Chapter 6 - Judith’s version
Judith gave police a statement through counsel.
She denied intentionally pushing me.
Her version:
I was carrying an unstable tray.
She reached to stop me because I was about to miss a step.
I recoiled.
Fell.
Her comment about “price” never happened.
Then why did Graham ask me to say I slipped?
She could not answer for him.
Then prior incidents.
Bathroom:
“I tried to grab Nora when she slipped.”
Garage:
“I wasn’t there.”
That contradicted my memory.
Pantry:
“She stood behind a door.”
Maybe.
Then food? Wrong story. No.
Judith’s lawyer emphasized:
No prior police reports.
No domestic violence calls.
No medical notes alleging assault.
True.
Then Leah said:
“This is why people don’t report.”
Dana corrected:
“Not in court unless supported.”
Again.
Then business note.
Was Judith threatening Graham?
Her lawyer said:
She was merely considering enforcing legitimate debt because Graham’s company had missed quarterly interest payment.
Had it?
Yes.
Bennett Custom had missed:
$1,650 interest due two weeks earlier.
Why?
Cash flow.
Could Judith legally send default notice?
Probably.
Did timing look coercive?
Yes.
Then text Judith sent Graham:
If you turn against me over Nora’s theatrics, don’t expect me to keep subsidizing a company that should have died two years ago.
There.
Not:
Lie to police.
But leverage.
Another:
You tell the truth carefully. You didn’t see me push her.
That was accurate if he didn’t see.
Then:
And stop feeding Nora ideas about old accidents.
Old accidents.
Interesting.
She knew what we were discussing.
Then Graham:
Mom, I told you after the garage you couldn’t put hands on her again.
There.
The first concrete crack.
Judith responded:
I grabbed her sweater because she was storming away. She tripped.
He knew contact occurred.
Not necessarily shove.
Then:
Bathroom was the same. I was trying to stop her.
There.
Two incidents.
Again framed as help.
But Graham had known she touched me both times.
He told me:
She didn’t.
May you like
That mattered.
Not enough yet for full truth.
