Chapter 18 - THE TRIAL OF LIES
Renata's trial began six months later.
Her defense claimed the bathroom incident had been an accident, the recordings had been planted, and Senator Vale had acted without her knowledge. She entered court in a plain gray suit and looked smaller without the mansion, the diamonds, and the people trained to obey her.
The prosecution built the case piece by piece.
Caleb authenticated the security systems. Daniel Voss explained the altered brake report. Helen Price identified Margaret's files. Vivian described the cover-up. Financial experts traced the payments.
Then the unedited garage footage played.
It showed Renata kneeling beside Margaret's car. She opened the wheel well and passed a tool to Owen. Later, she entered the back seat and found Lily's rabbit. She did not notice the recorder inside it.
Renata stopped smiling.
I testified about the bathroom and her threats. Her attorney tried to portray me as desperate and angry.
"You needed money for your mother, correct?"
"Yes."
"And Mr. Callahan later funded an employee medical program."
"A program managed by independent trustees. I receive no personal payment."
"You attacked my client."
"I moved her away from a child she was hurting."
The jury watched the footage immediately afterward.
Lily did not testify in the open courtroom. Her recorded interview with a child specialist was played instead. She described Renata's threat after the funeral in simple, steady words.
At the end, the specialist asked why Lily finally spoke.
"Emma came back for me," she answered. "Then Daddy listened."
Renata turned toward me.
For the first time, she looked afraid of someone she had once called invisible.
The jury left to deliberate.
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Two hours later, the courthouse alarms sounded.
Renata was missing from the holding room.
