Chapter 6 - The Video Chloe EditedThe temporary custody hearing happened four days later.
Greg sat beside his attorney.
Chloe did not attend.
Neither did Diane.
I sat beside Susan.
Arthur handled the financial case separately.
The judge watched the dinner video.
Me standing.
My hand striking Chloe.
Children crying.
Then me taking the necklace.
Greg’s attorney said:
“Mrs. Vance became physically aggressive in front of two minor children.”
Susan asked:
“Is this the complete recording?”
Greg’s attorney hesitated.
“The recording provided by the family begins there.”
Not good enough.
One of Greg’s cousins, Michael, had sent me a message the night after the dinner.
I’m sorry. Chloe was way out of line.
I had not answered.
Susan subpoenaed his phone video.
He recorded almost everything because he had been filming the anniversary toast when the argument began.
His video showed Chloe standing.
Chloe slapping me.
Chloe pushing my plate.
Greg saying:
Don’t make a scene.
Then my response.
Complete context.
The judge watched.
Greg looked at the table.
Again.
Some habits survive.
Temporary parenting schedule remained.
Children primarily with me for school nights while investigation continued.
Greg received scheduled parenting time.
Chloe prohibited from contact pending further review because she had physically struck me in front of them.
The judge did not declare anybody permanently unfit.
Good.
Then the house.
Greg’s attorney claimed the Vance Family Residence Trust was legitimate estate planning.
He produced an email supposedly from me.
GREG, GO AHEAD WITH WHATEVER TRUST STRUCTURE PROTECTS THE HOUSE. I DON’T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH PAPERWORK.
My email address.
My signature block.
I stared.
I had never sent it.
Arthur checked account logs.
The message existed in my sent folder.
Date:
Seven months earlier.
I had been in Boston.
Could Greg access my email?
Yes.
Years earlier I saved the password on our home computer.
The email login came from our home IP address.
Could be Greg.
Could be anyone in house.
Not enough.
Then a reply from Diane:
Happy to serve as trustee if that makes things easier for Maya.
I almost laughed.
Diane had created a paper conversation with someone pretending to be me.
Then another email.
From my account:
THANK YOU. I TRUST BOTH OF YOU.
No.
I did not write that.
Arthur asked:
“Do you use all caps?”
“Never.”
Small detail.
Useful.
Then calendar.
At the exact time the first email was sent, I was presenting at a regulatory conference in Boston.
Photos.
Attendance log.
My phone connected to conference WiFi.
The home IP activity did not come from my phone.
Laptop?
With me.
Home desktop:
Greg used it.
Then Diane’s attorney sent a statement.
She claimed she believed I authorized everything.
“She thought Greg was handling paperwork for me.”
Possible.
Until we reviewed the credit line.
Diane signed:
TRUSTEE CERTIFICATION.
It stated:
The grantor personally confirmed transfer and borrowing authority.
Grantor:
Me.
When did I confirm?
Diane claimed by phone.
No date.
No record.
Then Naomi found Diane received $27,000 from the first mortgage draw.
Reason:
Trust administration reimbursement.
Diane said it repaid money she loaned Greg.
Maybe.
But she financially benefited.
Then Chloe’s edited video became relevant for another reason.
The original file metadata showed she edited it at 11:14 p.m. anniversary night.
Then sent it to Greg:
USE THIS IF SHE TRIES TO TAKE THE KIDS.
Eleven minutes after I left.
Greg replied:
GOOD.
They were preparing custody evidence before asking whether the children were okay.
Then another message from Chloe:
DID SHE TAKE THE SAPPHIRE?
Greg:
YES.
Chloe:
THAT’S A PROBLEM.
Not:
I want my necklace.
A problem.
Why?
Greg replied:
IT CONNECTS TOO CLEANLY.
My skin went cold.
May you like
They knew the necklace connected to the money trail.
Continue to the next part: Messages sent minutes after Maya left show Greg and Chloe were already worried the sapphire could expose where the money came from.
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