“I want you to know this was all Derek’s idea,” she began. “The competency petition, the witnesses, all of it. I tried to talk him out of it.”
“But you went along with it.”
“I was scared. Derek owed those people so much money, and they were threatening him. Us. I thought if we could just get enough money to pay them off…”
“You thought it was acceptable to steal from his mother.”
Tiffany looked down at her hands.
“I know how it sounds.”
“Tiffany, what exactly are you apologizing for? Trying to have me declared incompetent? Breaking into my house? Hiring someone to spy on me? Spreading lies about my mental state? Threatening to have loan sharks come after me? Or just for getting caught?”
She started crying then. Ugly, messy tears that streaked her makeup.
“All of it. Everything. Margaret, I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry enough to testify against Derek at his criminal trial?”
The question stopped the tears instantly.
“What?”
“The prosecutor wants Derek to answer for what he did. Your testimony about his planning, his threats, his manipulation of evidence—that would be very useful.”
“I can’t testify against my husband.”
“Even though he’s willing to let you take the fall for conspiracy charges?”
Tiffany’s face drained of color.
“What do you mean?”
“Derek’s lawyer is already arguing that you masterminded the whole scheme. That you manipulated Derek into helping you steal from me.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Tiffany, the man threw you under the bus to save himself, just like he was willing to destroy his own mother for gambling money. Why would you be any different?”
The look of betrayal on her face was almost satisfying.
After Tiffany left, I sat in my kitchen thinking about family and loyalty and the cost of greed. Derek had destroyed not only his relationship with me, but his marriage, his reputation, and likely his freedom, all for money he had never earned and never deserved.
The phone rang.
Patricia.
“Margaret, I have news about the criminal case. Derek’s been offered a plea deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Eighteen months in prison, full restitution for your legal fees, and a permanent restraining order. He’d also have to publicly admit that you were never mentally incompetent and that the entire petition was fraudulent.”
“And if he doesn’t take it?”
“Then he goes to trial and faces up to ten years if convicted on all counts.”
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