Chapter 15 - ARTHUR ON CROSS-EXAMINATION
Arthur’s deposition previewed trial.
Judith’s lawyer dismantled him patiently.
“You dislike your sister.”
“Yes.”
“You sued over your Northbridge buyout.”
“Arbitrated.”
“You lost.”
“Yes.”
“You told people she cheated you.”
“Yes.”
“You had motive to hurt her.”
“I had motive to distrust her.”
“Answer yes or no.”
“Yes.”
Good.
Then:
“You heard Judith say she wanted to scare Nora?”
“Yes.”
“Did she say she would push her?”
“Not in exact words that night.”
“Did you warn Nora?”
“No.”
“Did you call police?”
“No.”
“Did you stop Nora from carrying casserole?”
“No.”
“You waited until after the fall to reveal your envelope.”
“Yes.”
“Because the fall made your accusation more powerful.”
Arthur looked sick.
“Because I was a coward.”
That answer did not help legal certainty.
But it was honest.
Then lawyer attacked email chain.
Could Arthur have selected only incriminating pages?
Yes.
Full server production later provided context.
Some messages showed Graham trying to moderate Judith.
“Don’t touch her.”
Wait, did we already have one guest reporting him saying that. Could there be texts too? Need not contradict. Maybe earlier texts said "keep this verbal". Later he agreed one step. This shows escalation.
Full thread:
Graham:
Mom leave it. I’ll talk to Nora.
Judith:
You’ve talked for months.
Graham:
No scenes.
Judith:
Then get signature.
Graham:
I can’t.
Judith:
Exactly.
Hours later:
Graham:
Fine. Scare her. No bruises.
So he began resisting.
Then surrendered.
Context did not absolve.
It made his moral collapse visible.
Arthur’s selective packet omitted earlier resistance because he chose what he thought relevant.
Defense argued bias.
Prosecution produced full thread.
Good.
Transparency stronger.
Then my own cross-exam prep.
Questions:
“You hated Judith?”
“No. I disliked her.”
“You told friends you wanted to slap her?”
“Yes metaphorically.”
“You actually slapped her?”
“Yes.”
“You shoved your husband?”
“Yes after he grabbed me.”
“You threatened to burn Ashwick down?”
“Figuratively, during argument.”
“You benefit financially from divorce?”
“No extraordinary benefit. My separate property remains mine.”
“You knew Northbridge problems?”
“Some.”
“You wanted Graham to leave family company?”
“No.”
“Did you resent his mother’s influence?”
“Yes.”
Own.
No saint.
Then Naomi warned:
“The jury may dislike you.”
“I’m not on trial.”
“Everyone in a courtroom gets judged.”
True.
My job was not likability.
Accuracy.
Then Graham’s sentencing exposure became public in plea filings.
Judith’s supporters blamed me.
One anonymous envelope arrived at my office:
Happy now?
No threat.
Police documented.
No investigation priority.
I threw it away after photograph.
Not every cruelty deserves detective resources.
Then Ashwick sold first condo.
Company press release.
No mention scandal.
Life continued.
I felt weird relief.
May you like
The project had been used to justify hurting me.
Seeing it survive without my house made the whole excuse smaller.
