Chapter 15 - Margaret Speaks
Margaret testified against her attorneys’ advice.
She had controlled every room in her life.
She could not tolerate a trial ending with other people’s voices.
She described herself as a widow who saved Cole Provisions after my father’s weakness.
She claimed Victor’s debts threatened the company.
She claimed my absence left Elena without discipline.
She claimed Leo’s trust required experienced management.
The prosecutor asked about the contaminated formula.
Margaret lifted her chin.
“One batch tested inconsistently.”
“Three tests showed contamination.”
“Other tests passed.”
“Those tests were performed after the laboratory equipment was recalibrated by a contractor you paid.”
“I protected thousands of jobs.”
“You risked thousands of infants.”
“Leadership requires difficult arithmetic.”
The prosecutor placed Gabriel’s photograph before her.
“Was this child part of your arithmetic?”
Margaret looked away.
The prosecutor moved to Elena.
“Why did you restrict her food?”
“She needed to lose pregnancy weight.”
“Why did you prevent sleep?”
“Routine prevents depression.”
“Why did you switch her medicine?”
“I did not.”
The fox video played.
Margaret’s hand removed pills from Elena’s bottle.
The courtroom remained silent.
“You knew she had an infection.”
“Dr. Hale said it was minor.”
“Dr. Hale testified that you paid him.”
“He is protecting himself.”
“Everyone who contradicts you is protecting themselves?”
“Usually.”
The prosecutor approached the jury.
“What did you mean when you told Adrian he could not take your grandson?”
Margaret looked at me.
“Leo carries the Cole name.”
The prosecutor waited.
“My question was why you believed you could stop his parents.”
“Because they were destroying his inheritance.”
“His health?”
“His family.”
“His parents?”
“The company.”
The single word settled across the courtroom.
Company.
That was the family Margaret meant.
Not Elena.
Not me.
Not Leo.
The structure that preserved her authority.
The prosecutor returned to the abduction.
“You aimed a pistol toward the booth containing Leo.”
“I knew Adrian would surrender.”
“What if he had not?”
Margaret’s expression did not change.
May you like
“He always does eventually.”
That was the last answer the jury needed.
