Chapter 9: Justice Moves Forward
Six months after I returned, Ryan’s trial finally began.
I testified for two full days.
I told the jury everything — how Ryan and Linda had pressured me to abort, how Ryan had pushed me down the stairs, how Linda had watched without helping, and how they had covered it up afterward. I played the recording. I showed the hospital photos. I explained how I had faked my death because I was terrified they would try again.
Ryan sat at the defense table with his head down for most of my testimony. He looked broken.
Linda, who was also on trial as an accomplice, cried dramatically at several points. But the jury didn’t seem moved.
The evidence was overwhelming.
After three weeks of trial, the jury deliberated for less than a day.
Ryan was found guilty of attempted murder, insurance fraud, and conspiracy.
Linda was found guilty as an accomplice to attempted murder and conspiracy.
When the judge read the verdicts, Ryan finally broke down and started crying. Linda sat frozen in her chair, staring straight ahead.
I sat in the courtroom and felt… nothing at first.
Then slowly, a sense of peace began to settle over me.
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They were finally going to pay for what they had done.
After the verdict, I walked out of the courthouse and took a deep breath. For the
