In the front living room, the blinds were still drawn against the morning heat.

I sat on the edge of the sofa with my work boots still on and undid the metal clasp on the manila envelope.

The top document was a ten-page legal petition filed by an attorney named Marcus Vance on behalf of Teresa Ramos.

It claimed I kept a hazardous home and garage.

The pages listed heavy power tools left loose, improper storage of industrial flooring adhesives, and an unsecured dangerous appliance in an uncooled workspace.

Teresa was asking the court for an immediate ex parte order giving her temporary protective custody of seven-year-old Noah and two-year-old Lily.