Chapter 9: Thursday
The hearing was held in a family court room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse.
Marcus Hale was already seated when I arrived with Robert and Grace.
I had not seen him since those six weeks four years ago.
He looked the same.
That was the thing about men like him — they looked entirely like themselves, ordinary and composed, nothing in the face that warned you.
He glanced at me when I sat down.
A brief, measuring look.
Then he turned back to his attorney.
His lawyer was a man named Carver, well-dressed and deliberate.
He had filed three motions since Monday.
Grace had answered all three.
The judge was a woman named the Honorable Patricia Wynn.
She had read the full file before entering.
I could tell by the way she looked at Carver when he stood to speak — not hostile, but already informed.
"Your Honor," Carver began, "my client is the biological father of the minor child June Harmon, born Tuesday at Mercy General.
He is requesting paternity confirmation and interim access pending results — "
"Ms.
Ellison," Judge Wynn said, without letting Carver finish.
Grace stood.
"Your Honor, we are opposing interim access on the following grounds." She set a document on the clerk's desk.
"First, the petitioner used a false identity — Daniel Marsh — to establish the relationship with my client that resulted in conception.
We have email records, a restaurant reservation, and a credit card trail under that name.
The relationship was obtained through deliberate deception."
Carver was already on his feet.
"Your Honor, a name discrepancy does not — "
"Second," Grace continued, "we have identified a second woman, Dara Wills, who has provided a sworn statement that the petitioner used a different false identity to establish a similar relationship with her, resulting in the birth of her daughter Petra Wills, also this week.
Mr.
Hale has filed a paternity claim for that child as well."
The room was quiet.
Judge Wynn looked at Carver.
Carver said nothing.
"Third," Grace said, "we are submitting documentation compiled by private investigator records — obtained legally — indicating that the petitioner has established at least four similar relationships over the past nine years, in three states, with two resulting in custody proceedings that removed children from their mothers through prolonged legal attrition."
She set the second document on the clerk's desk.
Marcus Hale's hand, resting on the table, went very still.
"Your Honor," Carver said carefully, "these are allegations without — "
"They are documented," Grace said.
"We have investigator reports, court records from two prior jurisdictions, and the names of two additional women who have agreed to be contacted by this court."
Judge Wynn held up one hand.
Carver sat down.
The judge read for a moment.
Then she looked at Marcus Hale directly.
"Mr.
Hale," she said.
"Your attorney may speak for you, but I want to ask you something plainly." She set the document down.
"Is your legal name Marcus Hale?"
A pause.
"Yes," he said.
"Have you used other names in personal relationships?"
His attorney leaned toward him.
Marcus Hale ignored him.
"I have used other names," he said.
"For privacy reasons."
"For privacy reasons," Judge Wynn repeated.
She looked at the document again.
Then she looked at Grace.
"Ms.
Ellison, what are you requesting?"
"Denial of interim access.
Paternity testing to proceed as required by law.
And a referral to the district attorney's office regarding the pattern of conduct described in the documentation."
Judge Wynn set her pen down.
"Mr.
Carver," she said.
"Interim access is denied pending full hearing.
Paternity testing will proceed.
I am also referring this matter to the family court investigative unit." She looked at Marcus Hale one more time.
"If the pattern described in this documentation is accurate, Mr.
Hale, this court will not be the last institution you hear from."
May you like
Marcus Hale said nothing.
But his hand, still resting on the table, had curled into a fist.
