A seventy-year-old grandfather set his mug down with a thud as his eyes locked onto the brutal marks hidden under his grandson’s sleeve.

On Tuesday morning, two days before the emergency custody hearing, the battle moved from the quiet suburban streets to the high-rise office towers of downtown.

Elias sat in the office of Arthur Sterling, a veteran family law attorney who had been a friend of the Carter family for thirty years.

Arthur, a white-haired man in a dark three-piece suit, looked through the thick stack of evidence assembled on his mahogany desk: the police report filed by Officer Reeves, the paramedic injury assessment, the body camera footage transcripts, and Richard Carter's notarized guardianship codicil.

"Elias," Arthur said, leaning back in his leather chair. "Miranda’s attorney, Harold Vance, has already filed three counter-motions this morning. They are claiming that you manipulated Ethan, that you staged the bruises, and that you are attempting to gain control of Richard’s estate trust through the boy."

Elias didn't flinch. "Let them claim whatever they want. The bruises are real. The police camera doesn't lie."

"It's not that simple in family court," Arthur warned softly. "Miranda’s team is going to depict you as an aging, bitter grandfather living on a fixed pension, incapable of providing the affluent lifestyle Ethan has grown accustomed to in the estate."

"Affluent?" Elias let out a dry, bitter laugh. "She had him living in fear in a five-million-dollar house! He was hiding in his room skipping meals just to avoid her!"

The office door opened, and Arthur’s assistant stepped in. "Mr. Sterling, Harold Vance is on line one. He wants to discuss a settlement before Thursday's hearing."

Arthur picked up the desk phone and hit the speaker button. "Arthur Sterling here. I have my client, Elias Carter, in the room with me."

“Arthur,” a slick, condescending voice sounded over the speaker. “Let's be rational about this. Miranda is willing to drop the trespassing and interference charges against Mr. Carter. In exchange, Ethan returns to the family estate today under the care of a private nanny, and Mr. Carter agrees to supervised visitation once a month.”

Elias leaned toward the speaker phone, his voice dropping into a dangerous, gravelly register that made the room freeze.

“Vance,” Elias spoke clearly. “This is Elias Carter. You tell Miranda that if she ever comes within a hundred yards of my grandson again, I won't call the police. I’ll call every news station in this state and air every single photo of what she did to his arm. We will see you in court on Thursday.”