Chapter 18- THE MISSING SIGNATURE
The forged school order carried a judge’s name, a county seal and Maya’s office address.
At first glance, it looked real.
But the judge’s signature was missing.
The school secretary noticed and called me before releasing Lily.
I was driving when the principal said, “A woman identifying herself as Lily’s grandmother is in the parking lot.”
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Do not let Lily leave the building.”
“We won’t.”
“Call the police.”
I turned the car around so quickly that another driver leaned on his horn.
By the time I reached the school, the entrances were locked. Teachers had moved children away from the front windows.
Donna’s beige sedan blocked part of the pickup lane.
She stood outside the main entrance, arguing with a security officer.
“She is my granddaughter!” Donna shouted. “Her mother is violating a court order.”
The officer kept himself between her and the door.
“There is no valid order.”
Donna held up her phone.
“I have proof.”
“You need to step away from the entrance.”
Inside the glass vestibule, I saw Lily standing beside the principal.
Our eyes met.
Donna followed my gaze and turned.
For a moment, the grief disappeared from her face. What remained was the same expression she had worn at the family dinner when I picked up my sick child.
Control slipping away.
She rushed toward the door.
The security officer caught her arm.
Donna screamed my name and struck the glass with the flat of her hand.
Lily flinched.
I moved between my daughter and the door.
“You will never take her,” I said.
Donna stared through the glass.
Then she smiled.
“You still don’t understand,” she called. “That money belongs to my family.”
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The police arrived before she could leave.
Her own words were recorded by three security cameras.
