Chapter 10
The courtroom was packed.
Cameras weren't allowed inside, but every news outlet had reporters stationed in the gallery. The public's appetite for this story had become insatiable after the revelation about Rebecca Thornton and Lily Ashford.
Marcus sat at the defense table in an orange jumpsuit, his once-impeccable appearance now hollowed out. His eyes found mine across the courtroom, and for one fleeting moment, I saw something I'd never seen in them before.
Genuine terror.
His attorney—a high-powered criminal defense lawyer named Richard Maye—stood to address the court.
"Your Honor, my client maintains his innocence regarding the murder charges. The deaths of Ms. Thornton and Ms. Ashford were thoroughly investigated at the time and ruled non-criminal. Reopening these cases based on circumstantial similarities is prosecutorial overreach."
The prosecutor, a sharp-eyed woman named DA Patricia Webb—no relation to Alan—rose to respond.
"Your Honor, we have new forensic evidence from both cases that was overlooked during the original investigations. In Ms. Thornton's case, bruising patterns on her wrists are inconsistent with a self-initiated fall. In Ms. Ashford's case, the 'overdose' involved a medication she was never prescribed—the same sedative found in Dr. Nathan Hoffman's fraudulent prescriptions for Elena Cross."
A murmur rippled through the gallery.
Patricia continued. "Additionally, financial records show that Marcus Reed received substantial life insurance payouts following both deaths. A total of 4.2 million dollars."
Marcus leaned over and whispered frantically to his lawyer.
Then came the moment that shattered his defense entirely.
"The prosecution calls Vanessa Holt to the stand."
Marcus's head snapped up. "What?"
Vanessa walked in wearing the plain clothes of someone who'd been sitting in a cell for weeks. No makeup, no blowout, no designer heels. She looked like a different person.
She also looked like someone who'd made a deal.
After being sworn in, the prosecutor approached her.
"Ms. Holt, how long have you been in a relationship with Marcus Reed?"
"Six years," Vanessa answered, her voice steady but detached.
"Were you aware of his previous relationships with Rebecca Thornton and Lily Ashford?"
"Yes." Vanessa didn't look at Marcus. "He told me about Rebecca after we'd been together for a year. He said she'd become 'inconvenient.' He said she threatened to go to the police about financial irregularities in a joint account."
"And what did he tell you happened to her?"
"He said he took care of it." Vanessa swallowed. "He said he made it look like she jumped."
The courtroom erupted.
The judge banged his gavel. "Order!"
Marcus shot to his feet. "She's lying! She's lying to save herself!"
"Sit down, Mr. Reed!"
Richard Maye pulled his client back into his chair, but the damage was done.
Vanessa continued. "Lily Ashford found out about me—about Marcus and me. She confronted him. He panicked. He called me that night and said he'd 'handled it' the same way he handled Rebecca."
"And you didn't go to the police?"
Vanessa finally looked at Marcus. Her eyes were hollow.
"I was afraid. He told me that if I ever talked, the same thing would happen to me."
"Did he describe his plan for Elena Cross?"
"Yes. Many times. He said she was the biggest payday yet—fifty-two million. He said after the money transferred, he'd stage it like the others. He'd been planning it since before they even got married."
She paused.
"Since before her mother introduced them."
I sat perfectly still in the gallery, but inside, every cell in my body was screaming.
He'd been planning my death since before he ever said "I do."
Eight years of marriage. Eight years of a performance. And I'd applauded every scene.
Marcus's face was unrecognizable—a mask of fury and desperation all at once.
"You bitch!" he screamed at Vanessa. "You were in on all of it! You helped me plan Elena's! You don't get to—"
"Mr. Reed!" The judge's voice boomed. "One more outburst and you will be removed!"
But it was too late. His own words had just confirmed everything in front of two hundred witnesses.
His lawyer dropped his head into his hands.
Cameras weren't allowed inside, but every news outlet had reporters stationed in the gallery. The public's appetite for this story had become insatiable after the revelation about Rebecca Thornton and Lily Ashford.
Marcus sat at the defense table in an orange jumpsuit, his once-impeccable appearance now hollowed out. His eyes found mine across the courtroom, and for one fleeting moment, I saw something I'd never seen in them before.
Genuine terror.
His attorney—a high-powered criminal defense lawyer named Richard Maye—stood to address the court.
"Your Honor, my client maintains his innocence regarding the murder charges. The deaths of Ms. Thornton and Ms. Ashford were thoroughly investigated at the time and ruled non-criminal. Reopening these cases based on circumstantial similarities is prosecutorial overreach."
The prosecutor, a sharp-eyed woman named DA Patricia Webb—no relation to Alan—rose to respond.
"Your Honor, we have new forensic evidence from both cases that was overlooked during the original investigations. In Ms. Thornton's case, bruising patterns on her wrists are inconsistent with a self-initiated fall. In Ms. Ashford's case, the 'overdose' involved a medication she was never prescribed—the same sedative found in Dr. Nathan Hoffman's fraudulent prescriptions for Elena Cross."
A murmur rippled through the gallery.
Patricia continued. "Additionally, financial records show that Marcus Reed received substantial life insurance payouts following both deaths. A total of 4.2 million dollars."
Marcus leaned over and whispered frantically to his lawyer.
Then came the moment that shattered his defense entirely.
"The prosecution calls Vanessa Holt to the stand."
Marcus's head snapped up. "What?"
Vanessa walked in wearing the plain clothes of someone who'd been sitting in a cell for weeks. No makeup, no blowout, no designer heels. She looked like a different person.
She also looked like someone who'd made a deal.
After being sworn in, the prosecutor approached her.
"Ms. Holt, how long have you been in a relationship with Marcus Reed?"
"Six years," Vanessa answered, her voice steady but detached.
"Were you aware of his previous relationships with Rebecca Thornton and Lily Ashford?"
"Yes." Vanessa didn't look at Marcus. "He told me about Rebecca after we'd been together for a year. He said she'd become 'inconvenient.' He said she threatened to go to the police about financial irregularities in a joint account."
"And what did he tell you happened to her?"
"He said he took care of it." Vanessa swallowed. "He said he made it look like she jumped."
The courtroom erupted.
The judge banged his gavel. "Order!"
Marcus shot to his feet. "She's lying! She's lying to save herself!"
"Sit down, Mr. Reed!"
Richard Maye pulled his client back into his chair, but the damage was done.
Vanessa continued. "Lily Ashford found out about me—about Marcus and me. She confronted him. He panicked. He called me that night and said he'd 'handled it' the same way he handled Rebecca."
"And you didn't go to the police?"
Vanessa finally looked at Marcus. Her eyes were hollow.
"I was afraid. He told me that if I ever talked, the same thing would happen to me."
"Did he describe his plan for Elena Cross?"
"Yes. Many times. He said she was the biggest payday yet—fifty-two million. He said after the money transferred, he'd stage it like the others. He'd been planning it since before they even got married."
She paused.
"Since before her mother introduced them."
I sat perfectly still in the gallery, but inside, every cell in my body was screaming.
He'd been planning my death since before he ever said "I do."
Eight years of marriage. Eight years of a performance. And I'd applauded every scene.
Marcus's face was unrecognizable—a mask of fury and desperation all at once.
"You bitch!" he screamed at Vanessa. "You were in on all of it! You helped me plan Elena's! You don't get to—"
"Mr. Reed!" The judge's voice boomed. "One more outburst and you will be removed!"
But it was too late. His own words had just confirmed everything in front of two hundred witnesses.
His lawyer dropped his head into his hands.