He Called at 3 AM to Move the Car, I Called 911 to Move the Body Chapter 09

He Called at 3 AM to Move the Car, I Called 911 to Move the Body Chapter 09

Three months later, the trial began.

Journalists crowded the courthouse steps..

NorthRiver Cold Chain had once been a flagship company in the city. The story of its young CEO-killed by

his own brother, his mother, and his secretary, his body hidden in his own cold storage-had shaken the

city.

I wore black. Attorney Reed stayed close.

“Ms. Hayes, you only need to state the facts,” he said quietly.

I nodded. “I know.”

In the defendant’s box, Brian had lost weight. His hair was shaved. His eyes were hollow. The arrogance

from that night in the garage was gone.

Susan sat beside him, head down.

Wendy couldn’t wear makeup. Her face was gray. She tried to look pitiful when she saw me. I looked away.

Filthy.

The trial began.

The prosecutor presented evidence piece by piece.

Blood analysis from Unit 7. Forklift residue. Ethan’s smartwatch cloud data. Wendy’s AI-generated video.

Brian’s overseas gambling records. Blood found in Susan’s trunk. The 3 AM Plan documents. My 9-1-1 call.

Every piece drove another nail into their coffin.

Brian’s defense attorney tried to argue it was a crime of passion.

“The defendant had been under enormous pressure because of his gambling debts. The fatal incident occurred during a heated argument with the victim, which reduced his subjective culpability.”

The prosecutor shot it down.

“The defendant arranged with Wendy Miller to disable surveillance ahead of time. He prepared chloroform, rope, and forged documents. After the murder, he fabricated a video to lure the victim’s wife downstairs and attempted to continue the crime. This was not spontaneous. This was planned, methodical, and

exceptionally egregious.”

I sat in the gallery, nails digging into my palms.

When it was my turn to testify, the courtroom fell silent.

I walked to the witness stand.

The judge asked: “Ms. Hayes, what is your relationship to the victim, Ethan Brooks?”

I gripped the railing

“His wife.”

“What would you like to say about this case?”

I looked at the defendants.

“Ethan started supporting his family at seventeen. He bought his mother a house. He paid his brother’s

debts. He gave his secretary opportunities. He did everything for his family.”

“But when he died, his mother took his phone. His brother struck the killing blow. His secretary used his

voice and his face to lure me to my death.”

Susan started crying. “Nora, I had no choice-”

I snapped my head toward her. “Shut up.”

The bailiff called for order.

I took a breath. “I’m asking the court for the maximum sentence. No amount of tears can repay what they

took from Ethan.”

Wendy suddenly screamed: “Nora, I really do regret it! I just wanted a better life!”

I laughed coldly. “Then earn it yourself. You don’t get to climb over a dead body.”

Muffled curses came from the gallery.

The judge banged the gavel.

The trial lasted two days.

When the sentences were read, I sat perfectly straight.

“Brian Brooks, convicted of intentional homicide, preparation for kidnapping, and embezzlement.

Sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life.”

Brian collapsed. “Mom! Help me! Mom!”

Susan was shaking violently.

The next second, her sentence came.

“Susan Brooks, convicted of complicity in first-degree murder and destruction of evidence. Sentenced to lite

imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life.”

She muttered, “I was just trying to protect Brian…”

The judge continued,

“Wendy Miller, convicted as an accomplice to intentional homicide, preparation for kidnapping, and destruction of evidence. Sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, deprived of political rights for life.”

Wendy screamed. “I didn’t touch the knife! Why?!”

The prosecutor looked at her coldly. “You shut off the surveillance. You made the video. You prepared the tools. You lured the victim’s wife. The knife wasn’t in your hand, but the blood is on it just the same.”

The gavel fell. I closed my eyes.

Ethan. Did you hear that?

After the trial, Brian was dragged out by bailiffs. As he passed me, he looked up.

“Nora Hayes! You ruined me!”

I looked down at him.

“You killed your own brother. I’m only making sure you pay for it.”