Two days later, David sat inside a bright Dallas courtroom.
The high ceilings and wood paneling gave the room a cold atmosphere.
Evelyn sat at the opposite defense table alongside her expensive lawyer.
She wore a dark grey suit and kept her head bowed low.
Richard sat next to her, looking totally broken and terrified.
The judge walked in and took his elevated seat at the front.
Judge: We are here regarding the emergency custody and protection order.
David's attorney stood up calmly and smoothed his dark tie.
Mark: Your Honor, we have overwhelming evidence of unlawful confinement.
Mark placed a flash drive onto the wooden clerk desk.
Mark: This contains security footage from the residential neighborhood.
Evelyn's defense lawyer quickly stood up to object.
Lawyer: Your Honor, my client was merely caring for her niece.
David: She locked my six-year-old child inside a suitcase!
The judge slammed his wooden gavel down with a sharp bang.
Judge: Order in this courtroom right now!
The judge inserted the flash drive into his laptop screen.
He watched the clear video footage showing Richard carrying the silver luggage.
The video clearly showed them placing the suitcase near the hallway stairs.
The judge's face turned completely grim as he watched the recording.
He looked down at Evelyn with severe disappointment and quiet anger.
Judge: This behavior is beyond unacceptable and completely reckless.
Evelyn began to sob loudly into a white paper tissue.
Evelyn: We were desperate, Your Honor! We needed the estate money!
Richard pulled away from her, shaking his head in total disgust.
Richard: Do not include me in your crazy schemes, Evelyn!
Evelyn: You knew everything from the very beginning, Richard!
The judge slammed the gavel down once again to stop the shouting.
Judge: Silence! Both of you will face full legal consequences.