Through the thick wood I could hear Bradley Collins’s loud, polished voice giving his opening statement to the judge.

“The sister has abandoned her family obligations for military tours,” Collins was saying, his voice carrying faintly through the oak.

“She represents a continuing threat of instability to this boy’s home life.”

I glanced down at my left wrist.

The hands of my watch pointed to ten forty-seven.

I adjusted my watch strap, pulling the leather notch tight around my wrist.

I knew Bradley Collins would be standing just inside that room, sure that his temporary restraining order had shut me out for good.