Simone's voice rose with passion. "They're using this fake arson charge to take everything: our home, Mom's daycare license, Dad's job at the school—all because we wouldn't sell our property for their luxury condos!"
She moved to the living room, returning with her grandfather's framed law degree. "Grandpa fought battles like this his whole life. He was one of the first Black lawyers in this city. People threatened him, mocked him, tried to run him out of business, but he never backed down."
Marcus softened slightly. "Your grandfather was a great man, baby girl. But he was also a trained lawyer with years of experience."
"And who trained him?" Simone countered. "He taught himself from books, just like I'm doing. He took the bar exam after studying on his own because no law school would accept him. He learned by doing, by fighting the battles no one else would take."
She pulled out her grandfather's copy of the state legal code, its pages marked with sticky notes and highlighter. "There's precedent for this. In extraordinary circumstances, a non-attorney can represent family members in court. I've researched it thoroughly."
Sarah sank into a chair, her breakfast forgotten. "Even if it's legally possible, baby, the risk is too high. These people are dangerous."
"More dangerous than letting them take everything?" Simone spread her research across the table. "Look at this: the fire inspector's report is full of inconsistencies. The security footage they're using doesn't show what they claim. And Mrs. Walker next door—she saw something that night."
A knock at the door made them all jump. Marcus approached cautiously, checking through the peephole before opening it to reveal Eleanor Walker, their neighbor of twenty years. The elderly woman clutched her purse tightly, her eyes darting nervously.
"Heard about Mr. Patterson," she said, stepping inside. "I've been scared to speak up, but I can't stay quiet anymore. I was up late that night watching my programs. I saw someone at that warehouse, and it wasn't any of you."
Simone immediately grabbed her notebook. "Mrs. Walker, would you be willing to testify to that?"
The woman's hands twisted together anxiously. "My Tommy... he works for one of Bancroft's companies. If I speak up..."
"We understand," Sarah assured her.
But Simone pressed on. "Mrs. Walker, remember when you used to tell me stories about the Civil Rights Movement? About standing up when things were wrong, no matter how scared you were?" Simone's voice was gentle but firm. "This is one of those moments. They're trying to destroy an entire community, starting with us."
The older woman looked around the room, taking in the legal books and scattered papers. Her eyes settled on William Johnson's law degree. "Your grandfather... he defended my family once when no one else would. The bank was trying to take our home on false pretenses." She straightened her shoulders. "I'll testify. It's time I return the favor."
For the next hour, Simone interviewed Mrs. Walker thoroughly, her questions precise and methodical. She documented every detail: the time, the weather conditions, what she saw and heard. Her parents watched in amazement as their daughter transformed before their eyes, channeling her grandfather's professional demeanor.