Chapter 13 - Denise’s Trial
Denise’s trial began fourteen months after the diner.
Lauren had already entered her guilty plea but had not yet been sentenced.
She would testify.
The prosecution started with the diner.
Maya.
She wore simple navy dress.
Nervous.
“Did you know Eleanor Price before that morning?”
“No.”
“Did you know she had significant assets?”
“No.”
“Why did you buy soup?”
“She was hungry.”
That sentence again.
Then the video.
Denise pouring coffee.
My body jerking.
Lauren laughing.
Denise removing wallet.
Then defense.
“Could coffee have spilled accidentally?”
Maya looked at screen.
“No.”
“You’re not a physics expert.”
“No.”
“Why are you certain?”
“Because she tipped it into Mrs. Price’s lap while talking to her.”
Then:
“You later received a scholarship connected to Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Eight thousand.”
There.
Defense wanted.
Then:
“Did Eleanor choose you?”
“No.”
“Did she encourage application?”
“No.”
“Did you discuss testimony?”
“No.”
“Did you feel grateful?”
“Yes.”
“Could gratitude affect memory?”
Maya thought.
“I gave my statement before scholarship existed.”
Good.
Then the diner manager.
Security footage preserved before Samuel arrived.
Independent.
Then paramedic.
Burn.
Dehydration.
Weight loss.
Then hospital social worker.
Food control.
Fear.
Then bank investigators.
Social Security diversion.
New account.
Fake email.
Selfie verification.
Denise disguised.
Then messages:
Told you nobody checks old ladies.
The courtroom went silent.
Then jewelry dealer.
Walter’s watch.
Denise said hers.
Then property manager.
Denise asking asset list.
Then Oak Ridge staff.
Reservation efforts.
Then Samuel.
Trust structure.
He did not disclose unnecessary asset details to jury.
Only enough to explain motive and why Denise could not access.
Then Lauren.
She entered in plain clothes.
Looked older.
She admitted her own crimes before blaming Denise.
Important.
“I helped.”
Then:
“Denise poured the coffee.”
“Did you know?”
“I knew she was angry. I didn’t know she would do that.”
“Did you laugh?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lauren cried.
“Because I had become horrible.”
Then bank.
Mail.
Jewelry.
Guardianship.
Denise’s event venue plan.
Then defense attacked.
“You get lower sentence for testimony.”
“Yes.”
“You want to save yourself.”
“Yes.”
“So why should jury believe?”
Lauren answered:
“Don’t believe me because I’m sorry.”
Then:
“Believe the messages we wrote when we thought nobody would ever read them.”
Strong.
Then Denise’s messages displayed.
Mom doesn’t need full grocery order.
Ignore.
Then:
Once facility happens, larger accounts easier.
Then:
Need asset list before probate.
Then defense argued “facility” meant supportive care, not theft.
Fair.
Then my testimony.
I described months.
No dramatics.
Then defense:
“Mrs. Price, did Denise care for you after your wrist fracture?”
“Yes.”
“Drive you?”
“Yes.”
“Pay bills?”
“With my money, yes.”
“Prepare food?”
“Sometimes.”
“Attend appointments?”
“Yes.”
“So she was a caregiver.”
“Yes.”
“Did you pay her?”
“No formal salary.”
“Could she reasonably believe she deserved compensation?”
“She could ask.”
Then:
“Did you ever say everything would be theirs someday?”
I thought.
“Once, after Walter died, I said, ‘Someday you girls will have more than you need.’”
The defense attorney seized.
“So Denise understood assets would eventually belong to her.”
“No.”
“Those were your words.”
“Eventually is not now.”
Silence.
Then:
“You changed estate plan after diner?”
“Not beneficiaries before trial.”
That surprised jury.
“Why not?”
“Because I did not want a criminal case deciding my will.”
Good.
Then:
“You dislike Denise now.”
“I love Denise.”
Attorney paused.
Then:
“You love her?”
“Yes.”
“Despite this?”
“Yes.”
“Want her convicted?”
“I want evidence judged.”
Then:
“Would you forgive?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Truth.
I stepped down.
Denise had choice to testify.
May you like
She did.
Of course.
