“Bradley Collins is removed as counsel of record, and a formal complaint will go to the state bar association by four o’clock today,” she said.

Richard slapped his palm down on the defense table, his gold cufflinks rattling on the wood.

“You can’t strip away parental rights on the strength of an unverified military filing.”

“I’m stripping them on the strength of federal bank fraud records, Mr.

Carter,” Judge Reynolds said.

She signed the third document, her pen scratching loudly over the heavy parchment.

“Full temporary legal guardianship of Ethan Carter is awarded immediately to Lieutenant Commander Madison Carter,” Judge Reynolds said.

She handed the signed papers straight to the court clerk and slid her reading glasses back down her nose.