Chapter 10
Linda’s trial began first.
Assault.
Coercion.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Financial exploitation.
The courtroom was packed.
Reporters had picked up the story after Dr. Pierce’s arrest.
The headline made me sick.
Woman attacked with cleaning bucket uncovers estate fraud ring.
I was more than a headline.
My father was more than a plot twist.
Still, sunlight helped rot show.
The prosecutor played the living room footage.
Linda grabbing my hair.
My face forced into dirty water.
My struggle.
Then my retaliation.
I watched without looking away.
I had fought back.
I had also crossed a line.
When I testified, Linda’s lawyer tried to use that.
“You put my client’s face in the bucket too.”
“Yes.”
“So you attacked her.”
“I defended myself after she forced my face underwater.”
He tried again.
“You were angry.”
“Yes.”
“Violent?”
“Alive,” I said.
The jury listened.
Then the phone recording played.
Linda planning to frame me.
Linda mentioning the money.
Linda saying Ryan would believe her.
Ryan sat in the back, pale.
He was scheduled to testify later.
May you like
I did not look at him long.
My story no longer revolved around whether he finally understood it.
