Chapter 16 - The Hospital Recording
The jury heard the recording on day twelve.
I did not stay in courtroom.
I went to witness room with Sarah.
I had heard once for prosecutors.
Enough.
But later transcript.
ELEANOR:
Who is going to believe a helpless cripple?
HAZEL crying.
GENEVIEVE:
Bring my daughter back.
JULIAN:
Sign first.
GENEVIEVE:
Julian.
JULIAN:
Sign over the voting rights and properties.
GENEVIEVE:
No.
VICTORIA laughing.
VICTORIA:
Look at you. You can’t even walk.
GENEVIEVE:
Get out.
JULIAN:
You have no choice.
Papers.
GENEVIEVE:
Keep talking.
JULIAN:
You think someone is going to save you?
Then door.
SARAH:
Please continue.
That was the rawest evidence.
No spreadsheets.
No valuations.
A man using child and disability as leverage.
Defense argued none documents were signed, so no completed extortion.
Prosecution charged attempted extortion/coercion and financial fraud, not completed transfer.
Good.
Then my statement:
When Julian rolled Hazel away, did I believe he would actually take her permanently?
“I didn’t know.”
“Did you feel pressured to sign?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sign?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I could still move my hand.”
That line came without plan.
Later reporters used.
I hated.
Then cross.
“You knew Sarah was coming?”
“Yes.”
“You knew recording?”
“Yes.”
“So you provoked statements?”
“No.”
“You told them keep talking.”
“After they had already slapped me and demanded signatures.”
“Were you trying to gather evidence?”
“At that point, yes.”
Good.
Then my marriage.
“Did you ever tell Julian Vance Development was ours?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell him he deserved equity?”
“I said we should discuss compensation/equity.”
“Did you finalize?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Pregnancy, deals, procrastination.”
Not heroic.
“Did Julian contribute to growth?”
“Yes.”
“Substantially?”
“Yes.”
“Could he reasonably feel excluded?”
“Feel, yes.”
“Could he reasonably believe he owned 60 percent?”
“No.”
Then company value.
“You controlled household wealth.”
“Most separate assets were mine.”
“Could that create imbalance?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever use that imbalance in arguments?”
“Sometimes.”
Sarah later said good.
Truth inoculates.
Then:
“Did any of that authorize him to sign your name?”
“No.”
Simple.
Then death record.
“Was it valid?”
“No.”
“Were you ever legally declared dead?”
“No.”
“So no estate transferred.”
“No.”
“Did Julian kill you?”
“No.”
Objection? Strange.
But I answered.
No.
This was fraud case.
Not attempted murder.
The jury needed not be inflamed beyond.
Then after testimony, I vomited in bathroom.
Sarah held hair.
“I hate court.”
“Everyone does.”
“Lawyers don’t.”
“We’re damaged.”
I laughed.
Then Hazel’s daycare called.
Fever.
I left.
Trial continued without me.
May you like
Mother before witness.
That was victory.
