The Guardianship Petition
Chapter 08 - The Guardianship Petition
Ethan retained Renee Silva, a private attorney recommended by an old college friend entirely outside his usual professional circles, meeting her for the first time in a rented office space two towns over, deliberately chosen for its distance from anywhere Vanessa or Damon might think to look.
"I want to be direct with you," Renee said, once Ethan had explained the full situation, "guardianship petitions filed against wealthy individuals with contested medical prognoses are unfortunately common enough that courts have developed considerable skepticism toward them. That skepticism works in your favor, provided we can demonstrate your continued cognitive competence clearly and quickly."
"And my physical recovery," Ethan said. "How do I introduce that as evidence without alerting Damon and Vanessa before I'm ready."
"Carefully," Renee said. "I'd recommend an independent medical evaluation, conducted by a specialist with no prior relationship to your case, documenting your current physical status accurately and completely. That evaluation becomes part of your formal legal defense the moment their petition is filed, not before."
"What about the brake tampering," Ethan asked. "Walter's mechanic found clear evidence of deliberate sabotage."
"That's a separate, and frankly more serious, legal matter," Renee said. "I'd recommend involving law enforcement directly, though I understand your hesitation given how it might accelerate Damon and Vanessa's own timeline if they realize you're investigating the accident itself, not just defending against the guardianship."
Ethan considered that carefully, weighing the specific risk of moving too quickly against the equally significant risk of moving too slowly while two people who had apparently already attempted to kill him once continued planning their next steps.
"I want both tracks moving simultaneously," he said finally. "The guardianship defense, and a quiet, careful criminal investigation into the accident. I understand the risk. I think the risk of doing nothing is considerably greater."
Renee nodded, already making notes. "I'll need everything Walter's mechanic documented, formally certified by a licensed forensic automotive examiner rather than an informal private inspection. I'll also want Clara's observations documented as a formal witness statement, dated and notarized, establishing a clear timeline of what she's observed regarding Damon's visits and Vanessa's communications."
"Will that put her at risk," Ethan asked, the question arriving with a directness that surprised even him, "if Vanessa or Damon realize she's been reporting to me."
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"It's a legitimate concern," Renee said. "I'd recommend she continue her normal duties without any visible change in behavior, while we build the formal case privately, disclosed only at the moment it becomes legally necessary."
Clara, present for this portion of the conversation, nodded her understanding, though something in Ethan's specific concern for her safety, voiced so directly in front of his newly retained attorney, settled into her chest with a weight she hadn't expected and wasn't entirely certain how to name yet.
