Chapter 5 - She Had Already Asked About Emergency Custody
The police investigation expanded.
So did the child-protection review.
Nothing happened instantly.
Nobody handcuffed Linda dramatically in our driveway.
Professionals interviewed people.
Collected medical records.
Reviewed the baby-monitor footage.
Examined the bathroom.
Compared stories.
Then investigators obtained data from Linda’s phone pursuant to the legal process.
Her search history included:
postpartum psychosis signs
can father get emergency custody newborn
temporary custody dangerous mother ohio
grandparent visitation infant
Searches began twelve days before Lily was born.
Ryan stared at the dates.
“Before Emma even delivered?”
Yes.
Then came a draft email Linda had never sent.
To an attorney.
My stepson’s wife may be unstable after childbirth. She has discussed moving his child away from his entire support system. What should he document if her behavior becomes unsafe?
I felt cold.
The attorney had never represented her.
There was no secret legal conspiracy.
Linda had simply been researching.
Planning.
Waiting.
Her defense became:
“I was concerned before Lily was born because Emma was anxious during pregnancy.”
I had been anxious.
My pregnancy included hypertension during the final month.
I worried constantly.
That was not psychosis.
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It was not danger.
It was not permission for somebody else to turn motherhood into an investigation.
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