CHAPTER 7 — THE TRIAL
CHAPTER 7 — THE TRIAL
Six months later, the courthouse steps were crowded with reporters.
Grace stood at the entrance, leaning lightly on a cane. Months of physical therapy had helped her walk again, though every step reminded her of the night her life had changed forever.
Aunt Meredith squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to go in if you're not ready."
Grace smiled faintly.
"I've spent my whole life hiding from his choices."
"Today, he has to face mine."
Inside the courtroom, Richard Bennett looked older than Grace remembered.
His once-perfect gray suit had been replaced by an orange jail uniform.
His shoulders were slumped.
His hair had turned almost completely white.
For the first time in Grace's life, he looked... small.
The prosecutor stood.
"Your Honor, the State will prove that the defendant deliberately damaged the brake system of his own vehicle."
Richard's attorney immediately objected.
"There is no evidence my client intended to harm anyone."
"There is."
The prosecutor nodded toward Grace.
"The defendant knew his eldest daughter planned to leave home."
A photograph appeared on the courtroom screen.
It was Grace's acceptance letter.
Then another image.
The lease agreement for her apartment.
Then a third.
Bank statements showing that Richard had secretly withdrawn thousands of dollars from accounts belonging to his late wife.
The prosecutor walked slowly toward the jury.
"Mr. Bennett's financial fraud was about to be discovered."
"He knew Grace intended to move out."
"He knew she had copies of the financial records."
"He believed that once she left..."
"...she would expose him."
The courtroom became silent.
Grace's heartbeat echoed in her ears.
Then the prosecutor asked the question everyone had been waiting for.
"Grace Bennett..."
"Why didn't you report him years ago?"
Grace looked across the courtroom.
At the man who had raised her.
The man who had abandoned her.
The man who had chosen someone else while she lay trapped inside a crushed car.
Her answer came quietly.
"Because children spend their lives believing their parents will eventually love them."
She paused.
"I was still waiting."
Not a single person in the courtroom moved.
Even Richard lowered his head.
Then Olivia took the witness stand.
She cried through most of her testimony.
"I loved my dad."
She looked toward Grace.
"But I loved my sister more."
She described everything she had seen in the garage.
Every warning.
Every lie.
Every threat.
When she finished, the courtroom remained silent for several seconds.
Richard never looked at either daughter.
Instead...
He whispered,
"I'm sorry."
Grace heard him.
But for the first time...
His apology no longer had the power to change her.
After three days of testimony, the jury returned.
The foreperson stood.
"We find the defendant..."
"Guilty."
"Guilty."
"Guilty."
Attempted murder.
Insurance fraud.
Forgery.
Grand theft.
Obstruction of justice.
Richard Bennett closed his eyes as the verdict echoed through the courtroom.
The judge removed his glasses.
"You betrayed your responsibilities as a father long before you broke the law."
He paused.
"This court sentences you to thirty-two years in state prison."
Richard finally looked toward Grace.
There were tears in his eyes.
May you like
She felt...
Nothing.
