Chapter 16 - MARLENE’S VERSION
Marlene finally agreed to an interview through her attorney.
Her defense was not:
I wanted Anna’s money.
It was:
Ethan was bad for Anna.
She described our arguments.
True.
My temper.
Sometimes true.
A door I slammed hard enough to crack trim.
True.
The night I told Anna:
“If you refuse treatment, I can’t keep pretending everything is okay.”
True.
Marlene said Anna feared me.
Did she?
Sometimes probably.
Marriage can contain moments people later interpret differently.
Then investigators asked:
“Did Anna ever instruct you to prevent all contact?”
Marlene said:
“Not clearly.”
“Did Ethan?”
“No.”
“Did you provide the hospital an incorrect phone number?”
“I may have made a mistake.”
“Did you mail Anna’s letters?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“They destabilized her.”
“Did clinicians tell you not to?”
“Not exactly.”
“Did you tell Anna Ethan remarried?”
Marlene stopped.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Was it true?”
“No.”
There.
May you like
Not medical judgment.
A lie.
