Chapter 19 - The Final Beneficiary
The final transfer was for $6.2 million.
Recipient: Robert Bennett.
Date: three weeks before his death.
Michael stared at the screen.
"So he took the money too."
Mara shook her head. "Look at the destination."
The money had gone into a legal restitution trust.
Robert had been quietly moving stolen funds back.
Attached to the transfer was a letter to federal prosecutors that he never sent.
In it, Robert confessed to covering up Andrew's death, identified Diane and Victor, and listed every shell company he knew.
He had planned to turn himself in on Monday.
He died Sunday night.
"Heart attack," Michael said.
Martinez looked at the old autopsy report. "Maybe."
Robert had a cardiac condition. No toxicology was ordered.
Diane had been alone with him for the final hour of his life.
But Robert's housekeeper remembered Diane crushing pills into tea that night. Pharmacy records showed she had picked up medication capable of dangerously lowering blood pressure when combined with Robert's heart drugs.
It wasn't enough, by itself, to prove murder.
Then Helen Gray called.
"Robert mailed me something before he died," she said. "I was afraid to open it."
Inside was a handwritten note.
Diane knows I'm going to confess. If something happens to me before Monday, do not believe it was natural.
The case against Diane widened again.
Months later, Victor pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy, kidnapping, obstruction, and his role in Andrew's death. He agreed to testify.
Diane went to trial.
I testified about the balcony.
Michael testified about the lies.
Jason Sloan testified about the brake payment.
Mara testified about the money.
Victor testified about everything else.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on attempted murder, conspiracy, fraud, and Andrew's homicide.
Diane showed no emotion until the judge asked whether she wanted to speak before sentencing.
She turned toward Michael.
"I did everything for this family."
Michael stood behind the prosecutor's table.
"No," he said quietly. "You did everything to own it."
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The judge lifted the sentencing order.
And for the first time in thirty-five years, Diane Bennett had no control over what happened next.
