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Chapter fifty-five
THE FALL OF A TITAN: CHRISTOPHER DEXTER.
LIAM
Today, the world gets to see a titan fall from grace so publicly. May it not be told that I was gleeful on this day, for I am not. It is a sad day . . . a very tragic day for all of us; members of the Dexter family.
My mother, dreading this day, worried herself right into the ER. She is admitted to the hospital right now, under suicide watch.
James refused to come, saying, “I’ll catch the headlines in the news,” and Muriel is with Mom, so just Noah is here with us . . . Tony and I.
My father’s lawyer has the floor.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, honorable members of this court, my name is Rachel Turner, and I am privileged to stand before you today as the defense attorney for Mr. Christopher Dexter. We do not deny the gravity of the situation or the pain caused, but we must present a fair case for leniency.
“Christopher Dexter, a man who built an empire, now faces the precipice of losing it all. The prosecution has painted a picture of a ruthless mastermind, but I implore you to consider a fallible human behind the headlines; a man who, in a moment of misguided desperation, made a catastrophic decision.
“You have had the privilege to hear presentations from both sides. Today, All I can ask you is to put yourself in Christopher Dexter’s shoes. You heard his testimony; you know how he felt in the weeks leading to the unfortunate day that he went over the edge.
“One cannot know what can push a man to such extremes. . . not until you have walked a mile in his shoes.
“For weeks he pleaded with his son, Liam, to reconsider what he was doing . . . for weeks he implored his son to take into account what his action would do to the family . . . for weeks Christopher Dexter painted a stark picture to his beloved son what his actions would do to their business connections and alliances that their whole existence relied on, but all that went unheard by Liam.
“Now I know, most of you might be thinking, was this the only option Mr. Dexter could come up with? Maybe not, but how many of you have heard or seen stories or images of a person or even an animal going to extremes to protect their baby, their young, or their calf?
Fear can make us humans do crazy things . . . could it have been fear that pushed Mr. Dexter over the edge? Fear of losing something so integral and irreplaceableto him that for a split second, he experienced a moment of temporary insanity?
“I’m not a doctor. I couldn’t tell you one way or another, but what I can tell you is this . . . the impact of fear and emotions can cloud a man’s better judgment, leading him down a very dark path.
“Let us not forget that Mr. Dexter is not a hardened criminal who we must fear and put to death on his first offense. He is also a father, a husband, and a man who, until this moment, contributed to society in ways beyond the scope of this trial.
“I would implore you to embrace the scales of justice that weigh not only the actions but also the circumstances that led to them. We do not seek to absolve guilt but to find a middle ground, a punishment that reflects the shades of gray in this complex narrative.
“Our plea is not for exoneration but for a sentence that allows him to reflect, repent, and perhaps contribute positively to society once more.
“In conclusion, we implore you to deliver a sentence that reflects the nuances of this case—a punishment that, while severe, allows for the possibility of redemption, rehabilitation, and eventual reintegration into society. The responsibility now rests in your hands, and we trust you to weigh the scales of justice with discernment and wisdom.”
“It is over, my baby.” I lean over to Tony, my body feeling like a rag doll.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know yet.” I say as people start to file out for the break before the jury comes back. Tony and I choose to sit in the courtroom and wait. Noah steps outside, probably for a smoke.”
Three hours later, the jury, after careful consideration, returns with a verdict that my father, Christopher Dexter, facing the gravest consequences of his life, is sentenced to death, a reflection of the magnitude of his actions and the irreparable harm caused.
As the gavel falls, bringing an end to this somber chapter, the courtroom echoes with a profound sense of closure. Christopher Dexter, once a titan of industry, now faces theharshest judgment society can impose. The weight of his deeds culminates in the ultimate punishment.
As we walk back to the car, all of a sudden, I am hit by the strongest urge for something sweet. I am not diabetic, so I don’t have abnormal fluctuations in blood glucose levels, but all of a sudden, I seem to have this incredible urge to eat something very, very sweet.
I spot a street news kiosk that also sells water, juices and candy. Without thinking, I reach out for a pack of M&Ms and give it to Tony to open while I pick up some magazines.
Back on the road, Tony hands me a handful of M&Ms and then it hits me. That is what we used to do. My Mom would buy the party pack M&Ms for the house. I would scoop some in a dish and look for Tony on the days her Mom would bring her to work with her. We would sit by the fish pond on a fallen log and eat M&Ms, and she found it so comical that I would only eat the brown ones.
“You remembered,” I say in wonderment.
“How could I forget? I figured, after a day like today, you probably just needed to go back to a time when things were simpler . . .”
“When things were safer.”
