Page 43 of Client Privilege

“I gave him what cash I had on hand, helped him find a cheap used car—an old Honda—and loaned him enough money to secure temporary accommodation.” Claude’s eyes found mine again, filled with regret. “I wanted him to come back to Montreal with me, where I could properly help him, but he was adamant that wasn’t safe for me.”

“Did Alex explain why he contacted you specifically after all this time?”

Claude nodded solemnly. “He said he didn’t think Mr. Delaney would suspect me of helping him. According to Alex, Mr. Delaney had dismissed me as a threat years ago after the cease and desist letter, assuming I would never risk my career by defying it. Alex believed I might be the only person he could turn to without immediately raising Marcus’s suspicions.”

“Did you maintain contact after providing this assistance?”

“Minimal contact. Alex insisted it wasn’t safe for either of us. He called from different numbers occasionally, just to let me know he was alive. The last time I heard from him was when he told me he’d finally found legal help.”

“No further questions, Your Honour.”

Judge Patterson nodded. “Mr. Blackwood, your witness.”

Blackwood approached the stand with the confidence of someonewho believed he held the upper hand.

“Professor Mercier, isn’t it true that students drop out of art school regularly?”

“Some do, yes.”

“And isn’t it also true that many promising artists never complete formal education?”

“That happens, certainly.”

“So there’s nothing particularly unusual about a student deciding art school isn’t for them?”

Claude frowned. “In general, no. In Alex’s specific case, yes. His abrupt disappearance was completely inconsistent with his character and trajectory.”

Blackwood smiled thinly. “But you hadn’t known Mr. Lajeunesse very long, had you? Less than two years.”

“Long enough to recognize genuine talent and dedication.”

“Were you aware that Mr. Lajeunesse was struggling financially during this period?”

“Many art students face financial challenges.”

“Please answer the question, Professor.”

“Yes, I was aware he had limited resources.”

“And isn’t it possible that he simply found a better opportunity—financial security with a successful partner who could support his artistic development without the burden of student loans?”

Claude’s eyes flashed. “If that were the case, why would he need a legal barrier between himself and his former professor?”

Blackwood’s smile tightened. “Perhaps because certain professors develop inappropriate attachments to young, vulnerable students?”

Damian was on his feet immediately. “Objection! Counsel is making unfounded insinuations about the witness’s character.”

“Sustained,” Judge Patterson ruled. “Mr. Blackwood, restrict your questions to relevant matters.”

Blackwood nodded, unperturbed. “Professor Mercier, you’ve just testified that you gave Mr. Lajeunesse cash and helped him purchase a vehicle. That’s quite generous for a former professor, isn’t it?”

“It was an emergency situation. He needed help.”

“And you drove all the way from Montreal to Toronto in the middle of the night based on a phone call from a student you hadn’t taught in years?”

“Yes. I was concerned for his welfare.”

“Did you report his injuries to the police?”

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