Chapter 21 - Gwendolyn
My sister wore navy.
No wedding white.
No family emerald.
She testified about Northline.
“I knew the business failed.”
“Did you know Thayer owed $61,000 personally?”
“No.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That approximately twelve thousand remained on one card.”
“Did you authorize use of the Bellamy ring as collateral?”
“No.”
“Did you own the ring?”
“No.”
“Did Thayer?”
“No.”
Then the replica.
“Did you request it?”
“No.”
“Know about it?”
“No.”
Then defense.
“You knew Thayer had financial stress.”
“Yes.”
“You told him, quote, ‘Whatever is left, we’ll figure it out after we’re married.’”
“Yes.”
“So you agreed to help with debt.”
“Debt I knew about.”
“You did not specify a maximum.”
“No.”
“Could Thayer reasonably believe family resources would become shared?”
Gwendolyn’s voice hardened.
“Not my mother’s ring.”
Then wedding day.
“You were stressed.”
“Yes.”
“You accused Percival.”
“Yes.”
“You were wrong.”
“Yes.”
“You were influenced by Estelle.”
“Yes.”
“And perhaps looking for someone to blame before you knew facts.”
“Yes.”
The defense wanted shame to fracture her.
She owned it.
Then:
“Did Thayer ever tell you to blame Percival?”
“No.”
Good.
“Did he ever say he wanted Percival punished?”
“No.”
Then:
“Is it possible Thayer’s silence was panic rather than a plan to frame the boy?”
“Yes.”
That surprised the jury.
She continued:
“I don’t know what was in his mind.”
Truth.
Then prosecutor:
“What did you know was in his pocket?”
“The ring.”
“Did he know?”
“Yes.”
“Did Percival?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Did Estelle?”
“No.”
“So who could have ended the accusation immediately?”
Gwendolyn looked at Thayer.
May you like
“He could.”
Done.
