Chapter 22 - MARGARET PLEADS
Margaret did not go to trial on everything.
The evidence around the chain was strong.
The historic DNA manipulation involved older statutes, deceased participants, evidentiary complexity, and possible limitations issues.
Not every moral wrong became a criminal count.
Civil claims remained.
Professional records established deception.
Family court considered it.
But the criminal resolution focused primarily on the current treatment of Lily and provable false statements made during the resulting investigation.
Margaret entered a plea that included acknowledgment she knowingly restrained Lily and excluded her because of disputed family status.
She was ordered into supervised probation, counseling, community service, and no contact with Lily absent future court authorization.
No enormous prison sentence.
Lily asked:
“So Grandma isn’t going to jail?”
“Not for years.”
“That’s dumb.”
“Maybe.”
“Do you think she should?”
I thought.
“I think she should never be allowed to pretend it didn’t happen.”
May you like
Lily nodded.
That mattered more to me than punishment length.
