Chapter 12 - THE FALL OF A KING
Victor Hale was arrested six months later.
The evidence against him was extensive.
Financial records.
Witness testimony.
Communications linking his associates to violent crimes.
And forensic findings connecting his organization to the fire at my farmhouse.
The trial lasted eleven weeks.
Eleanor testified.
Dante testified.
I testified about the documents my father had hidden.
Victor's attorneys tried to discredit us.
They failed.
When the jury returned guilty verdicts on the major charges, I felt my knees weaken.
Dante reached for my hand.
I squeezed it.
Outside the courthouse, reporters shouted questions.
I ignored them.
I looked at Dante.
“Is it over?”
He considered the question.
“The trial is.”
“And everything else?”
He smiled sadly.
“That takes longer.”
I nodded.
Because healing wasn't a verdict.
May you like
It was a process.
And for the first time, I believed we had a future worth working toward.
