The CFO's expression tightened. "Before."
"And did you conduct any further financial review after they refused to sell?"
"Not directly."
Simone retrieved another document. "I have here a credit inquiry notice showing Bancroft Developments accessed my parents' records three more times after they declined the offer. Why was that necessary?"
Whitman glanced at Victoria Hale before answering. "Standard procedure."
"It's standard procedure to run credit checks on people who've already refused to sell? Or was Bancroft Developments looking for financial pressure points?"
"Objection!" Hale was on her feet again. "Argumentative!"
"Sustained." Kessler glared at Simone. "Watch yourself, Miss Johnson."
But Simone had made her point: the jury could see the connection between Bancroft's failed acquisition attempt and the sudden scrutiny of the Johnson family's finances.
She shifted tactics. "Miss Whitman, you mentioned late payments in our accounts. Could you specify which payments?"
"Your mortgage was late twice in the past year."
Simone pulled out bank records. "Would it surprise you to learn that those late payments occurred immediately after our bank accounts were frozen due to 'suspicious activity'?"
"I wasn't aware of that."
"The same suspicious activity that the bank later confirmed was due to external attempts to access our accounts?" Simone pressed. "Attempts that originated from IP addresses registered to Bancroft Developments?"
The courtroom erupted again. Victoria Hale was on her feet, objecting furiously, but the damage was done: the jury had heard the connection between their financial troubles and Bancroft's interference.