Chapter 15 - The Experts Were Chosen
Marianne Frost was arrested at her office.
Her emails were devastating.
Keep Avery's treatment focused on behavioral dysregulation.
Avoid investigative interviewing.
Discourage discussion of mother's death if it escalates symptoms.
She had steered clinicians away from the truth.
Not all experts were corrupt.
Most followed referral information they believed was accurate.
Marianne controlled the referral.
The framing.
The records.
Grant's wealth had not bought better care.
It had bought more layers between Avery and someone simply asking what she was afraid of.
Nolan read the emails.
"Money can make people very efficient at doing the wrong thing."
Grant almost smiled.
"You should charge me for these observations."
"I make twenty-two dollars an hour."
Grant looked at him.
"Not anymore."
Nolan stiffened.
"No."
"What?"
"I'm not taking a rescue reward."
"It's not a reward."
"Then what?"
"A job."
Grant offered Nolan a facilities management position.
Real salary.
Benefits.
Dental insurance.
Nolan laughed.
"You knew about the dental work?"
"Payroll assistance request."
Nolan glared.
Grant raised both hands.
"Too far?"
"Very."
"Sorry."
Progress.
Nolan accepted only after an independent HR process and written role description.
Lily got her dental work.
Grant did not pay for it personally.
That detail mattered to Nolan.
Help without debt.
Then prosecutors announced the trial.
Avery would likely be asked to testify.
Grant wanted to refuse.
Avery surprised him.
"I want to tell them."
Nolan asked.
"Why?"
Avery looked at him.
"Because everybody kept saying I was having a bad minute."
She swallowed.
May you like
"It was a bad year."
