She patted the heavy leather ledger in her lap.

“I kept the real records here,” she said. “The original psychiatric evaluations, the bank transfers, everything.”

Marco stood by the broken window, his eyes scanning the rainy street outside.

“We need to move,” Marco said. “If those men report back empty-handed, Caterina will send more.”

Dominic looked down at the ledger, his jaw locked in a hard line.

“Is the proof of the bribes in there?” Dominic asked.

“Yes,” Dr. Hale said. “Every monthly payment to Judge Whitmore, dating back five years.”

“She paid him to falsify the custody reports,” I said, the cold truth settling in my chest. “To make me look unfit.”

“She did,” Dr. Hale said, looking at me with tired, apologetic eyes. “I signed off on them because she threatened my license, and my family.”

“You’re going to tell the truth now,” Dominic said. “To the right people.”

“Not Whitmore’s court,” I said quickly. “He controls the local police. He’ll destroy the evidence.”

Dominic shook his head, his eyes flashing with a cold determination I had not seen in years.