Chapter 18 - The Video in Court
The courtroom was smaller than I expected.
Karen sat at the defense table in navy blue.
No crossed arms.
No smirk.
No glass of wine.
Just stillness.
The prosecutor played the kitchen video.
Lily holding the crust.
Karen saying, “Eat it all.”
Me entering.
The dirty plate.
Then the next clips.
The withheld food.
The spill.
The jury watched quietly.
Karen stared at the table.
Then came the garage footage.
Checkbook.
Documents.
Ross.
The folder with my name.
The hidden office.
The list.
One juror covered her mouth.
Karen’s lawyer objected to emotional prejudice.
The judge overruled.
Dad testified.
So did Patricia.
So did Ross.
Susan testified about the estate documents.
My mother’s original will was admitted.
Then I testified.
Karen’s lawyer stood.
“Mr. Collins, you installed a hidden camera because you already disliked my client.”
“I installed it because my daughter told me something was wrong.”
“Your five-year-old daughter.”
“Yes.”
He paused.
“After I watched her mistreat my child? Yes.”
“Did that anger influence your interpretation?”
I looked at Karen.
“No.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because the camera does not get angry.”
Silence.
The lawyer changed direction.
He suggested Lily was picky.
Suggested the crust was edible.
Suggested Karen had been enforcing rules.
“Mr. Collins, if this were only about a pizza crust, would we be here?”
“No.”
“What is it about?”
I looked at Dad.
Then at Karen.
“Control.”
The trial lasted eight days.
We waited in a hallway.
Lily was not there.
Exactly where she belonged.
The bailiff opened the door.
“Verdict.”
May you like
Dad grabbed my hand.
And for the first time since this began, his was shaking more than mine.
