“No,” Lily said, shaking. “I promised Mama. I’m not leaving him.”

When Jake later asked about Roy, her voice was barely a whisper. “He left us in a hot garage once. He drinks. And he said… he knew someone who’d give him money for Ben.”

Jake’s jaw clenched. “That’s enough. We’ll stop him—but we’ll need proof.”

Jake called in a favor. Daniel, a Marine buddy, brought a USB drive. On it—footage of Roy yelling at Lily and her mother, talking about insurance, and ignoring the children’s cries. A neighbor’s statement confirmed the neglect.

Karen took the evidence straight to the custody board.

The courthouse smelled of varnished wood and nerves. Judge Ellison presided with the weight of someone who had seen too many broken families.

The neighbor testified. Lily—wearing a blue dress and more courage than any child should need—told the court about the garage, the hunger, and the fear. Duke sat beside her in a service vest, steady as stone.