Chapter 7 - The Trial of Margaret BennettMargaret’s case was complicated.
She had not intended Sophia to receive a life-threatening dose.
But she had deliberately ordered contamination.
Deliberately stolen the ring.
Deliberately framed Emily.
Deliberately suppressed information relating to Charles’s corruption investigation.
Her defense argued fear.
Richard had threatened her.
She believed Daniel would be destroyed.
She believed protecting Charles’s archive until Daniel was older was rational.
Then years passed.
Fear became habit.
At trial, Emily testified.
Margaret could barely look at her.
The prosecutor asked:
“Did Mrs. Bennett tell you why she fired you?”
“No.”
“Had you stolen anything?”
“Never.”
“Did she know that?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
Emily looked toward Margaret.
“Because she told me for seven years I was the only person she trusted.”
The jury watched Margaret.
Emily continued:
“She used my honesty when it helped her.”
Then:
“And sacrificed it when it didn’t.”
That became the case in one sentence.
Helen testified too.
She cried through most of it.
“Mrs. Bennett told me nobody would be hurt.”
The prosecutor asked:
“Why obey?”
Helen looked ashamed.
“Because for thirty years, when Margaret Bennett gave an order, I stopped thinking of it as a choice.”
That answer mattered.
Obedience was still a choice.
Even after decades.
Margaret eventually testified.
Bad decision.
Her lawyer asked:
“Did you hate Sophia Reynolds?”
“No.”
“Did you intend her death?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why contaminate the ring?”
“To frighten her.”
“Why?”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“To stop the marriage.”
“Why not tell your son the truth?”
Silence.
“Mrs. Bennett?”
“Because he would have asked why I stayed silent for nine years.”
There it was.
The real motive.
Not only protecting Daniel.
Protecting herself from his judgment.
The prosecutor stood.
“You framed Emily Carter because she possessed the key to evidence?”
“Yes.”
“You contaminated Sophia’s ring because she was searching for evidence?”
“Yes.”
“You withheld information about Charles’s concerns regarding Richard Reynolds?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Margaret began crying.
“Because every year I waited made admitting the truth more difficult.”
No further questions.
Margaret was convicted on most charges.
Because of her age and the absence of intent to kill Sophia, her sentence was substantial but not as severe as Richard’s eventual punishment.
Daniel visited her once before sentencing.
She asked:
“Do you forgive me?”
He answered:
“No.”
Margaret cried.
Daniel took her hand.
“But I still love you.”
She looked up.
May you like
He continued:
“I’m learning those are different questions.”
