Chapter 7: The Injunction That Backfired
Patricia called me from outside the courthouse at 4:17 PM.
"The judge denied it," she said.
"Garrett Finch argued that you removed documents before leaving the marital home.
I submitted the security footage and Margaret Alderman's written statement.
The judge reviewed both." A brief pause.
"He didn't just deny the injunction.
He issued a preservation order.
Neither Julian nor Evelyn may remove, destroy, or transfer any documents, financial records, or property from the house until further notice."
I was sitting in Dana's car in the parking lot of a grocery store.
I hadn't gone inside yet.
I'd been waiting for this call.
"What was Julian's reaction?"
"Garrett Finch requested a recess.
When they came back, Julian looked—" Patricia chose her word carefully.
"Pale."
"And Evelyn?"
"She wasn't present.
But Garrett is representing her interests jointly, which the judge noted.
He said, and I'm quoting directly, that the joint representation raised questions about the independence of each party's position."
I stared through the windshield at a woman loading groceries into a minivan.
Normal afternoon.
Normal Tuesday.
"What happens next?" I said.
"Discovery.
Julian's company records are now fully discoverable.
Bank accounts, expense reports, client invoices, everything.
We'll also subpoena his personal accounts." A pause.
"Claire, if Renata has been receiving payments from the company — salary, consulting fees, anything — it will show up."
"How long does discovery take?"
"Months, typically.
But I've requested an expedited financial review given the preservation order and the attempted removal of documents." Another pause.
"There's one more thing.
Garrett Finch called me after the hearing."
"What did he say?"
"He said Julian wants to talk.
Not through lawyers.
Directly.
He wants to meet with you."
I was quiet for a moment.
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him any communication goes through me.
But I wanted you to know he asked." A careful silence.
"It means he's worried.
The footage rattled him.
He thought you'd left without any record of what happened in that house."
"He forgot about Margaret," I said.
"He forgot about Margaret," Patricia agreed.
"Do you want to meet with him?"
"Not yet."
"That's what I thought.
I'll tell Garrett the answer is no for now." A pause.
"Go eat something, Claire.
Today was a good day."
I went inside and bought groceries I didn't need and stood in the cereal aisle for a long time without picking anything up.
My phone buzzed.
Julian.
*I know about the footage.
I need you to understand that what you think happened is not what happened.
Please.
Just talk to me.*
I read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
Same number.
But the tone was different.
*You think you've won something.
You haven't.
There are things in those company records you don't want coming out either.
Think carefully before you push this further.*
I screenshot both messages and forwarded them to Patricia with a single line: *He just threatened me.*
Her reply came in under a minute: *That's the second thing he's done wrong today.
May you like
I'll add it to the file.*
I put my phone in my pocket and went to find the cereal.
