Chapter 18 - GRAHAM TESTIFIES
Graham looked different.
Thinner.
No wedding ring.
He took oath.
Prosecutor:
“Did Nora agree to use her brownstone as collateral?”
“No.”
“Did she refuse?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell lender she agreed in principle?”
“Yes.”
“Was that true?”
“No.”
Then Sunday.
“Did you know Judith intended physical contact?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“A shove.”
“Where?”
“Near basement stairs.”
“Why?”
“To scare Nora.”
“Into doing what?”
“Signing the collateral documents Monday.”
No evasions.
Then:
“Did you expect Nora to fall?”
“I expected her to stumble one step.”
“Did you understand she could be injured?”
“Yes.”
“Why proceed?”
He swallowed.
“Because I was afraid Ashwick would fail and because I had stopped treating Nora’s no as final.”
Then:
“What did you plan if she told relatives Judith pushed her?”
“I planned to say she slipped.”
“Did you pre-notify lender she had fallen?”
“Yes.”
“Before the fall happened?”
“Yes.”
The jury shifted.
Then defense cross.
“You are receiving reduced sentence for testimony.”
“Yes.”
“You blame your mother to save yourself.”
“I blamed myself in my plea.”
“But Judith used more force than you agreed.”
“Yes.”
“You told her no bruises.”
“Yes.”
“You told her don’t be insane.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to stop her.”
“At first.”
“Exactly.”
Graham looked at his mother.
Then:
“And then I agreed.”
That answer held.
Defense:
“Did Judith say, ‘I am going to push Nora down several stairs’?”
“No.”
“Did you intend serious injury?”
“No.”
“Did you intend coercion by violence?”
“I intended fear created by physical intimidation.”
Careful.
Truth.
Then:
“Were you afraid Nora would divorce you if you kept pressuring?”
“Yes.”
“So this was also marital conflict.”
“Yes.”
“Not simply money.”
“Yes.”
Complex motive.
Good.
Then defense asked:
“Did Nora threaten to burn Ashwick down?”
“Figuratively.”
“Did she hate your mother?”
“They hated each other.”
“Did she slap Judith after getting up?”
“Yes.”
“Did she shove you?”
“Yes.”
“Was Nora capable of aggression?”
Graham paused.
“She was capable of anger. That doesn’t change what we planned.”
I looked away.
For once, he protected truth instead of family.
May you like
Too late for us.
Not too late for the record.
