Chapter 6 - RICHARD'S DEFENSE
Richard hired attorney Lauren Pierce.
Excellent.
He denied any plan to harm Eli.
His position:
Eli was visiting family voluntarily.
David became frustrated during questioning.
The slaps were unacceptable.
Richard did not order them.
Richard shouted “Stop him” because an eleven-year-old was climbing through a dangerous basement window.
Reasonable framing.
Then the phrase.
Richard admitted asking about it.
Why?
Because he believed Sarah had taken confidential company and trust information.
He wanted to recover family records.
Not destroy evidence.
Lauren said:
“Possessing confidential copies is not automatically whistleblowing.”
True.
Then North Bridge.
She argued:
related-party relationship was disclosed,
fees were approved,
services performed,
and the trust benefited from legitimate tax and investment work.
Again:
not cartoon fraud.
Then Lauren attacked Mark.
Why did Sarah hide information from her own husband?
Why did she trust an eleven-year-old with a recovery phrase instead?
Mark did not know.
That question hurt.
Then Richard said through counsel:
“Sarah was increasingly paranoid near the end.”
Mark nearly exploded.
Rachel stopped him.
“Documents,” she said.
May you like
Not outrage.
Documents would decide this.
