Chapter 15 - ELENA’S TESTIMONY
Elena described the first night beneath the estate.
She woke with her ankle chained.
Victor sat across from her holding the note.
He told her Ethan would receive Lily if she cooperated.
When she signed nothing, Victor changed the threat.
He said Ethan would be blamed for her disappearance.
He said Lily would grow up believing her father had driven her mother away.
“Why didn’t you give him the fingerprint?” the prosecutor asked.
“Because the archive contained proof that he killed our father.”
“And if you opened it?”
“He said he would let me see Lily.”
“Did you believe him?”
“Sometimes.”
Elena looked toward her hands.
“Captivity does not require you to believe the captor all the time.”
“It only requires you to believe there is a small chance obedience will protect someone you love.”
Victor’s attorney approached.
“You had access to medication.”
“No.”
“Medical containers were found inside the room.”
“Victor controlled them.”
“You could walk.”
“Sometimes.”
“You were allowed to see your daughter.”
“Through a camera.”
“You ate regular meals.”
“When I cooperated.”
The attorney paused.
He had reduced imprisonment to food and survival.
Elena looked directly at him.
“A cage does not become a guest room because someone serves dinner.”
The jury watched Victor.
His calm finally broke.
He whispered something to his attorney.
The prosecutor introduced Arthur’s toxicology results.
The medication changes.
The dining-room recording.
The payment to Dr. Crane.
Victor’s attorney argued that the evidence was circumstantial.
Then Monica provided one final message she had hidden.
Victor sent it the night Arthur died.
The old man will not make breakfast.
Prepare Elena’s note in case she finds the ledger.
Victor had planned both crimes within hours of each other.
The jury deliberated for two days.
They found him guilty of murder, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, child endangerment, fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction.
Victor did not look at Elena when the verdict was read.
May you like
He looked toward the cameras.
Even then, reputation mattered more to him than the sister he had buried alive.
