Patricia sank back into her seat, her heavy silver bangle clinking hard against the carved wooden arm of the chair.

“The court finds clear and convincing evidence of immediate physical danger to the minor child, Emma Bennett,” Judge Vance said.

I sat up straight next to Marcus, my palms flat on the smooth yellow folder on the table.

“I’m issuing a permanent five-year protective order barring Vanessa Miller and Patricia Whitmore from coming within five hundred feet of Emma Bennett, her school, or her home,” Judge Vance said.

Vanessa dropped her head onto her folded arms at the defense table, her shoulders shaking hard.