Chapter 16 - Teresa’s Gun
Teresa’s handgun became part of Vivian’s defense narrative.
Naturally.
Her attorney said:
“My client was trapped in a ballroom while an armed woman arrived accusing the family of decades of wrongdoing.”
Chronology mattered.
Vivian struck Isabella before Teresa arrived.
Still, atmosphere mattered to the false-imprisonment claim.
Teresa had been licensed.
Why bring the gun?
She explained in deposition.
“Because I panicked.”
“What did you think would happen?”
“I thought Isabella was inside Belladonna with people connected to Lorenzo.”
“Lorenzo had been dead eight years.”
“I know.”
“Then why fear?”
Teresa started crying.
“Fear doesn’t update automatically.”
There.
Did she intend to threaten Vincent?
“No.”
Vivian?
“No.”
Anyone?
“No.”
“Why hold it?”
“Because I carried it in my coat and when the doors opened, my hand was already around it.”
That was not ideal.
She had drawn it before entering?
Yes.
That was more concerning.
She admitted.
“I should not have.”
Police had seen barrel down.
No pointing.
No threat.
Her license and circumstances led prosecutors not to charge, but the weapon was held temporarily until review completed.
Teresa later stored it with a licensed dealer rather than taking it home immediately.
Eventually she sold it.
Not because guns are symbols of evil.
Because she no longer wanted fear deciding what she carried.
She told Isabella:
“I thought the gun made me less helpless.”
“What did it make you?”
“More frightened.”
Teresa’s mistake mattered.
No saint mother returning heroically armed.
A scared woman brought a weapon into a volatile situation.
It could have gone badly.
It did not.
May you like
She owned that.
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