“Denied,” he said. “You asked for everything today. Uh, you created urgency. You don’t get to slow down when the record catches up.”
Evan’s attorney swallowed and sat. Judge Merritt turned to me. Miss Lane, he said,
“Did you authorize your brother to access your safe deposit box?”
“No,” I said.
Judge Merritt’s eyes stayed steady.
“And do you contend he attempted it anyway using a notorized authorization created through his corporate infrastructure?”
“Yes,” I replied. “And the bank’s report shows it.”
Judge Merritt nodded once, then he turned back to the baiff. Does the bank report state whether access was granted? He asked. The baiff scanned, then answered carefully. It states access was attempted, he said. It states the bank refused to open the box due to mismatch and initiated an internal fraud hold. It also states the bank preserved footage and escalated to its security and legal departments. I felt something in my chest loosen. Not relief exactly, but confirmation. Because if Evan had gotten into that box, he would have taken anything that could prove what he’d done. He would have smiled in court and claimed it never existed. Judge Merritt set the exhibit down slowly. Then he spoke in a tone that wasn’t angry, but it was unmistakably dangerous. Mr. Hale. He said,
“You have come before this court asking to strip your sister of her property and accounts.”
Meanwhile, the record shows you initiated a restriction on her real estate using your own corporate signature, and you attempted to access her safe deposit box using a notorized authorization tied to your identity and your company. He paused. I’m letting the words settle where everyone could feel them. I am issuing an immediate protective order, he continued. No contact directly or indirectly between Mr. Hail and Mrs. Lane pending further hearing. I am also ordering preservation of all Hail holdings, electronic records related to these filings and authorizations, including IP logs, email headers, internal notary journals, and any communications with your parents regarding this petition. Evans attorney’s face tightened. Your honor, Judge Merritt’s eyes snapped to him. Do you want sanctions today, council? The attorney closed his mouth. Judge Merritt turned to the court officer. Officer, I want Mr. Hail’s phone secured for preservation until council can provide a forensically sound extraction. If he refuses, I will address it with contempt. Evan stood up so fast his chair scraped loud in the quiet room.
“You can’t take my phone,” he said, voice cracking.
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