I had just broken, stomped, shattered every single rule in the book. If Danielle were in the room, she would have erupted like a defense attorney staving off a courtroom confession. Pavel actually gasps, but he gathers himself under the judge’s impatient stare and translates. Maria, the caseworker, had an opposite reaction, apparently forgetting how to breathe.

The judge said, steel in her voice: “Ask your one question.”

“If Alexander’s mother changes her mind, I want to know you will abide by your ruling if you give him to us. That he will be ours forever. That his mother will have no standing to try to claim him. That this…campaign waged against us will not be endorsed by the Russian government.”

Pavel translated, with seeming precision and care. The judge listened intently, but her gaze was fixed on me. I stared right back as she answered and Pavel rendered it into wry English.

“Never ask me, Mrs. Pollitt,” the judge said, “if I will not stand by my rulings.” When Pavel finished the translation, there was a flicker of respect on the judge’s face. Barely. Just for me to see.

I said, unbidden, unasked: “Yes, ma’am. We only want to love him. We’ve already had to deal with far more here than most adoptive parents. We don’t want her trying to contact him or us. If when he’s older he wants to reach out to her, we will support that. But not now. Not as a matter of custody.”

“Help me,” Anya had said. I’m sorry, Anya. I’m sorry.

The judge took a long, deep breath.

“You. Mrs. Pollitt. I am told you are a songwriter?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

Maria, the caseworker, glanced at me as if embarrassed.

And then the judge started humming a song I wrote for NSYNC, one of their early hits, and tapped out the rhythm on the desk. I got the first smile from her.

We have our son.

53

Excerpt of Transcript of TCSO and LPD Interview with Kyle Pollitt

(Continued from previous session)

Detective Ames: What was your wife’s relationship with Danielle Roberts?

Pollitt: Basically, the same as mine. Neighbor, friend, helped us get our son. Where’s Detective Ponder?

Detective Ames: Busy.

Pollitt: Why are we still talking? I confessed.

Detective Ames: We need to clear things up on the case. Just tie stuff together.

Pollitt: But I confessed. It’s over.

Detective Ames: We have some more questions. Danielle helped you get your son. What all does that cover?

Pollitt: She worked for an adoption consultancy. She helped us navigate the process. She was the liaison with the Russian officials.

Detective Ames: Did she go to Russia with you?

Pollitt: Yes.

Detective Ames: So you traveled with her.

Pollitt: My wife and I, yes.

Detective Ames: I understand that the relationship between your wife and Ms. Roberts was strained.