“We had every right to put conditions on our money.”
The nurse who had been near Ava’s bed earlier appeared at the waiting-room entrance.
She was carrying a chart and slowed when she heard Patricia’s voice.
Patricia noticed her too late.
“Daniel’s assets belong with his family,” Patricia continued.
“Megan wanted our help, so we named our price.”
Mr.
Ellison’s face lost what little color it had regained.
“Do not say anything else.”
Patricia blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Nothing else.”
He pulled the folder away from her reaching hand.
“And do not attempt to file any of these documents.”
Harold stood.
“You’re our lawyer.”
“At this moment, I am telling you not to make the situation worse.”
He removed a page from the middle of the packet and held it by the corner.
“This declaration states that Megan is the sole beneficial owner of the assets, that the transfer is voluntary, that no outside pressure was used, and that consideration had already been agreed before today.”
My stomach tightened even though I already knew what the page said.
Patricia had tapped that declaration with her fingernail before I signed it.
She had been so certain I was too frightened to read.
Mr.
Ellison continued.
“Those statements appear inconsistent with what I am hearing in this room.”
Harold looked at me as if I had somehow forced him to bring the folder.
“She signed it.”
“Under circumstances that may support a claim of duress.
And if anyone intended to use a knowingly false declaration to obtain property from a trust benefiting a child, we may be discussing more than a failed private agreement.”
Patricia’s voice became quieter.
“What are you saying?”
Mr.
Ellison chose every word carefully.
“I am saying these papers don’t give you anything.
And depending on the facts, what happened tonight could have criminal implications.”
The sentence landed harder than shouting would have.
Harold sat down again.
Patricia stared at the folder as if it had betrayed her.
I had imagined that moment differently while I was signing.
I thought I would feel satisfaction.
Instead, I felt tired.
My daughter was in surgery.
That was still the only thing that mattered.
Patricia recovered first.
“Give me the folder.”
Mr.
Ellison kept one hand over it.
“No.”
“Those are our documents.”
“They may now be evidence of a disputed transaction.
I strongly advise you not to destroy, alter, replace, or remove anything.”
Her face tightened.
“You’re taking her side?”
“This is not about sides.”
She reached for the folder anyway.
I stood.
