wanted was to see his kids, and Derek helped him.
"Derek helped him win by going after his ex-wife—ran the same kind of campaign he's running on Olivia right now. And there's more… The woman filed complaints and they got dismissed. On top of that, I found out he had a domestic charge which he tried to have erased too, probably so his reputation as a lawyer didn't get tarnished."
The idea that Derek put his hands on anyone is enough to anger me, but the mental image of him hurting Olivia is what locks in my brain. I'm not sure if she's the one who filed the charge, but it's infuriating enough that I can't shake it. And to think he's made this a habit of smearing women's reputations to steal their children from them says enough. I've got to put an end to this.
"Have you talked to Frasure?" I ask, already half-knowing the answer.
"Mick reached out, but he won't get involved. He got his kids and that's all he cares about. Doesn't want to reopen any of it." Reilly pauses. "But we don't need him. The complaint his ex-wife filed exists in the court system even though it's sealed, and David can petition to have it reviewed by the judge in chambers. It shows Derek has a documented history of running this exact operation against mothers in custody disputes."
I turn onto our street and slow down, pulling past Olivia's house where I see a dark blue BMW in her driveway behind her SUV. It has to be her lawyer. We haven't spoken much, but she did say the man was coming by this morning.
"Get me everything documented," I tell Reilly. "Her lawyer's at the house right now. I'm gonna try to catch them before he leaves."
"You'll have it tonight."
I hang up and park, then walk across the grass to Olivia's porch. She opens the door when I knock but glances over her shoulder cautiously. I don’t want to intrude, but I have more information for the lawyer.
"This isn't a great time," she says quietly.
"I know, but Mr. Kessler needs to see what I have."
Olivia sighs and purses her lips, but she steps aside and says, "Come in."
David Kessler stands from the couch when I walk into the living room. He's maybe early sixties, gray at the temples, with a legalpad on the arm of the couch and a pen tucked behind his ear. He shakes my hand and sits back down.
