Chapter 12 - NORA’S TESTIMONY
Nora pleaded guilty to attempted poisoning, kidnapping conspiracy, identity fraud, and child endangerment.
Her attorney argued that Victor controlled her through threats against her son.
The prosecutor acknowledged the coercion.
It did not erase seven years of choices.
Nora asked to meet Lily before sentencing.
Ethan refused to decide alone.
A child therapist explained the request to Lily.
She thought about it for three days.
Then she agreed to send a recorded message instead.
Lily sat before a camera holding the locket.
“You gave me food.”
“You read me stories.”
“You also told me my daddy was dangerous.”
“You locked doors.”
“You made me call you Aunt Nora.”
“I don’t know which parts were real.”
“I hope you tell the truth now.”
Nora watched the recording in court.
She cried without covering her face.
Then she testified against Victor and Conrad.
She described the hospital fire plan.
Grace Holloway’s death.
The false identities.
The years of moving Lily.
The poisoned meals prepared for Ethan.
The medical facilities.
The board vote.
Nora also admitted something Ethan had not known.
Twice, Victor ordered her to kill Lily.
The first time, when Lily was three.
The second, when she was six.
Nora disobeyed.
She moved the child without authorization and claimed Lily had a contagious illness.
“Why?” the prosecutor asked.
Nora looked toward Ethan.
“Because by then she called me Aunt Nora.”
“I had helped steal her life.”
“I could not take it too.”
The truth was complicated.
Nora had protected Lily from murders made necessary by the kidnapping Nora continued to hide.
The judge considered both facts.
She received a lengthy sentence reduced by cooperation.
Her son’s old conviction was reviewed.
Investigators found that Victor’s attorneys had manufactured evidence against him.
He was released after twelve years.
Nora saw him once through courtroom glass.
He did not forgive her.
He also did not look away.
After sentencing, Lily asked Ethan whether Nora was good or bad.
“She did harmful things.”
“She also stopped some worse things.”
“People can be both?”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean I have to love her?”
May you like
“No.”
“You are allowed to remember whatever is true for you.”
