Chapter 4 - Revealing the Abuse
Judge Henderson opened the envelope.
The first page changed her expression.
The second made her glance toward Toby.
By the third, my father had stopped smiling.
“Mr. Sterling,” she said, “what is Sterling Residential Services?”
My father adjusted his cuff.
“A property management company.”
“Owned by you?”
“Among other investors.”
“Your petition requests permission to use approximately eight hundred thousand dollars from your son’s trust to purchase a residence managed by that company.”
“A suitable home for a child has expenses.”
The judge placed a photograph beside the petition.
“Is this the proposed residence?”
Even from where I stood, I recognized the boarded windows.
My father’s voice hardened.
“The property is undergoing renovation.”
According to the independent valuation tucked beneath the photograph, it was worth ninety-three thousand dollars.
My grandfather had built his fortune restoring houses.
Apparently, my father had found a quicker method.
Vance rose.
“Your Honor, these materials have not been properly—”
“Sit down. You will have an opportunity to respond.”
She read another page.
“What happened to this child last Thursday?”
My mother’s hands tightened around her purse.
“He fell.”
Toby went completely still.
It was such a small movement that nobody else seemed to notice: the way he stopped breathing, as if even air might get him in trouble.
I had seen men do that while waiting for another blow.
“Toby,” Judge Henderson said gently, “you don’t have to answer from your seat.”
My father turned toward him.
“Tobias, tell the judge what happened.”
“Mr. Sterling,” she snapped. “Face forward.”
For the first time since I had entered, Toby looked directly at me.
His lips moved.
Don’t leave.
May you like
I shook my head once.
I won’t.
