Chapter 10 - THE TRIALS OF RESPECTABLE MEN
The federal cases took nearly two years.
Gerald Cole faced racketeering, bribery, money laundering, kidnapping, and conspiracy connected to my father’s death.
Derek faced domestic violence, attempted murder conspiracy, identity fraud, kidnapping, witness intimidation, and escape.
Judge Vane faced bribery and obstruction.
Deputy Commissioner Price faced corruption charges.
Carlo and Gabriel testified under cooperation agreements.
Vincent testified too.
His decision shocked the city.
He admitted Moretti crimes before prosecutors asked.
Illegal gambling.
Protection payments.
Hidden ownership.
Threats carried out under his father.
He did not claim innocence.
He described the silence that allowed Gerald to turn stolen criminal money into respectable wealth.
One prosecutor asked why the jury should believe a Mafia boss.
Vincent answered calmly.
“They should not believe my title.”
“They should compare my words to the records.”
The documents supported him.
My testimony lasted three days.
Derek’s attorney questioned why I remained married for five years.
“Because fear changes what choices feel possible.”
“Did he prevent you from leaving the apartment?”
“Sometimes.”
“Other times?”
“He controlled the money.”
“He monitored my phone.”
“He threatened to destroy my reputation.”
“He told me no one would protect a waitress.”
The attorney pointed toward Vincent.
“Someone protected you.”
“Yes.”
“A violent criminal.”
“A man with a violent history answered the call.”
“A respectable financial adviser broke my arm.”
“Titles did not tell me who was safe.”
The courtroom became silent.
Derek testified against legal advice.
He said he loved me.
He described pressure from Gerald.
He blamed alcohol.
He blamed the search for the ledger.
The prosecutor showed photographs of my injuries from five years of medical visits.
Derek had not broken me once.
He had made repeated choices.
The jury convicted him on every major charge.
He received forty-five years.
Gerald received life imprisonment.
Judge Vane received twenty-two years.
Price received twenty-eight.
Carlo received seventeen after cooperation.
Gabriel received twenty-five for his role in my father’s death.
Vincent pleaded guilty to several federal charges.
His cooperation and surrender of assets reduced the sentence.
He received eight years.
When the judge asked whether he wished to speak, Vincent looked toward me.
Then he faced the court.
“My family taught people that fear was protection.”
“It was not.”
“It was a debt collected from everyone around us.”
“I cannot return what was taken.”
“I can stop pretending our silence was loyalty.”
He was taken into custody immediately.
I had known it would happen.
The sight still broke something inside me.
Vincent had arrived in eight minutes.
Now there would be years when he could not come at all.
Before leaving the courtroom, he handed his attorney a sealed envelope for me.
I opened it later.
Lena,
Do not wait for me.
Build the life Derek tried to convince you did not exist.
May you like
If there is a place for me when I return, let it be because you chose it freely.
Not because I answered one phone call.
