Chapter 10 - Marcus on Trial
Marcus wore navy suit.
No visible arrogance.
Wealthy defendants learn neutral faces.
The prosecution began with timelines, not emotion.
Maya left 3:18.
Celeste alive 3:31.
Security deleted 3:39.
False narrative drafted 3:41.
911 3:47.
Then Maya testified.
Nine months pregnant by then? Better 35 weeks, not nine months maybe. She could testify with breaks. Let's say 34 weeks to avoid due date. Fine.
She described pregnancy announcement.
Celeste’s reaction.
Marcus’s silence.
The shove.
Fall.
Being struck.
Marcus blocking door.
Taking phone.
Her escape.
Defense cross:
“You disliked Celeste?”
“Yes.”
“You had argued with Marcus about family trust?”
“Yes.”
“You understood pregnancy might affect trust?”
“Not until that night.”
“You contacted Arthur months earlier about trust forms?”
“Yes.”
“So you were suspicious of Vanguard money before?”
“I was suspicious of documents Marcus wanted me to sign.”
Good.
“Did you threaten to expose them?”
“I told Marcus I wanted explanation.”
Then:
“Did you see Marcus push Celeste?”
“No.”
“Then you cannot know.”
“No.”
She did not overclaim.
Then Celeste testified.
Defense attacked hard.
“You admitted violently assaulting pregnant woman.”
“Yes.”
“You hope for lower sentence.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about trust approvals.”
“Yes.”
“Why believe you now?”
Celeste:
“Because the recordings don't need me.”
Strong.
Then she described Marcus push.
“Was it deliberate?”
“He shoved me away hard.”
“Could you have lost balance accidentally?”
“I lost balance because he shoved.”
Then:
“Did he intend skull fracture?”
“I don't know.”
Good.
Then investigators.
Security.
Device logs.
Forensics.
The brass tool.
No evidence of tool-caused head injury.
It had blood transfer from contact with Celeste after fall.
Marcus likely placed it nearby? Could not prove purpose, but false 911 weapon claim plus prints suggested staging.
Then Marcus testified.
He admitted deleting security.
Why?
“Panic.”
Draft narrative?
“To organize thoughts.”
Why state Maya attacked Celeste?
“I believed injuries happened during their fight.”
But audio Celeste alive.
“I was disoriented.”
Then:
“Why weapon?”
“I saw blood on tool.”
“You touched tool?”
“Yes, checking if weapon.”
Then push?
“I tried to take phone from Celeste.”
“She pulled.”
“She fell.”
No deliberate shove.
Then prosecutor:
“When Celeste said if Maya miscarried trust trigger disappears, what did you say?”
Marcus:
“I don't remember.”
Audio:
Then the trigger goes away.
He closed eyes.
“That was cruel.”
Then:
“Was it true?”
“If there was no live birth, specific descendant trigger did not occur.”
Cold legal observation.
Then:
“Were you relieved at possibility?”
“No.”
“Why say?”
“I was angry.”
Then:
“Did you love unborn child?”
“I had not processed pregnancy.”
Maya looked away.
Then obstruction:
“Why delete footage?”
“I feared it would look bad.”
Exactly.
“Why falsely blame wife?”
“I thought she started everything.”
“Even though sister was alive after wife left?”
Silence.
Then:
“Mr. Vanguard, your wife was bruised, pregnant, and fleeing. Your sister was injured later. You decided the easiest story was that the injured pregnant woman caused both.”
Objection.
Argumentative.
Sustained.
Jury heard enough.
Verdict after two days.
Guilty:
Evidence tampering.
False report.
Obstruction.
Unlawful restraint of Maya.
Assault on Celeste causing serious bodily injury.
Acquitted of one more serious aggravated assault count requiring higher intent.
No attempted murder.
No conspiracy to harm unborn child.
Evidence did not support.
Then Marcus sat.
Maya exhaled.
Not smiled.
Then immediately grabbed her stomach.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“My water broke.”
In courthouse.
Of course.
At thirty-six weeks.
We left through side door.
May you like
Trial was over.
A different emergency had begun.
