Chapter 17 - THE TRIAL PREPARATION
By late August, the federal prosecutor's office finalized the indictments for Victoria and Julian's upcoming criminal trial.
Mark met with federal prosecutors in Chicago to review his scheduled testimony as the primary prosecution witness.
"Your testimony regarding the night you discovered the children will be the cornerstone of the case, Mr. Cole," the lead prosecutor explained.
"I am ready to testify to every single detail; the truth needs to be heard in a court of law," Mark affirmed steadily.
The trial was expected to last two weeks, drawing intense national media attention across major US networks.
Mark arranged for his sister Sarah to stay at the Wisconsin farmhouse to look after the girls while he was in court.
"You're going to put those monsters away for the rest of their lives, Mark," Sarah encouraged him firmly before he left.
Mark packed his navy blue suit bag, feeling a quiet, unshakeable determination guiding his every step.
He was no longer the distracted corporate executive who missed the warning signs; he was a fierce protector.
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The courtroom battle would mark the final official closure of the darkest chapter in their family history.
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