Chapter 14 - THE LAST ESCAPE
Federal marshals covered Margaret.
I pulled Emily behind the witness bench.
Emergency lights flashed red across the courtroom.
A second shot came from the hallway.
Then someone shouted that an officer was down.
The courthouse doors opened.
People rushed toward the exits.
Through the confusion, a marshal wearing a gas mask grabbed Margaret.
At first, everyone assumed he was protecting her.
Then he pulled her through a side door.
Agent Hale saw the movement.
“That is not one of ours.”
He followed.
The fake marshal was Paul Reddick.
The man who had attempted to enter the safe apartment had been released months earlier after evidence disappeared.
Margaret had arranged his final payment before the trial.
He had entered the courthouse using credentials created by Brandon’s security company.
Reddick dragged Margaret toward the underground parking garage.
She believed he was rescuing her.
Instead, he demanded more money.
“You promised me half a million dollars.”
“You will receive it when I am safe.”
“I do not believe you.”
Margaret stopped.
“You should.”
Reddick raised the gun.
Agent Hale ordered him to drop it.
He turned and fired.
The bullet struck a concrete pillar.
Hale returned fire.
Reddick fell with a wound to his leg.
Margaret ran toward a waiting sedan.
I had followed Hale into the garage after ensuring Emily was secured with marshals.
Margaret saw me.
For one second, neither of us moved.
Then she entered the car.
I ran toward the exit gate.
The sedan accelerated.
It struck the barrier and spun sideways.
Airbags exploded inside.
Margaret crawled from the passenger door.
Blood ran from a cut above her eye.
She reached into her purse.
I stopped several yards away.
“Show me your hands.”
“You took my husband.”
Her voice was wild.
“You turned my sons against me.”
“They told the truth.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“You built your family on fear.”
She pulled out a small handgun.
I could have reached for my weapon.
Instead, I remained still.
“Do not do this.”
“You think you won because a jury believed your daughter?”
“She won the moment she spoke.”
Margaret aimed the gun at me.
“Then she can lose you.”
Emily’s voice echoed from the garage entrance.
“Mom.”
Margaret looked toward her.
That distraction gave Hale time to move.
He tackled Margaret from the side.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Concrete dust fell around us.
Marshals secured her hands.
Margaret fought until the handcuffs closed.
Then she began laughing.
“You think this ends with me?”
Hale lifted her to her feet.
“It ends with you in federal prison.”
She looked at Emily.
“Ethan will never let you go.”
Emily stepped closer.
“Ethan does not decide what happens to me anymore.”
Margaret was taken away.
Reddick survived and received additional federal charges.
The officer shot in the hallway recovered.
The courthouse attack delayed sentencing by three weeks.
During that time, the Army investigation into my conduct concluded.
The evidence showed I had never used military personnel or resources against the Prescott family.
Every action I took had been as a mother, witness, or private citizen.
The complaint was dismissed.
General Cole offered to hold a press conference clearing my name.
I declined.
I did not need public applause.
I needed my daughter to sleep without checking the locks four times.
Margaret was sentenced to life in federal prison.
Brandon received thirty-two years.
Judge Keller received twenty-eight.
Captain Wallace received twelve.
Charles Whitaker received twenty-four.
Ethan pleaded not guilty and chose to face a jury.
His trial lasted five weeks.
Emily testified again.
This time, she did not tremble when she entered the courtroom.
Ethan was convicted of kidnapping, assault, conspiracy, financial fraud, witness intimidation, and attempted murder.
Before sentencing, he asked to address Emily.
The judge allowed it.
Ethan stood in chains.
“I loved you.”
Emily looked at him for a long moment.
Then she answered.
“You loved owning me.”
The judge sentenced him to sixty years without the possibility of early release.
As deputies led him away, he turned toward me.
He expected hatred.
I gave him nothing.
May you like
My silence followed him through the courtroom doors.
This time, he finally understood what it meant.
