I asked that my mother not attend until we had reviewed the documents, because I needed a record rather than a performance.

The company produced archived communications from Harold Keene’s legal team.

Several had been approved by Robert Laird.

The most decisive was a memo directing the firm to “avoid direct communication between Ms.

Hartwell and Mr.

Calloway” pending a supposed resolution.

The memo described Elena as a “potential reputational exposure” and recommended a confidentiality payment.

It said my mother had authorized the outreach.