Chapter 21: Being On All Fours

Got us the emergency hearing — 9 a.m. Tuesday.

You’ll have to wear the restraints.

Will challenge once in front of the judge.

Asking for immediate relief.

“Is that it?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said, glancing at her phone. “That’s it.”

“We should call him,” I suggested. “Are you okay like that while we talk to him?”

Isla sat up, resting her elbows on the edge of the couch.

“I’m fine. Just call him,” she said.

We’d gotten up not long before. Isla had just finished her shower, and I’d just put her back in the sleeves. We didn’t need to be at the museum until later in the afternoon. The plan was to take another load of items to the house, stopping by the Prescotts before heading to the museum.

Sophie had called yesterday, just before I left for work, to let us know the artist had one more item for Isla to wear. Nothing drastic—nothing to worry about, she insisted. I think she was also curious to see how Isla was doing. As Sophie and Becca both reminded me, I’d kept Isla in the whole “pet play” setup, as Becca called it, all day yesterday.

I was just about to get her into the harness and the rest of the gear when Jeffrey’s text came through. She wouldn’t be able to stay in it all day, but at least she’d have the morning to help her get more adjusted to it.

I put Isla’s phone on speaker. Jeffrey picked up immediately and got straight to the point.

He’d scheduled an emergency injunctive hearing and explained, “I’ve asked the court to enjoin the state and law enforcement from restraining you based on the current DOCCS classification, pending a full review.”

After some back and forth, we finally understood what he was telling us.

He was asking the court to stop the DOCCS and local police from enforcing the restraints—at least until the system caught up with reality.

“Your text said Isla has to go in restraints?” I asked to clarify. “To court?”

“Yes,” Jeffrey said. “Until the judge hears the motion, the current policy still applies. I hate it, but we can’t risk showing up unrestrained while the system still flags you as a high-risk escapee. It’s about safety and optics. Once we’re in court, I’ll push hard to get that changed.”

“What do I wear?” Isla asked. “Like a business suit?”

Jeffrey smiled, his voice clear over the phone. “This judge is pretty strict about formal dress. I’d recommend a professional suit with a skirt, plus pantyhose and heels—two to three inches is ideal, but nothing higher. You want to look sharp, but conservative in front of her.”

“Does Isla really have to go in through the front?” I asked. I was familiar with the courthouse—I’d been there a few times, called in when someone got hurt. I knew there was only one entrance. Even the convicts went in through the front.

“Yeah,” Jeffrey replied. “It’s a small courthouse, so there’s only one main entrance everyone uses. But don’t worry—I’ll talk to the officers there. They know the drill and usually keep things low-key, especially for hearings like this. They’ll do their best to avoid any unnecessary attention.”

“There’s one more thing, Isla,” Jeffrey said. “I need you to see a psychiatrist I trust. He’ll do a quick evaluation and provide a report for the hearing. It’s important—we want the court to have a clear, expert opinion on your condition.”

“What do you mean ... by ‘my condition’?” Isla asked, a bit confused.

Jeffrey took a moment before answering. “I just mean the court will want to understand your mental and emotional state—whether the restraints are really necessary or if there’s a better way to handle things. Having a professional’s evaluation will make a difference with this judge.”

“Whether the restraints are really necessary?” Isla repeated. “But I’m not a convicted felon. This is all a mistake.”

Jeffrey’s tone stayed calm but firm. “I know. That’s exactly why we need to be thorough. The system moves slow, and they rely on classifications and reports. This evaluation helps us build the case that you don’t belong in restraints and clears up any confusion.”

“But I’m not a felon. I’m ... I’m not in these because I’m dangerous,” Isla said, frowning. “Why can’t they just fix the record?”

Jeffrey let out a quiet breath on the other end of the line. “Because it’s not that simple. I believe your record—what happened to you—is more important to their investigation than they’re letting on, and they’ll be reluctant to change it. And then there’s DOCCS itself. It’s not quick to admit a mistake, especially one that could expose them to liability. They’ll stall, review, investigate—and with them wanting to interview you and get their questions answered, they’ll fight us on every step.”

She was quiet for a moment. Then, “So what’s the point of this evaluation?”

“It gives us something now,” he said. “We can get a psychiatric report in front of the judge before Tuesday. If it shows you’re not a danger, that you’re stable and cooperative, it helps us argue the current level of restraints are unnecessary. That’s a lot easier in the short term than forcing the DOCCS to fix their system overnight.”

“If it shows I’m not a danger?” Isla again repeated what Jeffrey said. She then sighed, “So ... proving I’m not dangerous is faster than proving I’m not a criminal?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Jeffrey said. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but the court can’t rewrite the DOCCS’ record—at least not right away. What it can do is decide how you’re treated in the meantime.”

“But here’s the reality,” Jeffrey said. “Even though the psych eval will show you’re stable, not a threat, and that this whole situation is bureaucratic—not criminal...”

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before continuing.

“I don’t think the judge is going to lift the restraints entirely. Not yet.”

“What?” Isla asked, her voice tight. “Even with the evaluation?”

“Yes,” he said gently. “Because the DOCCS system still lists you as a high-risk escapee, even if it’s as a temporary subject. That flag carries weight. Like I said, the court can’t force the DOCCS to fix your record, at least not immediately. But until that record is corrected, the judge is going to lean on the side of caution—public safety, optics, liability. It’s not about you personally. It’s the system.”

Isla was quiet.

“That said,” Jeffrey continued, “I’m asking the court to limit the restraints. I think we have a good chance of getting an order that says you don’t have to wear them at home or in private settings. Just during transport or when you’re around law enforcement. It’s not everything, but it’s a step in the right direction—and it gives us a foothold to push further.”