Chapter 7: What He Did Next
Christopher's next move did not come through an attorney.
It came through a journalist.
On the following Tuesday, a woman named Karen Foss published a piece in a mid-sized Atlanta lifestyle publication.
The headline was: *The Reynolds Divorce: Sources Close to the Family Speak Out.*
I read it on Priya's laptop at seven in the morning.
The article did not name me directly in the headline.
It used phrases like *sources familiar with the situation* and *those close to Christopher Reynolds* throughout.
It described the marriage as one that had been troubled from the start, characterized by what the sources called *financial dependency and emotional instability on the part of Mrs.
Reynolds.* It mentioned, without naming Nora, that a family member's illness had placed significant strain on the Reynolds household finances.
It quoted one anonymous source saying Christopher had been *extraordinarily patient and generous* with a wife who had *repeatedly made scenes at his place of business.*
The last paragraph noted that a medical complaint had been filed against Reynolds Enterprises and described it as *widely considered to be without merit by legal observers familiar with the case.*
I closed the laptop.
Priya was watching me from across the table.
"He fed it to them," I said.
"Yes."
"He couldn't use his own name so he used hers."
"Yes." Priya's voice was flat.
"He's trying to shape the story before the filing goes public."
I called Daniel Holt.
"I've seen it," he said before I could speak.
"I've already contacted the publication's legal department.
The phrase 'widely considered to be without merit by legal observers' is a specific and provable falsehood.
We will be sending a formal correction demand today."
"Will they print a correction?"
"Probably not quickly.
But the demand goes on record, and if this proceeds to trial, the article becomes evidence of a coordinated effort to influence public perception before litigation." A pause.
"He's also made another mistake."
"What?"
"The article quotes someone describing the medical complaint as without merit.
The only people who could characterize it that way with any authority are people who have read it.
The complaint is not yet public.
Which means Christopher's team shared a confidential legal document with a journalist."
I sat back.
"That's a problem for him," I said.
"A significant one." Daniel's voice was steady but there was something underneath it.
"I've been doing this for twenty-two years, Abigail.
I want you to hear me clearly.
He is not behaving like someone who believes he will win.
He is behaving like someone who is trying to survive."
I looked at the closed laptop.
"He told me once," I said slowly, "that the most important thing in any negotiation was to make the other person believe you had more options than you did."
"He's doing that now," Daniel said.
"The article, the settlement offer, the message he sent you — these are not the moves of someone with a strong position.
They are the moves of someone trying to make you feel isolated enough to give up."
"I don't feel isolated."
"Good.
Keep it that way." A pause.
"There's something else.
Harold Reynolds called me again this morning.
He has seen the article."
"What did he say?"
Daniel's tone shifted very slightly.
"He said, and I'm quoting directly: 'Tell her I am embarrassed by my grandson and I am sorry she has to see this.'"
I pressed my fingers to my eyes.
"He also said," Daniel continued, "that he has spoken to the two physicians who co-signed Nora's complaint.
Both have confirmed they will stand by their signatures and are prepared to testify if necessary.
Harold did not ask them to do this.
He called to apologize to them for the position they had been put in.
They told him they had no intention of withdrawing regardless."
"He apologized to the doctors."
"Yes."
"Christopher has no idea what his grandfather is actually like," I said.
"No," Daniel agreed.
"I don't think he does."
I ended the call and looked at Priya.
"He went to the press," I said.
"I know.
I read it." She paused.
"How are you?"
"Angry."
"Good." She said it simply, without drama.
"Angry is useful.
Angry means you're not scared."
I thought about that.
"He mentioned Nora," I said.
"Not by name.
But he mentioned her.
He described her illness as a financial strain on his household."
Priya's expression didn't change but something behind her eyes did.
"She spent the last three months of her life building a case to protect you," Priya said quietly.
"And he described her as a financial strain."
"Yes."
"Then let's make sure that case does exactly what she built it to do."
I nodded.
My phone buzzed.
A text from an Atlanta number I didn't know.
*This is Gwen.
I need to talk to you.
Not for Christopher.
For myself.
Please.*
I stared at the message for a long time.
Then I forwarded it to Daniel Holt and typed back: *Call Daniel Holt's office.
May you like
I'll speak to you through him.*
Whatever Gwen Lawson wanted to say, I was not going to hear it alone.
