Chapter 12
The federal courtroom was packed to capacity, the murmurs of reporters and spectators creating a low, restless hum under the high vaulted ceiling. Julian sat in the front row beside Clara, his arm resting protectively along the back of her wooden bench.
At the witness stand, Evelyn sat with her head bowed, her hands tightly clutching a handkerchief in her lap. She wore a simple black dress, stripped of the extravagant green velvet and heavy veils from the day of the funeral.
The federal prosecutor, a sharp-featured woman named Hayes, stepped toward the podium. "Mrs. Vance, in your own words, please describe the events leading up to the morning of the funeral service."
Evelyn swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly as it projected through the courtroom microphone. "Arthur called a meeting at the estate three days before the service. He... he explained that Clara’s refusal to sign the board resolution was threatening the entire foundation portfolio. He had already acquired the paralytic agent from a private medical supplier overseas."
"And did you object to his plan?" Hayes asked, stepping closer.
"I did," Evelyn whispered, a tear finally spilling over her lashes. "I told him it was murder. But he... he reminded me of my brother’s business debts. He said Clara would only be unconscious for a few hours—just long enough for the funeral to conclude and the probate judge to sign the estate transfer. He promised she wouldn't feel anything."
A heavy silence fell over the courtroom. In the defendant’s box, Arthur sat in an immaculate grey suit, his face an absolute mask of cold indifference. He didn't look at Evelyn; his dark eyes were fixed straight ahead on the judge’s bench.
"And did you assist in placing her inside the casket?" Hayes pressed gently.
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"Yes," Evelyn sobbed, covering her face with her handkerchief. "We placed her inside while she was still breathing. Arthur sealed the lid himself with industrial adhesive and screws. I dropped a flower... God help me, I dropped a flower on the wood."
Clara closed her eyes for a brief moment, breathing in the sterile courtroom air. The ghosts of that morning finally lost their grip, dissolving into the relentless march of justice.
