Chapter 6 - The Deposition
Three weeks later, the formal legal deposition took place at Rachel Kim’s law firm.
The long conference room was tense enough to cut with a knife.
On one side sat Claire, Daniel, Richard Harrington, and their lead litigation counsel, a sharp-featured man named Miller. On the other side sat Rachel Kim, two associate attorneys, and myself.
A court stenographer sat at the end of the table, her fingers poised over the keys of her machine.
"We are on the record," Rachel Kim announced smoothly. "Deposition of Plaintiff Daniel Ellison in the matter of Ellison v. Ellison."
Rachel focused her gaze on Daniel. "Mr. Ellison, you signed an affidavit on October 14th stating that your mother, Margaret Ellison, made an explicit oral agreement to transfer fifty percent of the title of 142 Elm Street to you upon your marriage. Is that correct?"
Daniel cleared his throat, pulling at his collar. "Yes."
"Where did this conversation take place?" Rachel asked.
"In... in the kitchen," Daniel mumbled.
"On what date?"
"I... I don't remember the exact date. Sometime last year."
Rachel pulled a crisp document from her folder. "Mr. Ellison, on the date you claimed this conversation occurred, your mother was in Rochester, New York, attending her sister’s cancer recovery treatment for two weeks. Here are her hotel receipts, credit card statements, and medical visitor logs."
Miller, Daniel's attorney, quickly leaned over and whispered frantically into Daniel's ear. Claire’s face turned bright red.
"Let me ask you another question, Mr. Ellison," Rachel continued relentlessly, tapping a fresh folder. "Regarding the $120,000 transfer from your mother five years ago. You claimed in your response that this was a non-refundable wedding gift."
"Yes," Daniel said, his voice trembling.
"Mr. Ellison, were you engaged or planning a wedding five years ago?"
"No..."
"In fact, you didn't meet Claire Harrington until two years ago, correct?"
"Correct."
Rachel pulled out a enlarged printout of a text message thread. "This is a text message sent from your phone number on June 12th, five years ago. I will read it into the record: 'Mom, thank you for saving my life with this $120,000 loan. I promise to repay every cent plus interest as soon as my corporate bonus clears.'"
Rachel looked up, her eyes razor-sharp. "Did you write this text, Mr. Ellison?"
Daniel stared at the enlarged text message. His hands began to shake violently. He looked at Claire, who was glaring at him with pure hatred, then at Richard Harrington, who looked utterly disgusted by Daniel's incompetence.
"Mr. Ellison," Rachel pressed, her voice booming through the quiet room. "Did you write this text? Answer under penalty of perjury."
Daniel dropped his head into his hands.
"Yes," Daniel sobbed quietly. "I wrote it. It was a loan. It was always a loan."
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"Daniel!" Claire screamed, jumping out of her chair. "What are you doing?!"
"Shut up, Claire!" Daniel suddenly roared back, slamming his hand onto the table, surprising everyone in the room. "Just shut up! We lied! The whole thing was a lie!"
