Chapter 10 - The Trial Everyone Wanted to Watch
The trial attracted national attention.
But Elena refused every paid interview.
“This isn’t entertainment,” she said.
Inside the courtroom, Margaret maintained her composure.
Until the recordings played.
Her own voice betrayed her.
Then came Nathan.
Whitmore.
Robert.
Financial experts.
Investigators.
Finally Elena testified.
Margaret watched her.
Elena described the farmhouse without theatrics.
The isolation.
The threats.
Giving birth while believing her husband had abandoned her.
Protecting Lily.
Waiting.
Running.
Then Margaret’s attorney asked:
“Mrs. Mercer, isn’t it possible trauma has affected your memory?”
Elena looked toward the jury.
“My memory is why my daughter and I survived.”
Nothing else needed saying.
When I testified, Mother refused to look at me.
The prosecutor asked whether I had anything to gain financially from Margaret’s conviction.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I relinquished my personal claim to the disputed assets.”
Mother finally looked up.
She hadn’t known.
The recovered money would go to victims, restitution, employees, and independently administered charitable programs.
I had removed the weapon she understood best.
Money.
After closing arguments, the jury left.
We waited.
Three hours.
Then four.
May you like
At 6:42 p.m., they returned.
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