Chapter 7: The Custody Petition Filed Before Our Marriage
I read the petition three times.
Then I read it a fourth.
Brittany Collins had filed a request for custody of a child named Kayla Mitchell nearly two years before she ever met me.
The document contained my daughter's date of birth, her biological mother's name, and a request for access to records concerning her inheritance.
My hands began trembling.
"Richard, explain this.""
The attorney removed his glasses.
"According to this filing, Brittany attempted to establish a legal relationship with Kayla before you married her.""
"But how? She wasn't even part of our lives.""
"That's precisely what we need to investigate.""
I pointed to the signature at the bottom.
"Who authorized this?""
"Nobody. The petition was dismissed because Brittany had no legal standing at the time.""
"Why didn't Vanessa tell me?""
"She may not have known the full extent of it.""
I stood and walked toward the window.
For eighteen months, I had shared my home with a woman who had apparently been interested in my daughter long before I knew her name.
Every affectionate birthday message.
Every expensive gift.
Every time she volunteered to take Kayla shopping.
I remembered Brittany asking about Vanessa's family.
I remembered her wanting to know where Kayla's birth certificate was kept.
I remembered her suggesting that we update our estate documents.
At the time, those things had seemed normal.
Now they looked like pieces of a plan.
"Did she know Vanessa personally?"" I asked.
Reynolds nodded.
"That's becoming increasingly likely.""
"Then I want to know how she found me.""
"We're working on that.""
I picked up the petition again.
"Can we use this to stop her from approaching Kayla?""
"We can ask the court for protective measures based on the documented incidents, but we need to present the evidence accurately. The police report, the school records, the threatening messages, and this petition may all be relevant.""
I nodded.
"Do whatever is necessary.""
Before I left, Reynolds gave me a copy of the petition and the birth record.
I drove straight home.
Denise was sitting on the couch with Kayla.
My daughter had her purple crown on and was arranging stuffed animals in a circle.
"That's the doctor," she explained, pointing to a teddy bear.
"He's checking everybody's feelings.""
I smiled.
"Sounds like a very important doctor.""
Kayla giggled.
Then she noticed the documents in my hand.
"Daddy, are those about me?""
I quickly placed them on the kitchen counter.
"Just some grown-up paperwork, sweetheart.""
She returned to her toys.
Denise followed me into the kitchen.
"Did you find out anything?""
I showed her the petition.
She read the first page.
Her face went pale.
"She filed this before she met you?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did she marry you?""
I looked toward Kayla.
"That's what I'm trying to understand.""
Denise lowered her voice.
"Could she have known about Vanessa's trust?""
"Richard thinks that's possible.""
She shook her head.
"Your poor daughter.""
I rubbed my face.
"There's something else. The birth record suggests Kayla may have a connection to Olivia and Sophie.""
Denise stared at me.
"What kind of connection?""
"I don't know yet.""
For the rest of the afternoon, I tried to behave normally.
I made Kayla grilled cheese sandwiches.
We watched her favorite animated movie.
I let her paint my fingernails purple because she said princesses needed their fathers to look elegant.
But my mind kept returning to the same question.
Why had Brittany wanted Kayla before she ever met me?
At 5:40 p.m., Reynolds called.
"We've located the original court filing.""
"Who submitted it?""
"Brittany used a law firm that represented her in another guardianship matter.""
"Can you get the full file?""
"Yes. And there's something else. The judge's notes indicate that Brittany claimed to be a relative of the child.""
I stopped walking.
"What?""
"She identified herself as a maternal aunt.""
I looked at the birth record again.
"That's impossible. Vanessa didn't have a sister named Brittany.""
"Correct. But Olivia did have a second child, and there may be a biological connection we haven't established.""
My stomach tightened.
"Are you saying Brittany could be related to Kayla?""
"We need DNA evidence before drawing that conclusion.""
I ended the call and stared at the photograph of Vanessa holding the newborn.
The handwriting on the back was unmistakably hers.
The child Brittany believes disappeared was never the child she was looking for.
I couldn't make sense of it.
At 7:12 p.m., the doorbell rang.
Denise checked the camera.
"Darius.""
"What?""
"It's the police.""
Two officers stood outside.
I opened the door.
One of them introduced herself as Detective Laura Bennett.
"Mr. Mitchell, we'd like to speak with you about Brittany Collins.""
"Is something wrong?""
"We received additional information connected to the old guardianship investigation.""
I stepped aside.
They entered and sat at the dining table.
Detective Bennett placed a folder in front of me.
"We've been reviewing the photographs and records you provided. We also interviewed a former employee from the residential facility.""
"Hannah?""
"Yes. Her statement corroborates several details from the archived records.""
I nodded.
"What happens now?""
"We're attempting to locate Sophie Collins. We also need to understand why Brittany submitted a custody petition concerning your daughter.""
She opened the folder.
Inside was a photocopy of an older document.
A hospital record.
The mother's name was Olivia Collins.
The baby's name had been crossed out and replaced.
I leaned closer.
The original name was almost unreadable.
But underneath it, someone had written another name.
Brittany.
Detective Bennett watched my face.
"Do you recognize this?""
"No.""
"Mr. Mitchell, we believe Brittany may have been using different identities during the period surrounding Olivia's death.""
I stared at the document.
"Why?""
"That is what we're investigating.""
She closed the folder.
"There's one more thing. We have reason to believe Brittany may attempt to contact your daughter again.""
"She won't get near her.""
"We recommend that you maintain your current safety arrangements and report any unexpected contact immediately.""
I nodded.
After the detectives left, I went upstairs.
Kayla was asleep.
Her purple crown rested on the bedside table.
I sat beside her and brushed a hand over her forehead.
She stirred.
"Daddy?""
"I'm here.""
"Is Brittany coming back?""
I swallowed.
"No, baby.""
"Promise?""
I kissed her forehead.
"I'll do everything I can to keep you safe.""
She closed her eyes.
I remained beside her until she fell asleep again.
Then I went downstairs and opened the envelope Brittany had left.
I had initially avoided examining it closely.
Now I noticed something I had missed.
At the bottom of the envelope, beneath the photographs, was a small USB drive.
I called Reynolds.
He told me to preserve it and not connect it to my personal computer.
The following morning, his office arranged for a forensic specialist to examine the contents.
There were dozens of files.
Old photographs.
Scanned documents.
Audio recordings.
And one video.
The filename was simple.
*KAYLA_FINAL.mp4*
I pressed play.
The screen showed Brittany sitting in what appeared to be a hospital waiting room.
She looked younger.
Her hair was shorter.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Then another woman entered the frame.
Vanessa.
The recording lasted less than a minute.
But the final words made my blood run cold.
Vanessa looked directly at the camera and said:
"That child is not yours, Brittany. And if you ever come near my daughter again, I will make sure the truth comes out.""
The video ended.
I looked at Reynolds.
He was pale.
"Who was the baby Brittany was holding?""
He slowly turned the hospital record toward me.
"Darius, I think we're finally looking at the beginning of this entire story.""
May you like
Then he pointed to the date.
It was the day Kayla was born.
