Chapter 7: What Grace Okafor Said
Grace Okafor had been practicing family law for eighteen years.
Her office was on the fourth floor of a building downtown, and it smelled like coffee and paper.
She had a direct manner and a habit of writing things down by hand even when her laptop was open.
She listened to Daniel for twenty minutes without interrupting.
When he finished, she set her pen down.
"All right," she said.
"Here's where you stand."
"Please."
"The criminal case and the family court case are going to run parallel.
They don't wait for each other.
Karen's lawyer filing for placement with the maternal grandmother is a standard defensive move — it's designed to get Lily out of your sole custody before the criminal case builds further momentum.
We need to block it."
"How?"
"I file an emergency motion today.
I cite the pediatric examination, the photographic evidence, the neighbor's testimony, and Lily's own statements.
I argue that any placement outside your home creates instability for a child who has already experienced significant trauma." Grace picked up her pen again.
"I also argue that the maternal grandmother's household represents a potential extension of the harmful environment, given that Karen will likely have access through her mother."
"Will that work?"
"It's strong.
The photographs alone are compelling — two years of documentation is not something a defense attorney can easily dismiss." She paused.
"I also want to get a guardian ad litem appointed for Lily.
That's an independent attorney whose only job is to represent Lily's interests to the court.
It removes you and Karen from the equation and lets Lily's own situation speak directly."
"Do it," Daniel said.
"There's something else I need to ask you." Grace looked at him steadily.
"Karen's lawyer is going to argue you knew.
Were there any moments — any at all — where you saw something that concerned you and didn't act on it?"
Daniel thought about it honestly.
"There were moments where Lily seemed quiet," he said.
"Withdrawn.
I thought it was her personality.
I thought she was a shy kid." He looked at his hands.
"I didn't look hard enough."
"That's not the same as knowing," Grace said.
"But I need you to be honest with me about everything, because her lawyer will find anything that exists and use it."
"I understand."
"Did Karen ever suggest keeping Lily home from school or away from other adults?"
Daniel went still.
"She pulled her out of the preschool program last year.
She said Lily was too anxious around other children.
I thought—" He stopped.
"I thought she was being a careful mother."
Grace wrote something down.
"That's isolation.
It's a recognized pattern.
It works in your favor, not against you." She looked up.
"Karen was managing who had access to Lily.
Mrs.
Greer was the one person she couldn't manage, because Mrs.
Greer was watching from the other side of a fence."
Daniel thought about Pauline Greer buying a camera.
Keeping a log.
Waiting.
"I need to thank her properly," he said.
"After the case," Grace said.
"Keep all contact with potential witnesses minimal and documented for now." She closed her notepad.
"Daniel.
I want you to hear this clearly.
You came home.
You opened the door.
You called for help.
You believed your daughter immediately." She held his gaze.
"That matters enormously.
In court and to Lily."
Daniel nodded.
"One more thing," Grace said.
She slid a piece of paper across the desk.
"Karen called your office this morning.
She left a message with your receptionist.
She said she wants to talk to you privately before things go any further.
She said—" Grace tapped the paper.
"She said she has information about you that she'll be forced to use if you don't meet with her."
Daniel read the message.
He set the paper back down.
"That's a threat," he said.
May you like
"Yes," Grace said.
"It is."
