Chapter 12
The prosecutor offered Victor a plea.
He took it.
He testified against Dad and Bethany in exchange for thirty years instead of life.
I hated the deal.
Detective Reed said, “Sometimes justice needs ugly tools.”
I understood.
That did not mean I had to like it.
Victor described the night before Elena died.
Bethany crying.
Dad furious.
Elena refusing to sign a custody agreement giving my family visitation control.
Dad said Elena was poisoning me.
Bethany said Rosie would grow up loving Elena’s “trash relatives.”
Victor said he could scare her.
Dad said, “Make sure she never drives away with my granddaughter.”
The courtroom went silent.
I stared at my father.
He stared at the table.
Bethany cried.
Not for Elena.
For herself.
Mom testified too.
She looked small on the stand.
The prosecutor asked, “Did you know your husband and daughter threatened Elena?”
“Yes.”
“Did you warn Elena?”
Mom shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
She began crying.
“Because I was afraid of losing my family.”
I almost stood.
Her fear had cost Elena her life.
Then she said something that changed the room.
“I lost it anyway.”
Bethany glared at her.
Mom did not look away.
For the first time in my life, she chose truth over Dad.
May you like
Too late for Elena.
But maybe not too late for Rosie’s future.
