Chapter 19 - The Question Benjamin Couldn’t Answer
Benjamin Price appeared in a charcoal suit and answered his first questions with practiced calm.
He said he had provided consulting services, not acted as my personal attorney.
He said he relied on documents delivered by the clients.
He said he had never met me before the day he stood outside my locked bedroom.
All three statements were recorded carefully.
Ruth began with the December meeting.
"Did you tell Eric Lawson that Megan's signature was necessary?"
"Yes."
"Did he ever show you written consent from Megan?"
"Not at that meeting."
"Did you subsequently contact her to confirm her wishes?"
"No."
Price explained that he believed other professionals were handling verification.
Ruth asked him to identify them.
He named an intermediary who no longer worked for Diane's company.
Then she showed him the investor presentation.
His initials appeared beside a section describing the proposed transfer schedule.
He admitted reviewing the file but denied creating every part of it.
"Did you see the line labeled Temporary lodging allowance?" Ruth asked.
Price lowered his eyes.
"I don't recall."
She showed him the slide again.
"Would you agree that it contemplated removing Megan from the residence?"
"It contemplated a move."
"Without her consent?"
His lawyer objected to the characterization.
The judge asked Ruth to rephrase.
"Mr. Price, what evidence of her consent did you personally see?"
He studied the table in front of him.
"None."
The word sat in the room like a stone.
Ruth moved to the disputed power of attorney and asked whether he had reviewed its execution.
He acknowledged concerns about the documentation but said he'd relied on assurances that corrections would follow.
Those answers did not make him responsible for every act in the case.
They did reveal how warnings had been ignored because people wanted the transaction to proceed.
Outside court, a reporter approached me.
She asked whether I believed my husband deserved prison.
I didn't answer that question.
"I want the truth established and my daughter's home protected," I said.
"Other consequences are for the proper authorities and courts to determine."
That evening Diane sent me an email with the subject FAMILY.
Inside she wrote, You have ruined your husband's life over a house.
I read it once and saved it.
Then I looked at Emma sleeping peacefully in her crib.
"No," I whispered.
May you like
"They risked our home over money."
