He Gave Me Fifty Dollars to Live, I Left Him with Nothing novel · Chapter 29 of 32

Chapter 29: Set Aside

"The villa was never mine," Whitney said again, because nobody in the room had breathed.

The judge leaned forward.

"Ms. Carraway, who paid for it?"

"The Tierney Memorial Trust. It was the money Maisie's father left her. Philip bought the house with it and put it in his company's name."

"How do you know?"

"Because he told me on Sunday night, in the car, after the party. He said, You'll keep quiet, and you'll keep the house." Her voice shook. "He told me to keep filming her, too. He said it made her predictable."

A sound went through the gallery.

I looked straight ahead.

"Did you film Mrs. Carraway at his request?"

"Not always. Sometimes I did it because it made him laugh." Whitney's fingers locked on the rail. "I want to say that part. I wasn't told to enjoy it. I enjoyed it."

The attorney stood.

"Your honor, the witness has an obvious motive. The state's fraud unit has her under investigation for a six-year-old insurance claim."

"I'm aware of that," Whitney said, before the judge could answer. "I filed that claim. I sold my mother's jewelry and I said she stole it. I'll plead to it. I'd like that on the record before I say another word."

The attorney sat down very slowly.

The judge looked at Whitney for a long time.

"Step down, Ms. Carraway. Stay in the building. The investigator will want you."

Whitney stood, and she looked at me.

I gave her nothing.

She nodded once and walked up the aisle.

An investigator in a gray coat met her at the back doors.

She held out her wrists before he asked.

Then Philip stood up.

His attorney caught his sleeve.

"Philip. Sit."

"No."

"Sir, do not address the court."

"I am addressing it." He pulled his arm free. "Your honor, I raised that girl. I raised both of them."

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