"I want a recess," Daniel said abruptly, leaning toward Pierce. "I need to speak with my attorney."
"We'll take a fifteen-minute recess," Judge Hale said. "But I want to be clear with everyone in this courtroom. This material is now part of the court's record, and I've already directed my clerk to notify the county prosecutor's financial crimes division given the scope of what's being alleged. Whatever happens next in this custody matter, this evidence is not going away simply because we adjourn for fifteen minutes."
During the recess, Ethan pulled me aside into a small conference room, his expression carrying a mixture of professional excitement and genuine bewilderment.
"Do you have any idea who sent this?" he asked. "Emily, this is exactly the kind of documentation that could completely reshape this entire case, not just the custody question but potentially exposing serious criminal exposure for Daniel and Vanessa both."