Chapter 13 - The Policy
The policies were legitimate documents in a larger set of insurance paperwork, but several signatures required verification.
Maya remembered being told one form would protect the charitable foundation in case a board member became ill.
She did not remember authorizing the particular beneficiary designation investigators showed her.
Julian's business entity appeared on the paperwork.
Rachel immediately cautioned against speculating about his intentions.
"We need provenance, signatures, and a complete timeline," she said.
Maya stared at the date.
It was the same week Julian had insisted she move into the guest house to rest.
"He said the main bedroom was being renovated," she recalled.
"Was it?" Rachel asked.
"No. I found out later."
For the first time, Maya wondered aloud whether the entire household had been preparing to isolate her long before the night of her injuries.
I could not answer that question for her.
I stayed in my chair and listened.
Detective Ortiz later informed us that the forensic examination of Maya's recovered phone had found fragments of draft messages and deleted communications.
The experts would need time to authenticate who created them.
One recovered note contained instructions to describe Maya as confused and unreliable.
It did not carry a confirmed author.
Evelyn's legal team immediately denied wrongdoing.
Marcus's attorney said his client had no involvement in the accounts.
Julian remained publicly silent.
Then Maya received an unexpected invitation to a foundation board meeting.
The agenda proposed removing her as chair because of an alleged inability to perform her duties.
Her name was still being used to raise money.
But the people controlling the organization wanted to erase her from its leadership.
Maya closed her laptop and looked at me.
"They keep trying to take away my voice."
"What do you want to do?"
She sat up straighter.
May you like
"I want to show up."
