Chapter 22 - ROBERT’S APPEAL
Robert appealed.
One obstruction conviction vacated because jury instructions blurred lawful record correction and corrupt alteration.
Central fiduciary-fraud convictions remained.
Restitution recalculated to avoid double counting amounts recovered in civil settlement.
Sentence reduced modestly.
Headlines:
ROBERT HALE WINS APPEAL.
Technically partly.
Not moral absolution.
I stopped reading headlines.
Helen asked if I was disappointed.
“No.”
“You’re not?”
“I want correct results.”
She smiled.
“You sound like Rachel.”
Terrible insult.
Rachel eventually retired.
Josephine gave her a mug:
AUNT RACHEL — PROFESSIONAL FUN DESTROYER.
She loved it.
Robert completed his sentence years later in a lower-security facility after health and classification changes.
He requested contact.
I declined initially.
May you like
Josephine was old enough to choose later.
No one forced reconciliation as proof of healing.
