Chapter 13 - Why Julia Chose Anna
Anna read her own name three times.
"I never agreed to this."
Richard looked just as confused.
"Julia never told me either."
The document was dated twelve days before Julia died.
It named Anna as emergency guardian of Leo if Richard became unavailable or legally compromised.
Vanessa leaned over Tom's shoulder.
"That's why Nathan wanted her gone."
Anna looked at Leo sleeping on the hotel bed.
"I thought he wanted me gone because I found the envelope."
"No," Richard said slowly. "You were the backup plan."
Julia had built a wall around her son.
Richard.
Then Anna.
Nathan needed both removed.
The emergency court hearing began the next morning.
Nathan did not appear.
His attorneys did.
They argued Richard's household was dangerous, unstable, and compromised by criminal investigation.
They used photographs of Leo's injuries.
They used the bottle from Anna's room.
They used Richard's fraudulent corporate approvals.
For an hour, it worked.
Then Richard's new attorney played the staircase footage.
Vanessa took the witness stand voluntarily.
Every person in the courtroom turned toward her.
She admitted grabbing Leo.
Admitted trying to frame Anna.
Admitted working with Nathan.
The judge stared at her.
"Why should I believe anything you say now?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"You shouldn't. Believe the records."
She produced her old clinic email archive.
One message from Nathan read:
MAKE SURE JULIA LOOKS UNSTABLE. IF SHE GOES PUBLIC, WE ALL LOSE.
Another instructed Vanessa to photograph Anna with Leo whenever an injury occurred.
Another, sent two weeks earlier, ordered her to create "one undeniable household safety event" before the emergency guardianship filing.
Richard's hands curled into fists.
The staircase.
That was the event.
The judge denied the emergency petition and referred the documents to prosecutors.
For the first time in days, Anna felt something loosen in her chest.
Then a bailiff entered and whispered to the judge.
The judge's face changed.
"Mr. Bennett, remain seated."
Richard frowned.
Two federal agents entered the courtroom.
One approached him.
"Richard Bennett?"
"Yes."
"We need to speak with you concerning Bennett Coastal Holdings."
Anna's relief vanished.
Margaret had warned him.
Prison.
Richard stood.
"Am I under arrest?"
"Not at this time."
The agent looked toward Leo.
"But we have reason to believe Nathan Cross is attempting to leave the country with documents that could make you appear responsible for the entire fraud."
Richard exhaled.
"Then find him."
The agent's expression stayed grim.
"We did."
Everyone went quiet.
"Nathan Cross was taken into custody forty minutes ago at a private airfield."
Richard stared.
"Then what's the problem?"
The agent opened a folder.
"He says he has evidence that Julia Bennett was alive for six hours after the crash."
Anna felt cold.
The agent continued.
"And he says the last person to see her alive was you."
---
The next chapters are on the left side of your screen.
If you enjoyed the story, bookmark my site: https://metro.treeiq.biz
May you like
New stories are posted daily, so check back for updates.
