Chapter 13 - The Verdicts
The jury convicted Diane of conspiracy to commit murder, arson, insurance fraud, evidence destruction, and financial theft.
She received thirty-eight years.
My father pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Evelyn’s death, fraud, and obstruction.
His cooperation reduced his sentence to eighteen years.
Laura received twenty-two years after surrendering her medical license and testifying.
Councilman Hale received fifteen years on state charges and additional federal time.
Noah Briggs received probation and a short sentence because his cooperation exposed the wider plan.
Miles’s trial lasted the longest.
He blamed our mother.
He blamed our grandmother.
He blamed me.
He said growing up beside me made him feel invisible.
The prosecution showed the footage of him entering my apartment.
A neighboring camera captured him carrying the fuel container.
His phone location placed him inside for seventeen minutes.
The fire began six minutes after he left.
The evidence was simple.
His choices were not.
He was convicted of attempted murder, arson, kidnapping, financial fraud, and involvement in Evelyn’s death.
He received life imprisonment with the possibility of review only after forty years.
At sentencing, he looked at me.
“You got everything.”
I stood for my victim statement.
“No.”
“I lost my apartment.”
“My grandmother.”
“My parents.”
“My brother.”
“You converted every relationship into a property dispute.”
“The trust is not proof that I won.”
“It is proof that Grandma knew what you were willing to do.”
Miles looked away.
After the sentences, reporters asked whether I forgave my family.
I answered honestly.
“No.”
“Forgiveness may come later.”
“It may not.”
“Safety does not have to wait for it.”
The statement angered people who preferred stories ending with reunion.
May you like
My story ended differently.
The door closed because the people outside it kept carrying matches.
