Chapter 2 - SARAH HAD BEEN RECORDING ME TOO
Marcus replayed the clip three times.
Not because he needed convincing.
Because he could not understand what “then him” meant.
Julian appeared to be in his early forties.
Expensive coat.
Silver-rimmed glasses.
Leather folder under one arm.
He did not behave like a lover sneaking into another man’s house.
He behaved like a professional conducting a meeting.
Sarah placed documents on the coffee table.
“Lily’s videos are good enough now.”
Julian shook his head.
“Not unless Marcus reinforces the pattern.”
“How?”
“He keeps defending her.”
Sarah smiled.
“He always does.”
“That helps us. Overprotective father. Child with escalating behavioral episodes. He refuses evaluation. Then he starts missing meetings, making erratic decisions…”
Marcus leaned closer.
Julian tapped one document.
“We build both files together.”
Both files.
Marcus felt cold.
Sarah said:
“And after Chicago?”
“You get him tired. Keep the routine consistent. Then bring up the estate documents when he’s foggy.”
Marcus paused the video.
He remembered nights.
Tea Sarah brought him after long workdays.
Wine already poured when he came home late.
Mornings when he woke with headaches and blamed stress.
Once, he had missed an executive call completely.
Sarah told him he had slept through three alarms.
He never did that.
Marcus contacted his physician.
Blood testing now might prove nothing about earlier dates, but the concern needed documentation.
Then the pediatric team returned with Lily’s preliminary results.
A medication not prescribed to her appeared in screening.
The doctor refused to speculate about intention or exact dosing.
Marcus appreciated that.
Facts first.
Lily was medically stable.
That mattered most.
Sarah was temporarily separated from the home while authorities reviewed the situation.
Marcus and Lily stayed with Evelyn.
That evening, after Lily fell asleep, Marcus returned to the footage.
More files.
Sarah positioning her phone before Lily entered.
Sarah giving Lily the drink.
Twenty minutes later, Lily becoming restless, emotional, confused.
Sarah asking questions on camera:
“Why are you acting like this?”
“Why do you always get out of control when your father leaves?”
Then the recording stopped.
Another day.
Same pattern.
Marcus felt physically sick.
Then he found a file labeled:
MARCUS — SAMPLE 4.
He clicked.
There he was.
Sitting at his own kitchen island.
Eyes heavy.
Speech slow.
Sarah stood behind the camera.
“Marcus, do you remember approving the Seabrook valuation?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“What valuation?”
“You signed it yesterday.”
“I did?”
Sarah looked toward someone offscreen.
Julian.
Then she said:
“See?”
Marcus stared at himself.
A man being documented as confused inside his own home.
Then Julian stepped into frame.
“Get two more like that.”
Sarah asked:
“For the company?”
Julian replied:
“For everything.”
May you like
And beneath his hand was a document with a heading Marcus recognized immediately.
PETITION FOR TEMPORARY CONSERVATORSHIP.
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