Chapter 9 - THE COURTROOM SHOWDOWN
But the state wasn't done. ADA Thompson called her star witness: Preston Vance.
Preston, terrified of being charged as an accessory to the federal fraud, had taken an immunity deal to testify against my parents.
"Mr. Vance," Thompson asked. "Why was Richard Hayes giving you Clara's SUV?"
Preston adjusted his tie, refusing to look at my parents. "Richard owed my father a lot of money. He told us he was completely bankrupt. He said Clara was 'too stupid to notice' the car was gone and that he would forge the title over to us the next morning to settle the interest on his debt."
The courtroom erupted into whispers.
"And did he mention anything else about Clara's finances?" Thompson pressed.
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"Yes," Preston admitted. "He bragged that he had tried to take a loan out against her bakery, but the bank rejected it, so the SUV was his backup plan."
My father put his head on the defense table. It was over. Their perfect, wealthy, untouchable facade was entirely shredded in front of the entire town. They weren't just abusers; they were broke, desperate thieves.
