The court clerk pressed a heavy steel hand seal into the blue paper cover of the intake folder, leaving a state crest embossed in the thick stock.

She signed her name across the red certification tape along the edge and slid three carbon copies over the oak counter.

Arthur Vance laid his microfiber polishing cloth on the desk and set his thin wire-rimmed glasses back on his nose.

“Sign line four on the guardianship summary sheet, Madison,” Arthur said, pointing at the bottom margin.

“That locks in the emergency custody transfer under state probate rule seven.”

Ethan sat in the brass-trimmed swivel chair next to the counter, his thumb turning Grandfather’s silver crest ring around his knuckle.