Chapter 9: The Development Group
Ruth’s conference call with the development group’s counsel was civil the way large money is civil—polite, precise, allergic to taint.
They wanted a clear path to title. We wanted every signature after the stroke scrutinized, the POA challenged, Gwendolyn’s correspondence preserved as evidence of intent. The group’s enthusiasm for “family cooperation” cooled when family cooperation acquired an APS file number. They asked whether Florence intended to sell if title were cleaned. I said Florence intended to be safe first; commercial decisions would follow her capacity and her choice, not a timeline designed around a silent patient.
Gwendolyn’s counsel floated settlement ideas that paired a quiet withdrawal from caregiving claims with a slice of parcel proceeds. Ruth’s answer was short: no profit from abuse. The criminal track would proceed on its own facts; the civil track would not be used as a market.
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I sat in the call with my camera off and my mute on unless spoken to, Florence’s afternoon meds schedule in the corner of my eye on a second screen. When it ended, Ruth said the group would rather deal with a clean elderly owner than a litigating spouse with a recording problem. I said that suited Florence. Ruth almost smiled. “You’re learning to use institutions.”
“I used to use late nights at the office,” I said. “Institutions are better for this.”
