Chapter 7 - A Dangerous Alliance
When I returned to Columbus the next morning, I didn't go home. I met Mark and an attorney he had finally managed to retain—a fierce, independent civil rights lawyer named David Vance (no relation to Ryan, ironically) who specialized in police misconduct cases.
We sat in David’s high-rise office overlooking downtown Columbus, laying out the evidence: the Cleveland IA files, Elena’s recorded confession, and the medical documentation of Mia’s injuries.
"This is incredible," David said, adjusting his glasses as he listened to Ryan’s voice play through the computer speakers. 'My uncle controls the docket, Elena. You think anyone’s gonna take the word of a hysterical woman over a decorated officer?'
"It’s enough to trigger a federal investigation under color of law violations," David continued. "But federal cases take months, sometimes years, to build. Right now, your sister is scheduled for a final custody hearing tomorrow morning at the county family court. If Ryan’s uncle influences that judge, temporary custody of Mia will be granted solely to Ryan, and Maddie will be ordered into an inpatient psychiatric facility."
"We can't let that happen," I said, panic rising again. "We have less than twenty-four hours."
"We need a leverage play," Mark suggested. "If we present this evidence directly to the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation today, can they intervene before the custody hearing tomorrow?"
"They can execute an emergency state warrant if they believe a crime is ongoing or a cover-up is actively occurring," David said. "But we need an insider. We need someone within the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department who is tired of the Sheriff's corruption and willing to open the door for state agents."
I thought back to the night Mia was taken to the hospital. "Officer Miller. The young officer who responded to the 911 call. He was uncomfortable. He knew something was wrong, but he was intimidated by Ryan."
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"We need to contact Miller," David agreed. "If we can convince him to provide his original, unedited field notes before Ryan forced him to alter the report, we have a clear-cut case of tampering with evidence by a law enforcement official. That gives the BCI all the jurisdiction they need to sweep in."
It was a massive gamble. If Miller ratted us out to Ryan, we would be walking straight into a trap. But with Maddie’s freedom and Mia’s life on the line, it was a risk we had no choice but to take.
