Chapter 15 - Derek Testified
Derek was excellent at being believed.
That was why he had succeeded for so long.
He spoke calmly.
Never rushed.
Never appeared angry.
He told the jury our marriage had become unstable.
He said I was secretive.
He said he feared I was preparing to leave and take company information.
He admitted knowing about my pregnancy test but claimed he accessed it because he was concerned for my health.
He admitted asking Paige to pick up medication.
But said Dr. Kessler had misled him about what it was.
He admitted preparing the soup.
But denied adding anything.
His explanations were elegant.
Individually, almost reasonable.
Then the prosecutor began cross-examination.
“Mr. Harlow, did you increase the life-insurance policy on your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Did she authorize the signature?”
“I believed she had.”
“Did you tell her about the increase?”
“No.”
“Did you move marital funds into DH Holdings?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“Did you obtain private pregnancy results?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“Did you ask your assistant to use her identification at a pharmacy?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell your wife?”
“No.”
“Did you take her passport from your home?”
“I was safeguarding documents.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
The prosecutor waited.
“Mr. Harlow, your defense asks this jury to believe you repeatedly acted for your wife’s benefit while making sure she knew nothing about any of it.”
Derek’s expression tightened.
“I was trying to protect my family.”
“From whom?”
He looked at me.
“From her.”
There.
The mask slipped.
The prosecutor let the silence stretch.
“Your pregnant wife?”
“She was going to destroy the company.”
“By auditing fraudulent transactions?”
“She didn’t understand the pressure.”
“By discovering eighteen million dollars in concealed transfers?”
“You don’t understand business.”
The prosecutor’s voice remained soft.
“Did your wife understand that taking medication hidden in soup could kill her?”
Derek looked toward his attorney.
“Objection.”
Overruled.
“Did she?”
“I never intended to kill her.”
The courtroom froze.
The prosecutor stepped closer.
“So you did intend for her to consume it?”
Derek realized the trap.
Too late.
“I mean hypothetically.”
“You said, ‘I never intended to kill her.’”
“That isn’t an admission.”
“You did not say, ‘I never put anything in the soup.’”
His lawyer objected again.
The judge instructed the jury.
But everyone had heard it.
The prosecution displayed the text.
Anniversary is Friday. After that, problem solved.
Then:
Make sure she actually takes it.
The prosecutor asked:
“What problem were you solving?”
May you like
Derek stared at me.
And for perhaps the first time in his life, nobody stepped in to answer for him.
