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\u201cNo,\u201d Lily said, shaking. \u201cI promised Mama. I\u2019m not leaving him.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Jake later asked about Roy, her voice was barely a whisper. \u201cHe left us in a hot garage once. He drinks. And he said\u2026 he knew someone who\u2019d give him money for Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s jaw clenched. \u201cThat\u2019s enough. We\u2019ll stop him\u2014but we\u2019ll need proof.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake called in a favor. Daniel, a Marine buddy, brought a USB drive. On it\u2014footage of Roy yelling at Lily and her mother, talking about insurance, and ignoring the children\u2019s cries. A neighbor\u2019s statement confirmed the neglect.<\/p>\n
Karen took the evidence straight to the custody board.<\/p>\n
The courthouse smelled of varnished wood and nerves. Judge Ellison presided with the weight of someone who had seen too many broken families.<\/p>\n
The neighbor testified. Lily\u2014wearing a blue dress and more courage than any child should need\u2014told the court about the garage, the hunger, and the fear. Duke sat beside her in a service vest, steady as stone.<\/p>\n