Chapter 7 - The Trial Begins
Eleven months after the bucket incident, Richard Morrison entered court wearing a charcoal suit and no expression.
He looked smaller.
His attorneys attacked everyone.
Paul Dennison was called a liar.
Jessica was called a disgruntled employee.
Brendan was portrayed as an ambitious son trying to escape responsibility.
I was described as a vindictive billionaire manipulating law enforcement after a divorce.
Then prosecutors produced Blackbird.
Numbers do not care about family loyalty.
Bank transfers do not cry.
Metadata does not become confused under cross-examination.
The evidence showed years of systematic fraud.
Then Paul testified.
Richard stared at him with pure hatred.
Paul described the brake-line arrangement.
I listened with my hands folded.
Brendan sat two rows behind me.
When photographs of my father's wrecked SUV appeared, I heard Brendan inhale sharply.
Richard did not look at the screen.
That mattered to me.
During a recess, Diane confronted me in the hallway.
“You happy now?”
“No.”
“You won.”
“My father is still dead.”
She stepped closer.
“You took my husband.”
I stared at her.
“No, Diane. Your husband took my father.”
She slapped me.
The hallway erupted.
Brendan grabbed his mother's wrist before she could swing again.
“Stop!”
Diane fought him.
“Let go of me!”
She clawed at his face.
Brendan released her immediately and stepped between us instead.
Court officers rushed over.
Diane screamed at him.
“You traitor!”
Brendan's cheek was bleeding.
He didn't move.
“You will never touch her again.”
I looked at him.
For one strange second, I remembered the man who had laughed while water poured over me.
Then I looked at the man standing between his mother and me now.
People can change.
But change does not purchase retroactive innocence.
Diane was removed.
May you like
The trial continued.
And on day twelve, Brendan took the stand.
