Chapter 17 - MARLENE TESTIFIES
Against counsel’s advice, my mother took the stand.
She began strong.
“I loved Claire.”
True.
“I love Lily.”
I believed that too.
Love was never adequate defense.
She described me after Claire died.
Not eating.
Sleeping in clothes.
Forgetting school pickup once.
She took over because somebody had to.
Also true.
Then:
“I believed Ethan would collapse if Mercer matters hit him at the same time.”
Maybe.
“Why hide Claire’s letter after Lily turned six?”
Silence.
“I thought Claire wrote it under medication.”
“Did you seek medical evaluation of capacity?”
“No.”
“Did Claire’s lawyer say she lacked capacity?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Ethan the letter existed?”
“No.”
“Why keep Box 412 active?”
“To protect family records.”
“From whom?”
Pause.
“From confusion.”
The prosecutor asked:
“Whose confusion?”
Marlene’s face tightened.
Then the signature.
“Did Ethan authorize you to copy his signature onto the Horizon consent?”
“No.”
“Why do it?”
“I knew what he wanted.”
I closed my eyes.
That sentence described our whole family.
She knew what I wanted.
Therefore asking me became optional.
“Did Lily see you?”
“Yes.”
“Why tell her she saw nothing?”
“Because she didn’t understand.”
“Then why not explain simply?”
“She was shouting.”
“Why build a file describing her as dishonest?”
Marlene began crying.
“Because Claire made that child the center of everything.”
Wrong answer.
The room changed.
The prosecutor waited.
“What do you mean?”
“Claire trusted a six-year-old’s impressions more than adults who had run businesses for decades.”
“No. The seventh-year review only required investigators to listen to Lily.”
“It gave her words power.”
There.
The emotional truth.
Marlene could tolerate Lily as granddaughter.
Not as a person whose account might trigger scrutiny.
Then money.
“Would you have gained millions if Horizon closed?”
“Yes.”
“Did that affect your judgment?”
“No.”
“Did debt?”
“No.”
Emails said otherwise.
The prosecutor showed:
If sale slips past review, I’m finished.
Marlene said she meant reputation.
Another:
I need the option liquidity.
That was money.
Finally:
“Did you pin Lily to the floor?”
Mom looked at me.
Then at the jury.
“I held her.”
“Did you cover her mouth?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She wouldn’t stop screaming.”
“What was she screaming?”
Mom whispered:
“I’m telling Dad.”
May you like
Silence.
The case was almost over.
