Chapter 21 - Lenora testifies
Lenora took the stand.
Against advice, I suspected.
She said:
“Oliver’s death destroyed my son.”
My attorney was not involved. Prosecution asked:
“And that allowed you to use Oliver’s dependent ID?”
“No. I used a dormant category to help another grandchild.”
“Why change Lucas Hale to O. Mercer on invoices?”
“To fit the system.”
“Why not change the system?”
“Family companies do not stop every five minutes for paperwork.”
Then:
“Why not tell Cormac?”
Her answer:
“Because he would say no.”
Silence.
There it was.
Not efficiency.
Avoiding refusal.
Then prosecutor:
“Why would he say no?”
“Because he became irrational about anything connected to Oliver.”
“Did you write that Lucas should be a replacement dependent?”
“Yes.”
“What did you mean?”
“That the benefit capacity should not go to waste.”
A dead child’s care allowance.
As unused capacity.
Then:
“Why exclude Etta from that continuation category?”
“She already had everything.”
“Did Lucas?”
“No.”
“He has two wealthy parents.”
Lenora’s jaw tightened.
“He is a boy with expectations.”
That sentence ended her.
May you like
Not legally by itself.
Morally, yes.
