Chapter 8: Derek Makes His Move
The lawyer's name was Carol Voss.
Ray had used her two years earlier in a property dispute and said she was precise and unsentimental, which was exactly what I needed.
I called her the next morning from my car before Marcus woke up.
She listened without interrupting.
"The biological father has no established legal relationship with the child," she said when I finished.
"If the child is sixteen and has been raised by you, and you are listed on the birth certificate, you have standing.
He cannot force contact."
"He told my wife he'd reach out to Marcus directly."
"That's not a legal right.
That's a threat." A pause.
"Has he made contact with the boy yet?"
"Not that I know of."
"Keep it that way.
If he approaches the child at school or anywhere else, that becomes harassment.
Document everything your wife has told you.
Dates, content of messages, the photo she sent.
I'll need to see the phone thread."
"I can get that."
"Good.
Call me when you have it."
I felt steadier walking back inside than I had in two days.
Marcus was at the kitchen table eating cereal when I came in.
He looked up.
"You were on the phone."
"Talking to a lawyer."
He set his spoon down.
"About Derek?"
"About making sure nobody gets to walk into your life without your permission."
He looked at me for a moment.
"Okay," he said.
And picked up his spoon again.
Pamela forwarded me the full message thread that afternoon without my asking.
I took that as something.
Not enough.
But something.
I sent it to Carol Voss.
She called back within the hour.
"There's a message in here from three weeks ago," she said.
"He asks her to arrange a meeting at a specific location.
She says she needs more time.
He responds — and I'm quoting — *I've been patient but I'm not waiting much longer.
I know where he goes to school and I know his schedule.
I just want to talk to him.
Don't make this harder than it needs to be.*"
"That's a threat."
"It reads as one.
It's enough to send a formal cease-and-desist.
It may also be enough for a restraining order if he makes any further contact." She paused.
"Mr.
Reeves.
Does your son know about this message?"
"No."
"Good.
Keep it that way for now.
Let me draft the letter."
The cease-and-desist went out the following morning.
Derek's response came forty-eight hours later — not to the lawyer, but to Marcus's school Instagram account.
A direct message.
Three sentences.
*Hi Marcus.
You don't know me but I think we should talk.
I knew your mom a long time ago.*
Marcus showed it to me that evening.
He'd found it after practice and sat on it for two hours before saying anything.
He held the phone out without a word.
I read it.
"Did you respond?" I asked.
"No."
"Good." I handed the phone back.
"Show me you can block from that screen."
He blocked the account.
I called Carol Voss that night.
"He contacted the minor directly," she said.
"After receiving the cease-and-desist.
That changes things considerably."
"How considerably?"
May you like
"Considerably enough that I'd like you in my office tomorrow morning." A pause.
"Bring your wife."
