Chapter 19 - LET HER TALK

Margaret arrived in court wearing navy blue and pearls.

Of course she did.

She looked less like a woman accused of fraud and more like someone attending a charity luncheon.

Her attorney argued that I had voluntarily supported my family, that Paige's company had provided legitimate "household management services," and that Gwen's illness had required Margaret to step in.

Then Margaret took the stand.

Claire had warned me not to enjoy it.

I failed.

"My son trusted me completely," Margaret said. "He wanted me to manage the home."

Claire stood. "Did he authorize you to redirect his wife's cancer-treatment reimbursements?"

"They were household funds."

"Did he authorize the lake house?"

"He wanted his family comfortable."

"Did he authorize listing his sister as his spouse for medical insurance?"

Margaret's face twitched.

"I don't understand the technical details."

"Did he authorize Captain Aaron Voss to forge emails telling Gwen that her husband no longer wished to pay for cancer care?"

Objection.

Overruled.

Margaret looked at me.

For the first time in my life, I didn't look away.

Claire placed Gwen's saved letter on the evidence screen.

Then the forged emails.

Then the banking transfers.

Then footage from Luis's camera.

Finally, she played a recorded portion of my call with Voss.

You had money sitting around and no idea how to use it.

The courtroom changed.

Margaret's confidence cracked.

The judge extended the asset freeze, restricted access to the house, and referred additional evidence for prosecution.

Outside, reporters waited.

I ignored them.

Gwen stood on the courthouse steps in a soft blue scarf, sunlight on her face.

"What now?" she asked.

"Whatever you want."

She looked surprised.

"That's a dangerous answer."

"Try me."

She smiled.

Then Claire came through the doors holding a folder.

"Before you celebrate," she said, "we got the forensic accounting report."

My stomach tightened.

"How bad?"

She looked at Gwen.

"Better than expected. And stranger."

There was still one account nobody had known about.

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It was in Gwen's name.

And it held $83,412.