and Sherman were conniving enough to work out this accident plan. I think they figured if Dad was out of the way, Mother would get everything. And if I inherited, controlling me would be easy because I didn’t want the business. They had no idea about Dad’s little charity clause and I doubt they thought I’d get married. They most likely assumed everything would end up in her hands or Stanton’s, so that’s why the accident. Remove Stanton and Dad at the same time so it would default to her. Too bad for Dad, he outsmarted them. It cost him his life.” Turning to my wife, I added, “And it almost cost you yours, because she couldn’t stand the idea of me having control all because of you.”
Ravina stood. “She was going to blame all this on me! She deserves to pay for this.”
Everyone agreed. I also said, “If the law can’t press charges due to insufficient evidence, I’m going to cut her off. It’s the least we can do.”
My older brother called in the police and we explained, turning over everything we had to them. Next, I contacted Ryan and asked for his help. He suggested calling in Clayton Summers, who had more expertise in this area. Clayton agreed with us in that there might not be enough evidence to arrest her. “Let’s wait and see what the police find.”
It was tense, knowing what we did and not able to confront my mother with it. The days dragged, but Clayton called to let us know that a trial date had been set for William McLure. It was in twelve days and Mark was eager to move forward.
While I was on the phone with Clayton, I asked, “Any news yet with the situation at my house and the cars?”
“Nothing yet and don’t be surprised if you hear before me.”
“I’ll call if I do. How do you think Bill McLure’s trial will go?”
Clayton chuckled. “The governor fired McLure, so I would say if that’s any indication, it’ll go well. I feel sorry for his attorney.”
“Why?”
“Put yourself in his shoes. How would you like to defend that?”
“Point taken.”
Ten days later, English and I sat together in the court room as the trial went on. The best part of it was when McLure jumped up and shouted at his attorney. The judge ordered him to sit down, and when he wouldn’t, he was found in contempt. One more problem to add to his mountain of issues.
“Mr. Bridges, can you take me through the night you were assaulted by Mr. McLure?” Clayton asked.
“Objection. He is making an assumption.”
“Overruled,” the judge said. “That is no assumption, as Mr. McLure was arrested at the scene. You may continue, Mr. Summers.”
“Mr. Bridges, will you walk me through that night?”
“Yes. I got a call from my granddaughter, who was extremely frightened. She told me Mr. McLure had forced his way into the house and was threatening my daughter-in-law. Since I live right down the street, I jumped in my car and headed over there. When I walked in the house, Mr. McLure was shouting at my daughter-in-law and threatening to take my great-granddaughter away from her. He was in her face, yelling. So I went up to him and asked him to lower his voice and to stop acting that way. He then punched me in the face. I fell backward, tried to break my fall with my elbow, but hit my head anyway. It knocked me for a loop, I’ll tell you.”
“Did you require hospitalization?”
“Yes, and I need shoulder surgery as well. The fall tore my rotator cuff.”
The defense attorney tried to rattle Mark but nothing he said worked. Mark only replied, “When someone is in your home, trying to attack your family, it’s a very frightening thing.”
McLure’s attorney said, “No further questions, your honor.”
As Clayton said, it was a slam dunk. The jury was out for less than an hour when they read the guilty verdict. McLure would be joining his son in prison.
Then Mrs. McLure cried out, “This is all your fault,” pointing to English. “If you’d treated my son better…”
“Maybe if he hadn’t beaten me, I would have,” English retorted. She was not taking any of that. Mrs. McLure shut her mouth and left the court room.
Then my wife glanced at me and said, “I guess we’re done with them.”
I nodded, thinking about what we still faced with my family.
Chapter Fifty-Three
English
The verdict against Bill McLure called for a celebration. We were invited over to