Chapter 17 - MASON’S TRIAL FORCED WADE TO SAY LIAM’S NAMEMason did not take a plea immediately.
His attorneys argued he never ordered physical violence.
That Darnell independently escalated.
That some missing charity funds paid legitimate expenses.
That Mason’s messages were ambiguous.
Then Raymond’s audio was admitted.
“Those stop when people stop making them necessary.”
And:
“I can make sure nobody else gets hurt.”
The ambiguity narrowed.
Wade testified.
He hated it.
Not because courtrooms frightened him.
He had testified dozens of times.
This was different.
Mason sat twenty feet away.
Wade described the road.
Kara.
Fake belly.
Four men.
Badge.
Demand for phone.
The prosecutor displayed messages.
MERCER — PHONE FIRST.
$15k.
NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. SCARE HIM.
Then the cancellation.
Defense counsel emphasized it.
“Mr. Mercer, Mr. Drake canceled the robbery before it occurred, correct?”
“Attempted to.”
“Yes or no?”
“Yes.”
“So he did not want you robbed.”
Wade looked at Mason.
“He wanted me robbed when he ordered it.”
The attorney tightened.
“But changed his mind.”
“Yes.”
“Does intent matter to you?”
“Yes.”
“Then the cancellation matters.”
“Yes.”
Mason looked surprised.
Wade continued:
“It does not erase the first decision.”
The prosecutor later asked about the Relief Fund.
“How did it begin?”
Wade’s throat tightened.
“My younger brother Liam died in a motorcycle crash.”
Mason looked down.
“Who founded the charity?”
“Mason Drake.”
“Did it help Liam’s widow?”
“Yes.”
“Did it help others?”
“Yes.”
“Was all the charity’s work fraudulent?”
“No.”
That mattered.
The prosecutor could have painted Mason as evil from day one.
Wade refused.
“What changed?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Did Mr. Drake ever use Liam Mercer’s memory when discussing your concerns?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Wade looked toward the jury.
“He reminded me the fund existed because of Liam.”
“Why did that matter?”
“Because it made questioning the fund feel like questioning Liam’s legacy.”
The defense objected.
Overruled.
Wade continued.
“Mason knew that.”
“Did he document it?”
“Yes.”
The prosecution displayed the file.
MERCER — PRESSURE: LIAM
Silence.
Wade felt something inside him harden.
His brother’s name had become a tool.
The defense later tried another route.
“You considered Mr. Drake family?”
“Yes.”
“Still do?”
“No.”
Mason flinched.
That was the only moment Wade nearly lost composure.
“Did Mr. Drake love your brother?”
“I believe he did.”
“Did he love you?”
Wade paused.
“I believe he did.”
The courtroom seemed surprised.
The attorney leaned in.
“So a man who loved you ordered strangers to rob you?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Wade looked directly at him.
“It does if you think love automatically makes people good.”
Silence.
No objection.
Mason cried.
Wade did not look away.
The trial lasted weeks.
Raymond testified.
Erin did not need to.
Kara testified under agreement.
Darnell testified reluctantly after his own plea negotiation.
Travis confirmed financial structures.
The jury convicted Mason on major counts.
Not every count.
Some conspiracy allegations failed.
Others held.
The verdict was not a movie ending.
No cheering.
Wade sat quietly.
Mason’s son Eli cried.
Denise held Kara’s hand in another proceeding.
Raymond sat beside Erin.
Nobody looked victorious.
Afterward Eli approached Wade.
“Did you have to say you don’t consider him family?”
Wade sighed.
“I was under oath.”
“He’s still my dad.”
“I know.”
“You hate him.”
“Sometimes.”
Eli looked angry.
“You could’ve said something else.”
Wade nodded.
“I could’ve lied.”
Eli looked away.
That answer hurt him.
Wade softened.
“Eli, loving your dad does not require defending what he did.”
“I know.”
“It also doesn’t require you to stop loving him.”
Eli’s eyes filled.
“Everyone looks at me like I’m him.”
“Then they’re wrong.”
Eli cried.
“I don’t know what to do with him.”
Wade thought of Denise.
Raymond.
Erin.
Kara.
“No one gets to make that decision for you.”
Eli nodded.
Then asked:
“Do you think he changed?”
Wade looked back toward the courthouse.
“I think consequences finally made it impossible for him to keep telling himself the same story.”
“Is that change?”
May you like
“Maybe the beginning.”
It was the most honest answer he had.
