Chapter 5 - JULIA'S DEFENSE
Julia hired attorney Lauren Pierce before sunrise.
Fast.
Smart.
Lauren told Grant:
“Do not confuse aggressive estate administration with theft.”
Good opening.
The trust requests had not hidden Julia’s sister.
The vendor relationship was disclosed.
Vanessa was a licensed family-support consultant.
She had provided:
transportation coordination,
staffing,
school communications,
behavioral-support scheduling.
Some work was real.
Rates were high.
Not imaginary.
Then Lauren said:
“Your disappearance created chaos.”
Grant hated the phrasing.
But true.
Julia had:
two grieving children,
press outside the gates,
uncertain estate authority,
company lawyers,
security concerns.
Then:
“Did Julia make mistakes?”
Lauren continued.
“Yes.”
“Did she build a criminal scheme?”
“No evidence.”
Important.
Grant could not turn suspicion into certainty.
Then Lauren reframed Molly.
“Molly rejected every transition because she wanted to remain indispensable.”
Grant frowned.
Could that be partly true?
Maybe.
Molly loved the boys.
She also had more influence than most employees.
Then Lauren produced texts.
MOLLY:
They don’t need Julia deciding everything.
MOLLY:
I know these boys better than she does.
Not ideal.
Julia said:
“She was trying to run my house.”
Grant answered:
“It was my house too.”
Julia looked at him.
“For two months, you were dead.”
May you like
Silence.
That sentence landed harder than any insult.
