Chapter 18 - SAMUEL PRICE ON TRIAL
Samuel's trial began five months later.
Unlike Victoria, he showed no regret.
He entered court wearing an expensive gray suit and the calm expression of a man attending a board meeting.
His defense attorneys argued that Harold died naturally.
They claimed the financial transactions were authorized.
They said Gerald, Victoria, Robert, and Nathan had conspired to blame Samuel in exchange for leniency.
Then the prosecution played the warehouse recording.
Samuel's own voice filled the courtroom.
"Your father should have retired."
Then.
"I prefer poison."
The defense called it sarcasm.
The jury did not look convinced.
Pharmacy records showed Samuel had access to digoxin.
Harold's blood showed toxic levels.
Security footage placed Samuel inside Harold's study.
Recovered messages proved Harold planned to report him.
Financial evidence gave him motive.
Then Robert testified.
Mark watched his uncle take the stand.
Robert looked twenty years older.
He admitted feeding Samuel information.
He admitted leaking the mineral-rights story.
He admitted helping construct the false allegations against Mark.
Then the prosecutor asked.
"Did Mr. Price ever discuss Harold Bennett's death with you?"
Robert swallowed.
"Once."
"When?"
"Two days after Harold died."
"What did he say?"
Robert looked toward Samuel.
"He said Harold finally stopped being a problem."
Samuel showed no reaction.
The prosecutor asked.
"What did you think he meant?"
"I knew exactly what he meant."
Robert's voice broke.
"And I stayed quiet."
Mark looked away.
That was the pattern running through everything.
Victoria knew something was wrong and stayed quiet.
Gerald knew and stayed quiet.
Robert knew and stayed quiet.
Samuel had survived because guilty people preferred silence over exposure.
The prosecution's final witness was Mark.
Samuel watched him approach the stand.
Mark described his father's warning.
The heirloom box.
The key.
The bank records.
The cabin fire.
The warehouse.
Samuel's attorney stood for cross-examination.
"Mr. Bennett, you personally benefited from your father's estate, correct?"
"No."
"You control the trust."
"I administer it."
"You control Bennett Holdings."
"Alongside an independent trustee and board."
"You became more powerful after your father's death."
Mark looked directly at him.
"My father died."
"There is no version of that where I benefited."
The courtroom became quiet.
The attorney changed direction.
"Isn't it true that you hated Samuel Price?"
"After learning he poisoned my father?"
The judge instructed Mark to answer only the question.
Mark nodded.
"Yes."
"I hate what he did."
Samuel's attorney smiled faintly.
"So you admit bias."
Mark looked toward Samuel.
"No."
"I admit memory."
The trial lasted four weeks.
The jury deliberated for eleven hours.
Guilty of first-degree murder.
Guilty of attempted murder.
Guilty of kidnapping.
Guilty of conspiracy.
Guilty of financial fraud.
Guilty on nearly every major count.
Samuel finally lost his composure.
Not when the murder verdict was read.
Not when the kidnapping verdict was read.
It happened when the judge ordered forfeiture of every asset connected to his criminal enterprise.
Samuel stood.
"You can't take those."
His attorney grabbed his sleeve.
Samuel pulled away.
"Those accounts are mine."
The judge stared at him.
"No, Mr. Price."
"They were purchased with stolen money."
Samuel looked toward Mark.
For the first time, the polished executive disappeared.
What remained was a furious man who had spent decades believing intelligence entitled him to other people's lives.
Mark felt nothing.
No victory.
No satisfaction.
Only an ending.
Samuel received life imprisonment without parole for Harold's murder, plus additional consecutive sentences.
As deputies led him away, Samuel glanced back.
Mark did not.
Outside, Sophie waited in the car with Caroline.
Mark climbed into the passenger seat.
Sophie held out a chocolate milkshake.
"I got you one."
Mark accepted it.
"Best thing anyone has given me all day."
She grinned.
Then she looked toward the courthouse.
"Is it finished?"
Mark looked at the building one last time.
May you like
"That part is."
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