Chapter 9: The Broken Alliance
Three days before the jury was to be sworn in, the prosecution struck a decisive blow. Inside a small consultation room at the state penitentiary, District Attorney Sarah Chen sat across from Dr. Julian Thorne and his personal attorney.
"The state is filing additional charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, falsification of medical records, and insurance fraud," Chen stated, laying a thick stack of papers on the table. "Under these charges, Dr. Thorne, you are looking at a mandatory minimum of thirty-five years without the possibility of parole. At your age, that is a life sentence."
Dr. Thorne’s attorney leaned over to whisper to his client, but Thorne waved him away, his hands trembling violently. "What are you offering, Ms. Chen?"
"A full, unedited allocution on the record," Chen replied. "You testify against Victor Vance. You explain step-by-step how he approached you six months ago, how he paid you to acquire the rare nerve toxin through black-market pharmaceutical suppliers, and how you agreed to sign the death certificate without examining the body. In exchange, the state will accept a plea to accessory after the fact and criminally negligent homicide. Twelve years, with eligibility for parole in six."
Thorne lowered his head into his hands, weeping softly. "He told me she wouldn't feel a thing. He said he just needed her out of the way so he could pay off his debts to the overseas syndicates. He promised me two million dollars once the estate probate cleared."
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"Do we have a deal, Doctor?" Chen asked, sliding a plea agreement forward.
Thorne picked up a pen with shaking fingers and signed his name at the bottom of the page. "God forgive me."
