Page 44

Theo

We step out of the courtroom, finally able to breathe. But the judge told us clearly; we need to be back in ninety minutes. No one says much as we head straight to Waterbar, hoping for a little normalcy.

“Thank you,” Gina says quietly, touching each of our arms as we walk out. I can see the emotion in her eyes. “You stood by Justin. That means more than I can ever say.”

Austin, Rhys, Mason and I arrive at the restaurant with the women who love us. We’re seated together in the private room, away from the cameras and people watching. Somehow, we start off by talking about the Goldminers. That’s an easier subject than the trial. It feels safer.

Our preordered lunch shows up, but hardly anyone eats. Mostly the food just sits there, untouched, a reminder of how hard this day is.

Soon, it’s time to go back. We pile into the cars, and as we reach the courthouse, reporters rush toward us. Cameras flash, and people shout questions.

“Do you think she deserves the death penalty?” someone yells.

“Did you all set Crystal up and kill him yourselves?”

Rage simmers within me at that last one, but thankfully, no one answers. We just keep walking.

Inside, we sit down again and ready ourselves for Crystal’s lawyer’s closing argument. I know this is going to be difficult to digest. No one seems to realize that we stood by Crystal for months, watching as she fell apart. We hurt for her even as we managed our grief for Justin. And the whole time, she was manipulating everything. I still don’t entirely understand her endgame. I’m not sure she does either.

Right on time, the bailiff calls for us to rise, and Judge Childs comes in. He asks Nicole White to give her closing argument.

She smiles as she stands, too easily for such a serious moment. It makes me feel uneasy.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,” she begins in a smooth voice, “Crystal Capriotti didn’t choose this life. It was chosen for her. She was pushed into it by pressure and expectations. Her parents forced her to be a math major at Georgia Tech, but that wasn’t for her. They controlled every aspect of her life from the moment she was born until she broke off all contact with them.”

My eyes widen at that. She makes it sound like they didn’t care about Crystal. She’s conveniently forgotten that they knew Crystal was in San Francisco and at one point had the police do a wellness check after she refused to communicate with them.

“Crystal had to fight to be noticed in places where women were often ignored or not taken seriously,” Nicole continues.

I frown. Really ? She’s trying to make Crystal look like a victim. But even if things weren’t perfect, this story doesn’t feel honest. No, the world isn’t always fair. But Crystal had choices. She didn’t have to do what she did. She didn’t have to poison Justin or run away. And she didn’t have to lie to all of us.

What if the jury believes her?

No. I can’t let myself think that. Crystal’s silence, her running away to a country where she can’t be forced to come back—those choices speak louder than anything her lawyer can say.

Across the room, Nicole tilts her head and speaks sharply.

“Austin Sands,” she says, pointing at him with her eyes, “would hand Crystal dirty napkins with what he needed her to do written on them, as if her work didn’t matter. As if she didn’t matter.”

I grit my teeth. Everything was messy at the beginning. That wasn’t a statement about Crystal.

“She worked hard,” Nicole continues. “But Mr. Sands and Mr. Smalls”—she says their names slowly, like they’re something foul—“never wanted to share their success with her.”

My fists clench. That’s not fair. Everyone wanted a piece of the business, and we didn’t have much to give at the time. But we never made Justin choose between Crystal and the company because we knew he would’ve picked her.

And how did she repay him? With lies. With poison.

Her lawyer is twisting the truth, turning the efforts we made into something ugly. But none of this is true. Crystal had a seat at the table, one I’m not sure she ever really deserved. But when she couldn’t control us, she burned it all down.

“Stan Richards found a woman who could be the means to his end,” Nicole continues. “A failed entrepreneur, he’d been working on sodium-ion cells for decades, but he wasn’t smart enough. So what did he do? He manipulated Crystal into giving him contacts at the automakers EnergiFusion was working with, and he used their original battery design to make and sell counterfeit electric vehicle batteries. He did all the work. Crystal knew nothing.”

I shake my head. Stan had admitted his guilt before the trial. He’s spending the next five years in jail for helping with the coverup of Justin’s body. But somehow, she skipped right over that.

“The DA wants you to think Crystal stole money from the company,” the lawyer says. “But the account required Justin’s biometrics to access. Crystal didn’t have that. Justin stole the money, and after he asked Crystal for a divorce, he left. She never knew Stan had killed Justin. She believed Justin was hiding with the billion dollars he took.”

I am doing my very best to suppress an eye roll as the defense ends with one last try.

“Crystal was abused and manipulated by people in power her whole life. She would be here today if the system wasn’t rigged against her. Let her come home a free woman.”

Nicole returns to her seat and looks at the judge.

Judge Childs checks the clock. He gives the jury their instructions and reminds them that they cannot consider Crystal’s absence when making their decision. He tells them they’ll have dinner together tonight, choose a foreperson, and begin deliberations in the morning.

The jury files out. It’s in their hands now. I feel like part of my heart goes with them.

Judge Childs gives one last nod before rising from the bench. The courtroom stays quiet as we stand. The judge exits, but no one rushes to leave.

Mackenzie slips her hand into mine, and Austin, Rhys, and Mason join us by the aisle. They look just like I feel—drained, anxious, and trying to hold on to something solid.

Gina stands beside her husband, her chin high even as her eyes shine with tears. Daisy Chow steps over to her and rests a hand on her shoulder. Gina just nods.

The gallery slowly empties. Reporters outside are already shouting through the doors. They’re waiting to pounce the moment we step out.

“Stay strong,” Daisy says. She’s talking to all of us, but I feel it deep in my chest. It helps me stand a little straighter.

Gina nods. “Thank you,” she tells Daisy, her voice wavering. “You gave Justin a voice when he couldn’t speak.”

I shake Daisy’s hand. Her grip is firm and sure. “You’ve done more than we could ever ask,” I tell her.

She nods and looks at Mackenzie. Her face softens. “Your testimony mattered,” she says. “You were the heart of this case.”

Mackenzie gives a small, tired smile and nods. “I’m glad I could help.”

Daisy excuses herself, and I rub the back of my neck. The air feels heavy. Like we’ve made it to the eye of the storm, but the worst might still be coming.

We all need a break, just a moment to breathe.

“Let’s go to my house,” Mason suggests.

I nod. “Good idea. Let’s go,” I add quietly. “Together.”

We move as a group, quiet, unshaken, even if inside, we’re anything but.

As we emerge from the courtroom, the noise hits us like a wave—flashing cameras, shouted questions, chaos. But we keep walking. Straight through it. Eyes ahead.

We’ve done everything we can. Now, it’s up to twelve strangers.

“Do you think the jury will find her guilty?” a reporter yells.

“Does Crystal Capriotti deserve life in prison? Or the death penalty?”

The questions come fast. But once again, none of us answers. We walk together, quiet and strong. Cameras flash. Microphones beckon. But our sadness builds a wall they can’t get through.

Inside Phillip’s Escalade, Mackenzie and I sit in the quiet, side by side. Remembering. Feeling. Holding on to the truth.

What keeps all of us connected now is simple—justice for Justin.