Chapter 14 - THE PLAN FOR ME
The petition alleging I was incompetent had seemed cruel enough when I first saw it.
Now its supporting documents revealed the machinery behind that cruelty.
Some medical notes were invented.
Other details had been taken from ordinary grief counseling appointments and stripped of context.
A supposed witness statement claimed I had wandered into traffic after my mother's death.
I had never done anything of the kind.
Another alleged that I routinely gave large sums to strangers.
The only person who had repeatedly demanded money from me was Ethan.
Priya said the draft petition itself did not prove a conspiracy to unlawfully confine me.
But a series of related emails suggested Ethan was exploring ways to gain control of my financial decisions.
The phrase "when she's declared incapable" appeared more than once.
One message from Marjorie asked whether a conservator could approve a sale of the garage without my signature.
I read it twice before setting down the page.
They had not merely expected me to agree.
They had planned for the possibility that I would refuse.
Mercer obtained authorization to interview Vivian Hart.
She denied intentionally changing any prescription.
She also denied being involved in the foundation.
But her bank account contained a payment from a consulting company affiliated with Warren Pike.
She claimed it was compensation for administrative work.
Investigators would have to test that explanation.
During her interview, Vivian mentioned that Ethan had promised everything would be "handled" after a particular Monday.
That Monday was the day Dad had his final collapse.
Vivian requested a lawyer and stopped answering questions.
I left the station shaken but no longer confused.
My husband had built an imaginary version of me in documents, emails, and conversations with strangers.
He had needed that version to be fragile, unstable, and grateful.
The real Lydia was inconvenient because she could read the documents and say no.
That evening, Martin called with news.
Warren Pike had been located in another state.
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He was asking to speak to prosecutors.
