Chapter 18 - The Trial
The prosecutor used her recorded forensic interview, the smartwatch audio, Marisol's video, the hallway camera, financial records, Luis's testimony, Bryce's cooperation, and the recovered inhaler.
Cullen sat in the front row every day.
Tove never looked at him.
Until closing arguments.
Then she turned.
For one second, their eyes met.
Cullen expected hatred.
He saw something smaller.
Fear.
The jury convicted Rourke of murder, conspiracy, evidence tampering, and corruption.
Tove was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, child endangerment, fraud, witness intimidation, and multiple financial crimes. The exact legal findings differed across charges, but the result was simple enough for Cullen.
Neither of them would be coming back to his home.
Bryce pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction in exchange for cooperation. He received prison time too.
Outside the courthouse, reporters crowded Cullen.
"Mr. Hart, do you feel justice was served?"
He looked at the cameras.
"My daughter is eight. She should never have had to become the bravest witness in this case. So no, I don't feel victorious. I feel grateful she survived."
He walked away.
At home, Mireya was baking cookies with Mara.
Flour covered her nose.
She ran to Cullen.
"Is it over?"
He knelt.
"The court part is."
"Tove can't come back?"
"No."
Mireya pressed her face into his shoulder.
For the first time since the party, her body did not shake.
That night, Cullen went into Marisol's office.
He opened the bottom drawer again.
Empty.
He almost closed it.
Then he noticed a strip of paper caught beneath the wooden liner.
He lifted the panel.
Under it was one final envelope.
For Mireya, when she is ready.
Cullen stared at Marisol's handwriting.
May you like
He did not open it.
Not yet.
