Chapter 21 - The Trial Begins
Derek and Celeste were tried on federal fraud and identity-theft charges.
Derek also faced state charges for unlawful imprisonment, domestic assault, financial exploitation, and evidence tampering.
His attorney attempted to separate the cases.
The fraud was business.
The locked room was a family dispute.
The bruise was marital conflict.
The prosecution argued they were connected by one belief:
Derek considered other people’s identities, money, movement, and fear available for his use.
The jury watched the living-room recording.
Frank pulling the power cord.
Derek standing.
“She earns what she gets.”
The attempted punch.
The restraint.
The phone beneath the cloth.
Then the movement behind the locked door.
The video lasted only minutes.
But it showed Derek’s world collapsing because one person interrupted his routine.
Sarah did not look at him while it played.
She watched herself instead.
Barefoot.
Pregnant.
May you like
Halfway toward the floor.
She remembered believing that position was normal.
