Chapter 13 - Margaret on the Stand
Margaret testified.
Her lawyer advised against.
She insisted.
That was Margaret.
She wore navy.
Hair perfect.
No visible jewelry.
Prosecutor played video.
Margaret watched herself slap me.
Pull my hair.
Kick me.
Demand code.
She looked down.
Defense asked:
“Were you trying to kill Irene?”
“No.”
“Were you trying to harm her unborn child?”
“No.”
“Why were you there?”
“To recover documents I believed Austin had already authorized for sale.”
“Why not call him?”
“He was traveling.”
“Why not wait?”
“Closing deadline.”
“Why use force?”
Silence.
“I panicked.”
Then Carla’s line:
Break her first if you have to.
Margaret:
“I should have stopped.”
Then prosecutor cross.
“Mrs. Wentworth, did Irene steal the documents?”
“No.”
“Did you know they were Austin’s?”
“Yes.”
“Did you own Raven Rock?”
“Partly.”
“Did Irene know?”
“No.”
“Did Austin?”
“No.”
“Did you plan to disclose before closing?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
Then:
“You wrote a statement accusing Irene of attacking you before you entered the house.”
Margaret tried:
“I was afraid she might.”
“Before you entered?”
“Yes.”
“You were so afraid of Irene that you entered her bedroom at 1:47 a.m. with your daughter carrying a hammer?”
Silence.
Then:
“You told Carla the originals had to be out before eight.”
“Yes.”
“You forged Austin’s consent?”
“I did not personally place the signature.”
“Did you know it was not his?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
The courtroom changed.
There.
Then the biggest question:
“Why?”
Margaret cried.
“I was going to lose everything.”
The prosecutor paused.
“What exactly were you going to lose?”
“My home.”
Vale could claim guarantees.
“My reputation.”
Defaults.
“My son’s respect.”
That answer was honest.
“And that justified beating his pregnant wife?”
“No.”
No explanation.
Then prosecutor asked about North Phoenix.
“Did you know Irene had a twenty percent beneficial interest?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t think it was my place.”
Almost laughable.
Yet she had intercepted notice.
Then:
“Did you tell Austin?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He was already choosing her over us.”
There.
Not finances.
Hierarchy.
Then Margaret said something nobody expected.
“I thought if Austin learned Irene had money in his company, he would never need me again.”
Silence.
She had spent years calling me a gold digger because my independence terrified her.
Not because she thought I wanted their money.
Because she knew I did not need it.
That was the emotional twist.
Then she looked at Austin in gallery.
“I lost your father.”
Her voice broke.
“I thought I was losing you.”
Austin cried silently.
Did not rescue.
Margaret was convicted on major assault, burglary/theft-related and fraud conspiracy counts? Need not precise. Jury convicted her on several charges, acquitted on one more severe intent count maybe. Good nuance.
She was not convicted of attempted murder because evidence did not prove intent to kill.
She was convicted of aggravated assault, burglary, conspiracy to commit fraud/forgery, attempted theft perhaps.
Sentencing later.
May you like
No triumph.
Just truth named.
