“You signed.”
“I thought it was an application for a temporary financial review.”
“Why didn’t you read it?”
David had no answer.
Eleanor felt a familiar ache behind her ribs, but she held herself still.
Martin removed a small recorder from his briefcase.
“I need to explain one more thing before anyone speaks further. Mrs. Whitmore made an appointment with a certified geriatric physician four days ago. She completed the evaluation this morning.”
Jessica stared at Eleanor.
“You had her evaluated?”
“I wanted the truth,” Eleanor said.
Martin placed a report on the console.
“Mrs. Whitmore is fully competent. Her memory, reasoning, and financial judgment are within normal range for her age. The doctor specifically noted that her concerns about unauthorized financial activity were rational and supported by documentation.”
Nobody breathed.
Jessica’s confidence broke apart in her face.
She looked at David.
“You said the doctor would agree.”
David stepped back.
“I said I didn’t know.”
“You told me she was confused.”
“I said you told me she was confused.”
Martin unfolded another document.
“The physician also recorded that Mrs. Whitmore reported being pressured to surrender access to her accounts. That report was completed before the bank released the transaction history.”
Jessica reached for the tablet still resting in her hand.
Martin stopped her.
“Please leave the device where it is.”
“Why?”
“Because the bank has confirmed that this tablet was used to collect payments under a business account registered to David Whitmore. Several guests have already paid into it tonight.”
A murmur passed through the room.
One of the guests, a man named Paul, lifted his hand.
“I paid eighty dollars.”
“So did I,” said another woman.
Jessica spun toward them.
“You all agreed to the cost.”
“We agreed to contribute to dinner,” Paul said. “We did not agree to pay for a private vacation.”
The tablet chimed.
A new payment appeared on the screen.
Eleanor looked at the amount.
“Two hundred dollars?”
Jessica’s face went white.
Martin turned the tablet toward the guests.
