Chapter 17 - CELESTE TAKES THE STAND
Celeste pleaded guilty to assault, evidence tampering, arson-related charges, conspiracy, and theft.
But her cooperation meant she still had to testify against Victor.
The courthouse was packed.
Reporters loved her.
Beautiful fiancée.
Feared estate.
Crime family rumors.
Maid punches heiress.
The truth was less glamorous.
People got hurt because other people believed money could rename cruelty.
Celeste entered wearing a plain navy suit.
No diamonds.
No heels loud enough to announce her.
She looked at me once.
Then away.
The prosecutor asked.
“Why did you plant your bracelet in Laura Beckett’s room?”
“To discredit her.”
“Why?”
“Because she challenged me.”
“Did you believe she had evidence against Victor?”
“Possibly.”
“Did Victor instruct you to hire her?”
“Yes.”
“Did he instruct you to monitor her?”
“Yes.”
“Did he instruct you to abuse staff?”
“No.”
The courtroom became quiet.
The prosecutor waited.
Celeste continued.
“That was mine.”
She looked toward Addie sitting beside Bess.
“I liked being feared.”
No excuse.
No childhood story.
No uncle.
Just truth.
Then Victor’s lawyer stood.
He tried to paint Celeste as unstable.
Vengeful.
A liar seeking leniency.
Some of that was true.
Then he asked.
“Did Laura Beckett strike you?”
Celeste looked at me.
“Yes.”
“Hard enough to knock you down?”
“Yes.”
“Did you suffer an injury?”
“Yes.”
“Then why should this court consider Ms. Beckett a victim?”
The prosecutor objected.
The judge allowed limited answer.
Celeste surprised everyone.
“Because I hit first.”
The lawyer paused.
Celeste continued.
“And because what happened that morning was not the beginning.”
She looked toward the staff.
“I had spent two years making everyone in that house afraid of me.”
“When Laura hit me, I thought she was the problem.”
“She wasn’t.”
“I was.”
I didn’t forgive her.
But I believed that sentence.
Victor was convicted months later on conspiracy, fraud, obstruction, reckless endangerment-related charges, and crimes connected to the attempted attack on my father.
Because decades had passed, not every crime could be prosecuted the way people wanted.
That angered families.
Understandably.
But the truth became official.
Public.
Permanent.
The state report on Pier Nine named Anthony Russo.
Malik Turner.
Ernesto Delgado.
It named Thomas Beckett too.
WHISTLEBLOWER SUBJECTED TO RETALIATION.
I read that line five times.
My father had spent years being called bitter.
Difficult.
Unemployable.
Now the record used the right word.
Whistleblower.
I printed the page.
May you like
Put it beside his photograph.
Then cried harder than I had at his funeral.
