Chapter 7 - The Trial of the Montgomery FamilyThe federal trial lasted nearly seven weeks.
Workers testified.
Widows testified.
Accountants.
Inspectors.
Bankers.
Former executives.
Then Adrian.
He did not perform anger.
That made him more powerful.
“My father was not perfect.”
He looked toward the jury.
“He made business mistakes.”
“He trusted the wrong partners.”
“But he did not falsify the Harbor Point concrete tests.”
He held up the original report.
“The Montgomerys did.”
My father stared at him.
Adrian continued.
“They took his company.”
“His reputation.”
“And the truth.”
Then I testified.
Dad’s attorney attacked me.
“You hated your family.”
“Eventually.”
“You financially benefited from marrying Adrian Cross.”
“No.”
“You currently possess access to assets seized from your family.”
“No.”
“You want revenge.”
I thought.
“Once.”
The attorney smiled.
“So you admit it.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“That’s why I gave the evidence to federal investigators instead of destroying my family privately.”
His smile disappeared.
Evidence mattered more than motive.
The jury convicted Dad and Marcus on major fraud, conspiracy, financial, and safety-related crimes.
My father received twenty-eight years.
Marcus received thirty-two after separate witness-tampering conduct increased his exposure.
Mother received a substantially shorter sentence for financial crimes and obstruction.
Assets were seized.
Victim funds established.
Families of the Harbor Point workers received compensation.
No amount of money restored the dead.
But the public record finally changed.
Thomas Cross’s name was cleared.
The city formally acknowledged that his company had been framed using falsified reports.
At the courthouse, Adrian cried.
Quietly.
I stood beside him.
May you like
This time—
I took his hand first.
