Chapter 17 - EXHIBIT THIRTY-NINE
Naomi called Jason as an adverse witness.
He resisted almost every question until she placed the Transition spreadsheet on the screen.
"Did you create this?"
"Yes."
"Did you write 'behavioral triggers'?"
"Yes."
"Did you write 'separation anxiety useful' next to your daughter's name?"
His voice dropped.
"Yes."
"Why?"
He stared at me.
"I thought Emily would take Lily and leave if the marriage ended."
"So you planned to make her look mentally ill first?"
"I thought I was protecting my child."
Naomi's expression hardened.
"From her mother?"
He said nothing.
"Or from losing control of eighteen percent of Bennett Packaging?"
Jason looked down.
That silence said enough.
Then Naomi turned toward me.
"Your Honor, we have one final exhibit."
I didn't recognize the file number.
Thirty-nine.
Jason had taunted me with that number after the first hearing.
But this wasn't his exhibit.
It was mine.
Naomi played a voicemail recovered from Jason's deleted cloud backup.
His father's voice filled the courtroom.
Thomas Bennett sounded weak, breathless, close to death.
Jason, if you ever use my company to control your wife or child, you have learned nothing from me. The business is supposed to support the family. The family is not supposed to feed the business.
Jason's face collapsed.
The message continued.
And if Diane tells you otherwise, remember: fear is her favorite form of loyalty.
The courtroom was silent.
Jason whispered, "I deleted that."
Naomi looked at him.
May you like
"Yes. You did."
Then the judge called a recess before issuing her ruling.
