Chapter 11
Miriam Cole referred the evidence to adult protective services and prosecutors specializing in elder abuse and financial exploitation.
The case moved slowly.
Reality usually did.
There were interviews.
Subpoenas.
Medical reviews.
Financial experts.
Arguments about intent.
Brennan insisted he genuinely believed Estelle was declining.
His lawyers emphasized real incidents of forgetfulness.
They argued that dietary changes were related to health concerns.
The records made that explanation difficult.
Meal restrictions clustered around evaluations.
Messages showed Brennan repeatedly asking Lavinia whether Estelle was “weak enough to stop fighting.”
Another message read:
If she looks sharp tomorrow, Coyle gives us nothing.
No convenient recording.
No dramatic confession.
Just ordinary written language that became ugly once placed beside the medical timeline.
Lavinia blamed Brennan.
She claimed he told her the process was lawful and necessary.
Brennan blamed Lavinia for the actual mistreatment.
Part of both arguments was true.
Neither erased responsibility.
Cassian did not attend every hearing.
He stayed with Estelle.
That surprised her.
“You have lawyers.”
“Yes.”
“You usually enjoy terrifying people.”
“I’m growing.”
“Slowly.”
Greta laughed from the kitchen.
Estelle returned to normal meals.
Her weight began coming back.
She still had moments of forgetfulness.
One afternoon she spent twenty minutes looking for glasses already sitting on her head.
Cassian stared.
She glared at him.
“If you tell Miriam, I’ll disinherit you.”
He laughed.
Then stopped because the word carried too much weight now.
Estelle saw it.
“So serious.”
“I’m trying not to treat every mistake like evidence.”
“Good.”
She picked up her tea.
“Then stop watching me eat like I’m a hostage.”
Cassian looked away.
She was right.
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Protection could become another form of control if he was not careful.
That lesson was harder for him than any board fight.
