Chapter 14 - WHAT SHE CAME TO SAY
The trial began eleven months later.
By then, Claire had her own apartment.
Alexandre had asked her to come home.
She had said, “I don’t know where that is yet.”
He helped carry the boxes anyway.
Lucie visited twice a week.
Sometimes they talked about the case.
Sometimes they ate takeout and watched terrible game shows until Claire laughed so hard she had to put down her fork.
Healing looked smaller than Lucie had expected.
A grocery trip alone.
A full night’s sleep.
A door closing without panic.
In court, Valérie wore pale gray and no jewelry.
Her lawyer described years of pressure, financial confusion, and a doctor who had manipulated everyone.
Then the prosecutor played her voice.
Again. His signature leans more at the end.
The courtroom listened.
Paul Renard testified in exchange for consideration of his cooperation.
Mrs. Besson described the threats against staff.
Marianne spoke about the photographs sent to frighten her.
Lucie described the necklace.
Valérie watched her from the defense table.
“You needed money,” her lawyer said.
“Yes.”
“And you thought exposing this family might help you.”
Lucie leaned toward the microphone.
“I thought telling the truth might keep your client from putting me in jail.”
A murmur moved through the benches.
The judge called for silence.
Claire testified the next day.
She spoke plainly.
No speeches.
She explained the locked windows, the medication, the letters that never reached anyone.
When the prosecutor asked what she had lost, Claire looked toward Alexandre.
Then she looked away.
“Ordinary days.”
Her hands rested flat on the table.
“I missed birthdays. I missed arguments I should have had. I missed being bored in my own kitchen.”
Her voice shook.
“I don’t need anyone to call me strong. I needed someone to open the door.”
Valérie lowered her head.
For the first time, Lucie couldn’t tell whether she was ashamed or calculating.
Near the end of the trial, Valérie asked to speak to Lucie.
Through her attorney, she offered an apology.
Lucie agreed to hear it in the presence of counsel.
Valérie sat across from her, thinner now.
“I never meant for it to go this far.”
Lucie held her gaze.
“At which point did you mean to stop?”
Valérie’s mouth opened.
No answer came.
May you like
Then she reached into a folder.
“There’s something about Thomas you haven’t heard.”
