Chapter 16 - Helen's Answer
Robert's lawyer objected before Helen spoke. The chair explained that this wasn't a criminal trial, but the board could hear relevant testimony and refer the records to investigators.
āI signed papers without reading them,ā Helen said. āRobert told me my signature was needed to keep Haven House open. When I asked later, he told me to stop embarrassing him.ā
Robert stood. āShe's confused.ā
Helen stared at him. āNo. I've been frightened. There's a difference.ā
She described the loan guarantee and the blue binder. She admitted that she had chosen silence when people raised questions years earlier.
āI can't undo that,ā she said. āBut I can stop lying about it.ā
The board chair thanked her. Robert looked ready to break the microphone.
Keisha testified next, without revealing shelter locations. She explained that Southgate had no authority to contact residents directly. Nora Reed joined by secure video, her face hidden at her request.
āThey knew where Charlie slept,ā Nora said. āThey told me if I didn't move, my ex could find me again. I don't know whether they could do that. I just know they wanted me afraid.ā
Nobody spoke for a moment. Then a board member asked Robert why a moving contractor had access to confidential addresses.
āAsk my son,ā Robert snapped. āDavid approved it.ā
āDavid will have to answer for his role,ā the chair said. āSo will you.ā
By late afternoon, the board voted to freeze the disputed grant payments, refer the records for enforcement review, and seek emergency court relief to prevent an unauthorized clearance. It wasn't a conviction. It was breathing room.
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Outside, Priya's phone rang. Keisha was calling from Juniper House.
āThere's a truck across the street,ā she said. āThe men say they're coming in at sunrise.ā
