Chapter 14 - THE TRIAL BEGINS
The prosecution began with money.
Smart.
Bellbird.
Silver Row.
Conflict.
Mara’s audit request.
Celestine’s fear of exposure.
Then intimidation.
Garage visit.
Audio.
Then car.
Not the other way around.
The jury needed motive before mechanics.
The prosecutor never called Celestine a murderer.
Good.
She said:
“This case is about reckless intimidation that created a lethal danger.”
Precise.
Owen testified.
He looked smaller than I imagined.
He admitted fraud.
Admitted lying initially.
Admitted cooperation could reduce his sentence.
The defense used all of it.
“You want to save yourself.”
“Yes.”
“You would say anything.”
“No.”
“Yet you lied before.”
“Yes.”
Not a perfect witness.
Real.
Then the recording.
Mara:
What did you do to my car?
Celestine:
Nothing that should’ve hurt you.
The courtroom changed.
I watched jurors.
One looked down.
Another stared at Celestine.
She did not move.
Then Poppy’s voice faintly in background.
Mommy?
I nearly left.
Stayed.
Not because bravery required it.
Because I chose.
Mechanical experts followed.
Conflicting.
Complicated.
The judge repeatedly instructed jurors not to decide based on sympathy.
Correct.
I testified on day six.
Defense asked:
“Your wife knew the vehicle had a braking concern?”
“Yes.”
“She chose to drive?”
“Yes.”
“She had received service?”
“Yes.”
“You blamed the mechanic initially?”
“I wondered whether service failed.”
“Then you blamed Ms. Rowan after discovering the USB?”
“I learned she arranged the original tampering.”
“Question was blame.”
Daniel had warned me.
I breathed.
“I personally blame Celestine for creating the dangerous condition. I understand the jury has to decide legal causation.”
Defense counsel paused.
Not the dramatic answer they wanted.
Then:
“You struck my client.”
“Yes.”
“Hard enough to knock her down.”
“Yes.”
“You hate her.”
I thought.
“No.”
That surprised me too.
“What?”
“I don’t want her in my life. I want her held accountable. Hate is not something I can prove for you.”
The judge looked irritated.
I had become too philosophical.
I stopped.
Then the defense called Celestine.
Her choice.
Risky.
She admitted the Bellbird conflict.
Claimed she believed consulting payments were permitted.
Admitted asking Owen to interfere with the car.
The courtroom inhaled.
Her lawyer had clearly decided denying the recording was impossible.
“What did you intend?”
“To scare Mara.”
“Kill her?”
“No.”
“Hurt her?”
“No.”
“Did Owen tell you what he would do?”
“He said he could create a harmless warning.”
There is no harmless brake sabotage.
The prosecutor made that point brutally on cross.
“You authorized someone to compromise a moving vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“Without knowing how?”
“Yes.”
“Then you told the owner nothing?”
“Yes.”
“After she had a child?”
Celestine cried.
“Yes.”
“Because you wanted her to stop investigating money?”
“Yes.”
That was enough for me.
Whatever verdict came.
The truth was now spoken publicly.
Then the prosecutor asked:
“After Mara died, why did you not tell Gage?”
Celestine looked toward me.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of prison?”
“Yes.”
“And yet you entered his home.”
“Yes.”
“Became close to his daughter.”
Celestine began sobbing.
“Yes.”
“Accepted his engagement ring.”
May you like
“Yes.”
There was no good answer after that.
