Chapter 19 - The Nurse Who Kept A Copy
The witness's name was Ellen Price.
She had supervised Vivian at the home-health agency during Ava's treatment.
"I reported a medication discrepancy," Ellen testified. "The agency asked me to revise the report because the family was high-profile. I refused."
"What happened next?" the prosecutor asked.
"The original report disappeared from the system."
"Did you keep a copy?"
Ellen looked directly at Vivian.
"Yes."
The prosecutor held up a document sealed in evidence plastic.
The report showed that a medication vial had been accessed under Vivian's employee code at 1:14 a.m. The drug matched the substance later found at dangerous levels in Ava's preserved blood sample.
Ellen had also written that Ava personally complained Vivian was altering medication trays.
Conrad's emails, Ava's voice memo, the lab result, and Ellen's report formed a chain the defense could not break.
Vivian finally lost control.
"She was dying anyway!" she shouted.
The courtroom froze.
Her lawyer grabbed her arm.
Vivian jerked away.
"She had months, maybe weeks. Everybody acts like I stole fifty years from her."
Julian stood before the bailiff could stop him.
"You stole one day, and that would have been enough."
The judge ordered the jury removed.
Vivian kept shouting.
"And that child would have ruined everything! She looked at me like I was trash in my own house!"
Maya felt physically sick.
Lily was not in the courtroom. Thank God.
The judge warned Vivian to remain silent.
She laughed instead.
"Maya thinks she saved her. She saved nothing. That girl will remember me every time she sees a balcony."
Maya answered before anyone could stop her.
"Maybe. But she will also remember someone caught her."
The judge's gavel cracked through the room.
Three days later, the jury returned.
Guilty on attempted murder.
Guilty on kidnapping conspiracy.
Guilty on fraud.
Guilty on the homicide count connected to Ava's death.
Vivian did not look at Julian.
She looked at Maya.
Then she mouthed two words.
Not over.
That evening, as Maya left the courthouse, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
May you like
One message appeared.
SHE WAS RIGHT. IT ISN'T OVER.
