Chapter 6 - The Testimony Victor Tried to Control
Elaine took the witness stand just after noon.
Her cream pantsuit was carefully pressed.
Her pearl necklace trembled against her throat.
Helen began gently.
“Mrs. Maddox, did you sign the deed transferring your home?”
“No.”
Victor shook his head visibly.
His attorney whispered for him to remain still.
Helen continued.
“Where were you on the date of the signature?”
“In the hospital.”
“Were you conscious at 9:15 that morning?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize your husband to sign for you?”
“No.”
Victor leaned toward his attorney.
“She’s lying.”
Judge Carter looked over her glasses.
“Mr. Maddox, remain silent.”
Helen displayed the hospital-admission record.
Elaine explained the emergency procedure.
She described waking hours later with Riley beside her.
Victor had not been there.
Then Victor’s attorney stood for cross-examination.
“Mrs. Maddox, you were heavily medicated?”
“Yes.”
“Your memory was unreliable?”
“Some parts were unclear.”
“So you cannot say with certainty that you did not sign documents before admission.”
Elaine hesitated.
Victor smiled.
Helen watched carefully.
Riley sat behind the evidence table with her hands flat on her knees.
Elaine looked toward her daughter.
Riley did not nod.
She did not signal.
She simply held her mother’s gaze.
Elaine turned back toward the attorney.
“I know I did not sign away my house.”
“But you signed many family documents over the years.”
“Yes.”
“Often without reading them?”
Elaine’s face flushed.
“Yes.”
“Because you trusted your husband?”
Elaine looked toward Victor.
“For too long.”
A murmur moved through the spectators.
Victor’s smile disappeared.
The attorney continued.
“Isn’t it true your daughter pressured you to seek divorce?”
“No.”
“She returned from military service and immediately began attacking your husband’s finances.”
“No.”
“She told you he was dangerous.”
Elaine’s fingers tightened around the edge of the witness stand.
“She did not need to tell me.”
Victor sat forward.
“What does that mean?”
Judge Carter struck the bench.
“Mr. Maddox.”
Elaine looked at him.
“It means I was afraid of you before Riley came home.”
The courtroom became silent.
Victor’s face twisted.
His attorney reached for his sleeve.
Too late.
Victor stood.
“You ungrateful liar.”
One bailiff moved closer.
Judge Carter ordered him to sit.
Elaine’s voice shook.
But she continued.
“You took my home while I was unconscious.”
Victor stepped away from the table.
“Useless.”
Riley rose.
May you like
Victor’s hand swung.
👉 The slap exposed Victor’s violence—but Riley knew the forged deed would expose the crime he could not explain away.
