Chapter 18 - Before Trial
Thayer offered a plea two weeks before trial.
Misdemeanor attempted unauthorized borrowing.
No felony.
Prosecutor refused.
Then prosecutor offered:
One felony attempted fraud count.
Dismiss other two.
Probation with possible short custody.
Thayer refused.
Trial.
Gwendolyn prepared to testify.
Her attorney told her:
“Defense will ask about your financial knowledge.”
“I know.”
“They may imply you knew about Northline debt.”
“I knew some debt.”
“Say that.”
“I will.”
“They may show you texted, ‘We’ll fix everything after wedding.’”
She remembered.
That text was about vendors.
Could sound broader.
Truth.
Then Estelle.
She would testify too.
Her own slap would come in.
Defense could say her guilt made her blame Thayer.
Fair.
She prepared.
No rehearsed sainthood.
Then Adrian.
Former business partner.
Defense would attack because Northline collapse caused resentment.
He had sued Thayer once over equipment sale.
Bias possible.
Messages still messages.
Then Thayer himself had not decided whether to testify.
His lawyer probably wanted him to.
Intent lived inside his mind.
Without explanation, documents looked terrible.
With explanation, cross-examination could be worse.
I was not a primary witness beyond wedding scene.
The prosecutor said:
“We may not call you.”
“Fine.”
That surprised him.
I did not need a courtroom microphone.
Then one evening Percival asked:
“Thayer bad guy?”
I said:
“He made serious dishonest choices.”
“Bad guy?”
“I don’t know how to put a whole person into two words.”
He frowned.
“Movies do.”
“Movies are efficient.”
He thought.
“Grandma bad guy?”
“No.”
“She hit.”
“Yes.”
“You hit.”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“So everybody bad guy.”
“Now you understand literature.”
May you like
He laughed.
We were okay.
