Chapter 8: The Last Thing He Tried
Julian called Evelyn's phone eleven times between Tuesday and Thursday.
She didn't answer.
Patricia had advised against it.
Every call went to voicemail.
He left messages on the first three — calm, then less calm, then a version of himself she recognized as the one that came just before something broke.
On Thursday afternoon, he came to Patricia's building.
He didn't get past the lobby.
Patricia's assistant called up.
Patricia told her to inform Mr.
Ashworth that all communication should go through his attorney.
He stood in the lobby for four minutes — she could see him on the security feed on Patricia's laptop — and then he left.
Friday morning, his attorney called.
Evelyn sat in Patricia's office and listened to the speakerphone.
The attorney's name was Gareth Lowe.
His voice was smooth and practiced and entirely comfortable with the work he was doing.
"My client is prepared to offer a very reasonable settlement," Gareth said.
"Given the circumstances.
A clean separation.
The house transferred to Mrs.
Ashworth's name.
A monthly support figure that reflects the standard of living she has maintained during the marriage.
In exchange, all statements are withdrawn.
The police report is retracted.
And Mrs.
Ashworth signs an updated confidentiality agreement."
Patricia wrote something on her notepad and slid it toward Evelyn.
*He's scared.*
"We'll need to see the settlement figures in writing," Patricia said into the phone.
"Of course.
I'll have them over by end of day." A pause.
"I want to be clear — my client is approaching this in good faith.
He believes this situation has been inflamed by outside parties and that a direct resolution serves everyone's interests."
"Outside parties," Patricia said.
"Legal counsel that may have its own motivations for pursuing this matter beyond the immediate client relationship."
"I see." Patricia's voice was perfectly level.
"Tell your client that the police report cannot be retracted by Mrs.
Ashworth.
It is now in the hands of the district attorney's office.
That is not something either of us controls." A pause.
"And tell him that the settlement offer should include a figure that accounts for the documentation we have obtained from multiple sources.
He'll know what that means."
Silence on the line.
"I'll relay that," Gareth said.
He sounded less smooth.
The call ended.
Evelyn let out a breath she had been holding since the phone rang.
"He's going to come back with a bigger number," Patricia said.
"And we say no."
"And we say no.
Because this doesn't end with a number.
It ends with a record." Patricia set her pen down.
"The DA has the recording, the police report, Diane's statement, and Eleanor's deposition.
The financial documentation goes to the fraud division next week.
Julian is not going to be able to buy his way out of the pattern of behavior.
The settlement offer is an attempt to make the criminal matter go away by resolving the civil one.
It doesn't work that way."
Evelyn looked at the phone on the desk.
"He really thought I'd take it," she said.
"He's always been right before."
That evening, Evelyn picked Lily up from school.
Lily ran across the yard with her backpack bouncing and her coat half off one shoulder and her face arranged in the particular expression of a child who has important news.
"Mommy.
I made a hummingbird today.
In art."
"Yeah?"
"It's green.
And a little bit of red." She held up a piece of construction paper, slightly crumpled.
"Ms.
Petrov said it was the best one."
Evelyn took the paper.
Looked at it.
A lopsided bird in green crayon with a careful red mark at the throat.
"It is the best one," she said.
Lily took her hand as they walked to the car.
"Mommy," she said.
"Are we going to be okay?"
Evelyn looked down at her daughter.
"Yes," she said.
"We are."
She meant it in a way she hadn't meant anything in a long time.
Her phone buzzed.
Patricia.
A single text: *DA confirmed.
May you like
Charges filed this afternoon.
Call me when Lily's in bed.*
