Chapter 8 - Celeste attacks first
Celeste’s attorney sent me a cease-and-desist letter before Hartwell finished its review.
Claims:
I had unlawfully removed private photographs from Celeste’s handbag.
I was spreading false accusations.
I had manipulated Jenna.
I was attempting to destroy Morgan Residential Advisory because of a family disagreement.
Demand:
No direct contact.
No communication with her clients/vendors.
Return or destroy copies of handbag photographs.
I had not communicated with her clients.
I had taken phone photographs of prints visible in her open bag after discovering covert images of my minor daughter.
Private actor.
No search-and-seizure rule.
Still, privacy/civil issues could exist.
Nathan answered narrowly.
We would preserve copies because they were potentially relevant to child safety and pending insurance inquiry.
No publication.
No social media.
No client contact except lawful investigation channels.
Then Celeste filed a police report.
She alleged I stole photographs.
Officer came.
I explained.
I had returned originals with handbag.
No retained physical property.
No charge.
Then Celeste’s story about last summer became more aggressive.
Through counsel she told Hartwell:
Piper entered the workshop without permission.
Piper broke multiple items.
Piper may have moved contents.
Piper had a pattern of wandering into restricted areas.
The recent candid photographs, according to Celeste, documented that pattern because she was “concerned about recurring property damage.”
There.
The reason.
She admitted taking them.
Did Grayson authorize?
No.
Did Piper know?
No.
Why not tell me?
Celeste:
“Grayson refuses to hear anything negative about his daughter.”
Then a list:
Scratched study cabinet.
Broken picture frame.
Missing silver bowl.
Pool-house door left open.
Garage storage disturbed.
I investigated each.
Study cabinet:
Scratch predated Piper.
Photograph from contractor estimate six months earlier showed it.
Picture frame:
Piper admitted knocking it down while playing.
I knew about it.
Silver bowl:
Celeste herself had brought it to house.
Pool-house door:
Landscaper had left it open according to camera.
Garage storage:
Piper had entered with me.
The “pattern” collapsed when context returned.
But Celeste had photographs without context.
That was the point.
Then she told Hartwell:
The summer claim should not be reopened because any irregularity resulted from Piper’s unauthorized presence.
Could a seven-year-old’s lamp break explain a false description of lamp damage?
Possibly that item.
Could it explain silver pieces brought from a car thirty minutes before inspection?
No.
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Then Miles Trent hired his own lawyer.
That told me the story was moving.
