Chapter 7 - THE THREAT HE CALLED A JOKE
Julian's attorney called it a misunderstanding.
A joke.
A father's clumsy attempt to reassure a frightened child.
Evelyn filed for suspension of in-person visits before lunch.
By evening, the judge converted Julian's parenting time to video calls monitored by a therapist.
Julian sent no apology.
If I agreed to sell the house, divide assets "amicably," and stop pursuing sole decision-making authority for Chloe, Julian would consent to a quick divorce.
I had to sign a statement saying the hospital incident had been exaggerated because of medication.
"He wants me to erase the nurse's report with a sentence?"
Evelyn folded the proposal in half.
"He wants material his criminal attorney can use later."
"No."
"I assumed."
"Tell him no in whatever language costs him the most billable hours."
Evelyn smiled.
"Now you're thinking like an accountant."
With the court's permission and Evelyn's guidance, I reviewed copies of our household records.
The registered agent was Dr. Steven Mallory.
When Ortiz checked the company, she found payments from Julian to Mallory beginning four months before my crash.
"Why would he pay him before I was injured?" I asked.
Ortiz looked at Dad, then at me.
"We don't know yet."
Two days later, the hospital moved me to inpatient rehabilitation.
The physical therapist, Marisol, locked the wheelchair brakes.
"We're going to stand for eight seconds today."
"That sounds insulting."
"Wait until second number six."
That night, Dad sat beside my rehab bed peeling an orange with a pocketknife.
"You always carry that thing?"
"Fruit is unpredictable."
"What did you really do in the military?"
"Some special operations support. Later, operational command."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer I can give."
"Julian thought you were a logistics colonel."
"I was happy to let him."
"Why?"
Dad set the orange down.
"Because men who need to be impressed by another man's job are usually telling you something about themselves."
I thought about Julian mocking Dad at Thanksgiving.
Calling him "Colonel Clipboard."
Dad had only smiled and passed the potatoes.
"Were you watching Julian?"
"No. I was respecting your marriage. Too much, apparently."
"What is it?"
"Ortiz found the reason for the payments to Mallory."
Detective Ortiz's voice filled the room.
"Audrey, Dr. Mallory wasn't hired to evaluate you after the crash. He was paid months earlier to create a medical paper trail saying you were unstable."
"Why would Julian need that before the accident?"
Ortiz was quiet for half a beat.
"Because he was preparing two possible endings to your marriage. Divorce if you survived. Guardianship if you didn't recover."
May you like
Then she added the part that froze the room.
"And we found an email where he asked Mallory how long cognitive impairment can be used to challenge a life-insurance beneficiary dispute."
