Chapter 10: Victoria’s Testimony
The federal prosecutor’s office was quiet, save for the hum of an overhead air conditioner. Emily sat across the table from Victoria, the woman who had played neighbor and accomplice to Marcus Vance for five long years. Victoria no longer wore the bright red dress; instead, she wore a simple grey sweater and dark jeans, her blonde hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She looked tired, the veneer of poised luxury completely stripped away.
“I know you hate me,” Victoria began, her voice cracking slightly as she stared down at her hands. “And you have every right to.”
Emily crossed her arms, studying the woman who had watched her husband drag her across the driveway without lifting a finger. “Hate requires energy, Victoria. Right now, I just want the truth. Did you know who I was before Marcus brought me to Elmwood?”
Victoria shook her head slowly. “No. Not at first. When he brought you to that clinic in Europe, he told me you were his estranged wife who had suffered a severe dissociative break after a family tragedy. He asked me to help him create a quiet, isolated suburban life for you while he sorted out your estate.”
“And when did you find out the truth?” Emily pressed.
“About two years ago,” Victoria admitted, swallowing hard. “I found a locked ledger in his study while he was away on a business trip. Bank transfers, missing person reports, forged medical licenses. I realized he had kidnapped an heiress and drugged her into compliance. I wanted to leave, but… he threatened me, too. He said if I went to the authorities, he’d implicate me as an active co-conspirator in the embezzlement scheme.”
“So you stayed, and you watched,” Emily said coldly.
“I played my part because I was terrified of him,” Victoria whispered, a tear finally escaping her eye and rolling down her cheek. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Emily. I know I was a coward. But everything I gave Arthur’s team—the offshore accounts, the communication logs, the prescription records—it’s all real. I wanted to stop him just as much as you did, in my own cowardly way.”
Emily stared at Victoria for a long, silent moment. She saw the genuine fear and regret etched into the other woman’s face. It didn't excuse her complicity, but it provided a vital piece of the puzzle.
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“Your cooperation will be considered by the judge during your sentencing,” Emily said evenly. “You’ll still face prison time for your role in the conspiracy, Victoria. But honesty is the only way you’ll ever rebuild anything resembling a real life.”
Victoria nodded numbly, wiping her face with her sleeve. “Thank you… for listening.”
