Chapter 7 - THE VASE WAS NOT THE TREASURE
Lisa demanded the recorder back.
Not politely.
Her attorney sent a letter claiming it had been unlawfully removed from Charles’s residence and contained private family communications.
Dad responded through Martin:
The device belonged to Charles.
He had given it to me voluntarily.
Lisa’s claim weakened.
Still, audio admissibility was separate.
We did not assume.
The vase became local family gossip.
Grandmother Evelyn’s antique.
Blue-and-white porcelain.
Appraised value:
$18,000.
Owen had accidentally destroyed it.
Lisa told relatives:
Rachel attacked me because her kid broke an eighteen-thousand-dollar heirloom.
Convenient.
No mention she struck him first.
Then one cousin sent me video from dinner.
Not the slap itself.
Just before.
Owen stepping back.
Grant pointing at him.
The vase tipping.
Lisa moving.
Then someone lowers the phone.
Enough to show accident.
Not enough for everything else.
I wrote Lisa one message.
Do not contact Owen.
She answered:
Tell him he owes Grandma a vase.
May you like
I took a screenshot.
Then blocked her.
