Chapter 4 - The Investigation
Once the ambulance departed, the apartment fell into a quiet, heavy stillness.
Two police officers remained in the living room, filling out standard incident reports. One officer, Sergeant Torres, walked over to Nathan, looking at the wealthy executive with an expression of deep curiosity and respect.
“Mr. Pierce, child protective services is required to be notified whenever a primary caregiver suffers a medical emergency in a home with minors,” Torres explained carefully. “Standard protocol dictates that the children be placed in temporary foster care until the mother is officially discharged by a physician.”
Nathan turned his head, looking down at Kira and Caden. The two toddlers had wandered into the tiny kitchen and were standing in front of the open refrigerator, looking at the half-empty jar of peanut butter and the empty plastic milk jug.
“Look at this apartment, Sergeant,” Nathan said quietly, pointing toward the bare cupboards and the stack of unpaid utility notices sitting on the counter. “This woman isn't abusing her children. She’s starving herself so they can eat.”
“I know that, Mr. Pierce,” Torres sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “I’ve been on this beat for ten years. Amara Johnson works two jobs. I see her walking to the bus stop at five in the morning every single day. But the law requires a legal guardian or verified caregiver to take custody of minors in these situations.”
Nathan pulled out his phone and dialed Marcus Vance.
“Marcus,” Nathan said without preamble. “Contact our chief legal counsel, Arthur Pendelton. I need him to execute an emergency private guardianship affidavit for two minors immediately. Have him present it to the family court judge on duty.”
“Nathan,” Marcus’s voice sounded bewildered through the speaker. “You’re taking legal temporary custody of two toddlers you met thirty minutes ago?”
“I promised their mother I would keep them safe,” Nathan said firmly. “Have Arthur draft the paperwork, dispatch a private security detail to stand guard at Amara Johnson’s hospital room at Riverside Methodist, and order a full background check on her situation—financial debts, back rent, employment history, everything.”
“Consider it done,” Marcus replied.
Nathan hung up the phone and walked into the kitchen. He opened the upper cabinets. There was a box of stale crackers, an empty container of oats, and a single can of chicken noodle soup.
He knelt down beside the twins.
“Kira, Caden,” Nathan said gently. “How would you two like to go get some real food?”
Caden’s eyes lit up instantly. “Macaroni?”
“Whatever you want,” Nathan smiled, a genuine, warm expression that rarely appeared in his corporate life. “Macaroni, ice cream, fruit—anything you desire.”
Kira looked at him cautiously. “Is Mommy coming?”
“Mommy is getting medicine at the hospital,” Nathan explained gently. “As soon as we get some food and fix a few things, I’m taking you right to her room so you can give her a big hug.”
Ten minutes later, after Sergeant Torres received verbal confirmation from the family court judge approving Nathan’s temporary emergency guardianship authorization, Nathan carried Caden while holding Kira’s hand as they walked out of the building.
He placed them securely into the plush leather rear seats of his luxury SUV, buckling their safety belts carefully.
As he drove away from Elm Street, his phone buzzed on the dashboard. It was a text notification from his corporate secretary:
May you like
CHICAGO ACQUISITION DEADLINE EXPIRED. SELLER HAS WITHDRAWN THE OFFER. EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR TRANSACTION CANCELED.
Nathan glanced at the screen for a brief second, felt absolutely no regret whatsoever, and cleared the notification. He glanced into his rearview mirror, meeting the bright, hopeful eyes of the two children sitting in his back seat.
