The attorney swallowed. “He’s… under financial stress,” she said, as if that was a moral coupon.
Sarah’s smile was thin. “So are most criminals,” she replied.
I watched the exchange with a strange calm. A year ago, I would’ve been shaking. Now I felt almost clinical, like I was observing a negotiation from the outside of myself.
“What does he want?” I asked.
The attorney hesitated. “He wants… a path back,” she admitted. “He wants reconciliation.”
My jaw tightened. “Reconciliation isn’t something you request through legal counsel,” I said.
Sarah glanced at me, approving.
The attorney looked uncomfortable. “He is genuinely sorry,” she said.
I leaned forward slightly. “Is he sorry he hurt me,” I asked, “or sorry he got caught?”
The attorney’s silence answered louder than words.
Sarah closed her folder. “Here’s what my client wants,” she said, voice firm. “No contact. No access. No inquiries. No public commentary. And restitution for legal fees and documented damages.”
The attorney blinked. “Restitution?”
“Yes,” Sarah said. “Your client created costs. He will pay them.”