“Evidence concerning Mrs.
Vale’s attempts to notify Mr.
Vale,” Dana said.
Judge Ellis looked at her.
“Relevant to custody?”
“Relevant to the parties’ credibility and to the circumstances surrounding Mr.
Vale’s lack of knowledge.”
The judge allowed her to proceed narrowly.
Dana began with phone logs.
Lena had called Harrison’s personal number eleven times during the first three weeks after leaving the marital home.
The early calls rang normally.
Then they began going directly to voicemail.
She had sent messages asking for a private conversation.
She had emailed his executive office.
One email requested confirmation that Harrison would receive medical information Lena described as urgent and personal.
The office confirmed receipt.
Harrison turned toward Frank.
“I never saw it.”
Dana continued.
A courier had delivered a sealed envelope addressed personally to Harrison at the marital residence.
The package was returned the following day with instructions that future communication from Lena be routed through attorneys.
Harrison’s face tightened.
“I didn’t order that.”
Dana looked at him.
“We know.”
Vivienne shifted in her chair.
Frank immediately noticed.
So did Dana.
The next item was a voicemail transcript preserved by Lena’s carrier after she changed phones.
Lena’s voice had been calm.
She had asked Harrison to call before involving lawyers because there was something about her health and their marriage that he deserved to hear directly from her.
Harrison rubbed one hand over his mouth.
“I never heard that.”
“Mr.
Vale,” Judge Ellis warned, “speak through counsel.”
He nodded but kept staring at the transcript.
Dana did not claim that Harrison himself had deleted the message.
She didn’t need to.
She simply established that the message existed and that Lena had sent it.
Then she produced records showing that access settings on Harrison’s personal phone account had changed during the same period.
Lena’s number had been added to a blocked-contact list.
Frank leaned toward Harrison.
“Did you do that?”
“No.”
His answer was immediate.
Dana looked toward Vivienne.
“Ms.
Shaw had been publicly described as Mr.
Vale’s partner by that time, correct?”
Frank objected before she finished.
“Counsel is wandering.”
Dana remained calm.
“Then I will be specific.
We have reason to believe Ms.
Shaw had access to Mr.
Vale’s personal devices and residence during the period in question.”
