Arthur answered the door in a flannel robe, holding a mug of black coffee.

He listened to me without interrupting, his bushy white eyebrows drawing closer together as I spoke.

“He’s bluffing about the recording, Sarah,” Arthur said, leaning against his kitchen counter.

“Virginia is indeed a one-party consent state.”

“But he’s not bluffing about the custody filing.”

“If he has money and a clean record, a judge in Richmond might give him temporary visitation just to establish a relationship.”

“The courts like to believe in reunification, even when it’s a terrible idea.”

My heart sank. “Even after sixteen years of absence?”

“Even then,” Arthur said.

“Unless we can prove that his presence would be actively detrimental to Caroline’s physical or emotional well-being.”

“Those emails from Rebecca will help, but we need more.”

“We need to show the judge exactly who Thomas is before he can spin his narrative.”

“Who is the best lawyer for this, Arthur?” I asked.

“Call Evelyn Vance,” he said, writing a number on a yellow legal pad.

“She’s based in Richmond, but she practices across the region.”