Chapter 5 - The Lawyer Who Asked the Wrong QuestionsLeah Torres arrived at the Hale house at ten-thirty Sunday morning.
She was forty-two, with dark hair pulled into a practical knot, a charcoal jacket, and the weary expression of someone who had heard too many people describe obvious wrongdoing as a misunderstanding.
She declined coffee.
She accepted water.
Then she asked everyone except Nora to leave the dining room.
Walter frowned.
“We're her family.”
“I know,” Leah replied. “But I need to understand what she wants without anyone answering for her.”
Nora looked at her father.
“It's okay.”
When they were alone, Leah opened a yellow legal pad.
“Tell me what happened. Start before the rope.”
For almost forty minutes, Nora described the gala.
She explained Adrian's accusations, the wine, Tomas securing her wrists, and the guests who watched.
Leah interrupted only to clarify details.
Had Nora consented to the restraint?
No.
Had she asked to leave?
Yes, before the rope was secured.
Had Adrian threatened consequences if she refused to sign the document?
Yes.
Were there photographs or video?
Likely several.
Had the police prepared a report?
The officers had provided an incident number and said detectives might follow up after reviewing statements.
Leah wrote everything down.
Then she asked a question Nora had not expected.
“Are you safe from him today?”
Nora hesitated.
“He doesn't know whether I'll go back.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
Nora looked at the window.
“I don't think he would come here himself.”
“Has he ever threatened you physically before?”
“He's blocked doorways. Grabbed my arm. Taken my keys.”
Leah waited.
Nora swallowed.
“Once he locked me in his office for two hours because I wouldn't apologize.”
Leah's pen stopped.
“Did anyone know?”
“No.”
“Would you like to discuss a protective order?”
Nora nodded slowly.
Leah explained that the process would not solve every problem. A court could issue temporary protection if the evidence and applicable law supported it, but the request required clear facts, proper filing, and an understanding of the risks.
There might be hearings.
Adrian could contest the allegations.
Some evidence would become public.
“I want to do it,” Nora said.
Leah turned a page.
“Now let's discuss the company.”
Nora laid out her notes about the fourteen Grayline invoices.
Leah studied them carefully.
“How did you obtain these?”
“Through my work account. Before Adrian disabled it.”
“Were you authorized to access the underlying files?”
“Yes. I coordinated project-related events, vendors, and approval records. My account had access to the vendor portal.”
“Did you download confidential information after losing access?”
“No.”
“Good. Don't try to get back into the system. And don't publish these.”
Nora frowned.
“I thought we needed the evidence.”
“We do. But there are lawful ways to preserve it. I don't want Adrian turning your complaint into an argument about stolen trade secrets.”
Leah made several notes.
“Have you contacted the lender?”
“No.”
“Have you contacted company directors?”
“No.”
“Anyone at the hotel?”
“Only Tomas, before he gave me the phone.”
Leah looked up.
“Who controls the company's internal approvals?”
“Adrian and Cecilia have the most authority.”
“Is there an independent board?”
“Five directors. Two are family members. Three are outside investors or their representatives.”
“Do the outside directors know about Grayline?”
“I don't know.”
Leah tapped her pen against the paper.
“Then we have separate issues. The assault and restraint are one matter. Potential falsified financial records are another. A marital separation would be a third. We need to keep them organized.”
Nora gave a humorless laugh.
“Adrian always said I made everything too complicated.”
“Controlling people often prefer complicated things to remain unexamined.”
By noon, Leah had prepared a preservation notice identifying the ballroom security recordings, incident reports, rope, vendor records, and communications relevant to the gala.
She planned to send it to the hotel's legal representative and advise the police about the available evidence.
Nora signed a representation agreement.
It felt strangely important to put her own name on something without asking Adrian first.
After lunch, Lucy offered to take Nora for a walk.
They wandered through the quiet neighborhood where they had grown up.
For several blocks, neither spoke.
Finally, Lucy said, “I was angry at you.”
Nora looked down.
“I know.”
“When Mark left me last year, I called you nine times.”
Nora remembered.
Adrian had complained that Lucy was dramatic and always expected someone else to fix her problems.
Nora had listened to him.
“I should have answered.”
Lucy kicked a small stone along the sidewalk.
“I didn't need advice. I just needed my sister.”
Nora stopped.
“I'm sorry.”
Lucy looked at her for a long time.
Then she hugged her.
“I missed you.”
Nora held on.
For several seconds, the only sound was traffic in the distance.
When they separated, Lucy wiped her eyes.
“Don't disappear again.”
“I won't.”
As they turned toward home, Nora's phone rang.
Leah.
“I've just received a response from Voss Development's outside counsel,” she said.
“That was fast.”
“Yes.”
“Is that good?”
“Not particularly.”
Nora's stomach tightened.
“What did they say?”
“They claim the gala incident was consensual entertainment.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“And?”
“They also say you've been removed from your position for misconduct.”
Lucy stopped walking.
Nora's grip tightened around the phone.
Leah continued.
“They're alleging you fabricated concerns about company finances after being confronted about improper access.”
Nora stared across the street.
A child rode past on a bicycle.
Somewhere nearby, a dog barked.
Ordinary life continued.
While Adrian rewrote hers.
“Can they do that?” she asked.
“They can make allegations. They still have to support them.”
Leah hesitated.
“There's one more thing.”
“What?”
“They attached an acknowledgment supposedly signed by you last Friday.”
Nora went still.
“What acknowledgment?”
Leah's voice became careful.
“A statement saying you reviewed the Grayline payments, confirmed that the work was completed, and raised no objection.”
Nora felt the ground shift beneath her.
May you like
She had not merely been silenced.
Someone was preparing to make her responsible for the fraud.
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