Fanfic: In The Fast Lane

13: The story

Chapter 13: The Story

"Thank you, your honor." the Lincoln first addressed Judge Stafford then turned to the jury and the crowd. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Maggie Foreman. I'm an attorney here today to legally represent Joan and Jeremy Miler." Harley furrowed her eyelids slightly at her. "Harley is five years old-"

"Six actually." Doc corrected. Judge Stafford shot him a glare. "My apologies, your honor. Please, continue Mrs. Foreman." Maggie glared at Doc then looked back to the crowd.

"Anyway. Harley is six and is a Cadillac CTS-V. To raise a child takes something we are all well aware of: financial stability." Harley was already lost. "Joan used to be a teacher, but for one reason or another, quit. So they are now living in a one income household, but not to worry. Jeremy has himself a strong hold on a business in Southern California. Money is no issue in this family." Harley looked up at Doc and he had furrowed lids as he listened. "Financially, Harley Stockrim should live with her mother and stepfather." Maggie looked up at the judge and he nodded.

"And Mr. Hudson, how is her financial situation under a law guardian such as yourself?" Doc thought for a minute before speaking.

"Well, I make a decent living as a doctor and as the county judge. I believe her stay under the custody of the state has been well funded." Judge Stafford nodded and jotted down a few notes.

"I see. Mrs. Foreman, if you could present your paperwork on the Milers to me." Maggie nodded and slid over some papers onto a panel that raised to match the height of the judge's stand. Harley sighed quietly and looked around again. She tuned out the conversations once more and instead focused on the reactions from the other cars. A few nodded, others furrowed their eyelids. Maggie continued to talk over legalities of the case and Doc intervened every now and again, earning himself a spot of Judge Stafford bad side.

"Mr. Hudson, if you interrupt one more time, there will be consequences!" he finally snapped and it got Harley's attention. She looked up with wide eyes at the state judge then back over to the county judge.

"Of course, your honor, my apologies." he said and Judge Stafford shot his hood.

"You're a judge yourself, you should know better…" he muttered.

The case continued on and the minutes drug into hours. By the time Maggie had finished presenting her side of the case, Harley had lost interest and was no longer nervous for the event. Her eyes wondered around the courtroom, but they were not really focusing on anything. Then the judge addressed Doc.

"You have been the law guardian of the child for a little over a year now, is that correct, Mr. Hudson?" The case concerning herself once again grabbed her attention. She looked up at Doc as he slightly drove up and listened to the conversation.

"Yes, your honor, she's been living here in Radiator Springs for one year and three months." Doc said in a calm tone.

"And what have you seen in the child since she's been here?" The judge looked unforgivingly at Doc, but still, he kept his cool, confident nature.

"When she first arrived, she was very untrusting-"

"Which is common in children. Go on." Judge Stafford said as if he was uninterested.

"However," Doc continued, "the most concerning thing I found is the amount of bodily injuries that she had upon her arrival here." Harley watched him carefully. She wasn't sure why he was bringing this up. Doc refused to look at Harley and instead looked at the judge and at the jury. "I have my suspicions, some of which have been confirmed by the child herself."

"And what are these suspicions?" Judge Stafford questioned.

"I believe that they were neither accidental or done herself." he paused and let the statement sink in before continuing. "Based on my medical experience and on her own verbal accounts, the injuries she bore were evidence of an act that very intentional." the courtroom was dead silent and the judge nodded in understanding. Harley had furrowed eyelids and wanted to say something to better understand the conversation that was taking place, but even she could feel the tension in the room.