The later conspiracy mattered.
The present case tied everything together.
Garrett was convicted on multiple counts.
Attempted murder.
Conspiracy.
Fraud.
Forgery.
Unlawful administration of controlled substances.
Several financial crimes.
Victor was convicted on conspiracy and financial offenses, plus charges tied to the historic sabotage.
Penelope accepted a plea agreement in exchange for cooperation.
I did not attend every day.
I could not.
Some mornings, simply seeing Garrett made my skin crawl.
But I attended sentencing.
He turned toward me before being led away.
For one second, I remembered the man I thought I married.
The man who danced with me in our kitchen.
The man who held my hand at Tobias’s medical appointments.
The man who made warm milk.
Then I remembered the wire beneath the seat.
I felt nothing.
That surprised me.
Not hatred.
Not love.
Nothing.
The divorce had already been filed.
It became final while Garrett was in custody.
I kept none of his things.
Not the photographs.
Not the wedding gifts.
Not the furniture he chose.
Nothing.
The house was sold.
I bought a smaller place near the Chesapeake.
Tobias moved nearby.
Not with me.
I told him I had suffered enough lies under one roof.
He accepted that.
Our relationship took time.
He apologized often.
I got tired of hearing it.
One afternoon, I said, “Stop apologizing.”
He looked surprised.
“You’re not forgiven.”
His face fell.
I continued.
