Chapter 17 - THE VERDICTThe jury deliberated for two days.
Those forty-eight hours felt longer than the previous two years.
Clara refused to stay home.
She worked.
She met with engineers.
Reviewed pension accounts.
Approved funding for Whitmore Diagnostic System trials.
But every time her phone rang, her heart stopped.
Finally, at 3:08 p.m. on a Thursday, Marcus appeared in her office doorway.
"They have a verdict."
The courtroom filled within twenty minutes.
Julian entered quietly.
Eleanor refused to look at anyone.
Clara sat behind the prosecution table.
The jury foreperson stood.
Guilty.
Wire fraud.
Guilty.
Conspiracy.
Guilty.
Corporate embezzlement.
Guilty.
Obstruction.
Guilty.
Not every count resulted in conviction.
But enough did.
Far more than enough.
Eleanor's face remained frozen until the final count.
Then something inside her seemed to disappear.
Julian closed his eyes.
Clara felt no explosion of happiness.
Only release.
Weeks later came sentencing.
Eleanor received a lengthy federal sentence.
Julian received less because of partial cooperation after his arrest, but still enough years to ensure consequences could not be purchased away.
Caldwell received a reduced sentence for cooperation.
Several executives were barred from corporate leadership.
Millions in assets were ordered returned.
The pension fund was restored in full.
After court, Julian requested thirty seconds with Clara.
This time she agreed.
They stood several feet apart.
"No glass between us," Julian said.
"No."
He almost smiled.
Then he looked at her seriously.
"I destroyed the best thing that ever happened to me."
Clara said nothing.
"I kept thinking if I controlled everything, I'd never lose anything."
"And?"
He looked around the federal corridor.
"I lost everything."
Clara studied him.
Then she said the words neither of them had expected.
"I hope you become better than this."
Julian's eyes filled.
"Do you forgive me?"
Clara took a long breath.
"Someday."
She stepped back.
"But forgiveness isn't a door back into my life."
A marshal approached.
Julian nodded.
"I understand."
May you like
For once—
He actually did.
