Chapter 28 - Melissa's Testimony
Melissa Crane entered the federal courtroom wearing prison gray.
Two years had passed since the anniversary party.
Her testimony lasted six hours.
She named bankers.
Security contractors.
Private physicians who had prepared false psychiatric records.
Political donors who had attended Blackthorn knowing exactly what Brandon intended to do.
Then prosecutors showed her a photograph of Evelyn.
Melissa went pale.
"I know her."
Emily sat behind the prosecution table.
"From where?" the attorney asked.
"She interviewed me."
"When?"
"Eight months before the anniversary party."
The courtroom changed.
Melissa explained that Evelyn had approached her under another identity and asked questions about Emily.
What frightened her.
Whom she trusted.
Whether she drank champagne.
Whether she still wore Abraham's bracelet.
Melissa had believed the woman worked for Brandon.
She had been wrong.
Evelyn had been designing the entire situation long before Brandon understood he was being guided.
The prosecutor asked, "Did Evelyn force you to drug Emily Vale?"
"No."
"Did she force you to cut her hair?"
Melissa's voice shook.
"No."
"Did Brandon force you?"
Melissa swallowed.
"He encouraged me. Threatened me sometimes. Rewarded me other times."
"That wasn't my question."
Melissa looked toward Emily.
"No."
She took a breath.
"I did it."
That answer mattered.
The courtroom had heard enough people explain their crimes by pointing to someone more powerful.
Melissa refused.
When testimony ended, she passed Emily while marshals escorted her out.
Emily gave a small nod.
Melissa returned it.
Months later, her cooperation reduced neither the existence nor seriousness of her conviction, but it became part of a later parole review.
May you like
She had stopped asking Emily for forgiveness.
That, more than the letters, convinced Emily that she might finally understand what remorse meant.
