“Avoid attending your spouse’s burial. Inspect your sibling’s residence…”…

Appoint expertise, question witnesses, check documents. Hall noise rose. Journalists shouted, photographed, filmed.

Emily stood tried leave hall. But reporters surrounded. She pushed through crowd ran.

I stayed hall end. Answered journalists questions, gave comments. Said glad court decision.

That finally truth start emerging. Evening home watched news. All channels talked our case.

Showed court footage, experts comments. One commentator said could case century. If all accusations confirmed, many suffer.

I turned off TV went kitchen. Brewed tea sat window. Outside ordinary evening life.

People came work, kids played yard. But me everything changed.

No longer mad widow inventing stories. Woman exposed monstrous deception. Phone rang. Sarah calling.

Congratulated victory. Said proud me. Not everyone could go such trial.

Sarah told journalists contacted her too. Wanted details other Paul victims. Agreed interview.

Said people need know truth what man capable. After talk Sarah, understood only beginning. Investigation long complex.

Need find arrest Paul. Hold Emily accountable. But main already happened.

Truth out. People learned what really happened. No longer alone fight.

Three days after court decision investigators came home. Two men strict suits, serious faces. Showed ID said leading fake death fraud case.

Senior investigator explained based my materials criminal case initiated. Paul wanted fraud large scale. Asked questions where Paul could hide.

If knew other hideouts, connections, documents. Told all knew, farm, fake passports, scheme doctors notaries. Investigators recorded every word.

Said case serious, many could suffer. Needed my help investigation. Agreed everything.

Signed statement initiating criminal case. Gave consent participate investigative actions. Next day called prosecutor’s give testimony.

Told whole story start, first letter, finding secret room. Prosecutor listened carefully, asked clarifying. Especially interested financial manipulations, insurance, wills, blocked accounts.

After interrogation said case transferred court soon. That Paul found held accountable. Evening news reported arrest.

Paul detained border fake documents. Tried leave country, stopped customs. Watched arrest footage TV.

Paul handcuffs, pale, confused. Not like confident man knew. Journalists shouted questions, silent.

Only once looked camera, saw fear eyes. Next day Paul brought court choose custody measure. Came session.

Wanted look eyes. Hall full journalists spectators. All wanted see man faked death.

Paul brought hall handcuffs. Prison robe, unshaven, dull eyes. Saw me, turned away.

Prosecutor read charges. Fraud, document forgery, psychological coercion. List long.

Paul’s lawyer asked house arrest. Said client not dangerous society, ready cooperate investigation. But judge adamant.

Ruled detention two months. Said risk flight or influence witnesses. Paul taken away.

Walked head down. After session journalists approached. Asked satisfied court decision.

Said justice prevailed. That verdict warning all think can destroy lives unpunished. Evening home sat kitchen drank tea.

Felt peace first long time. Paul got deserved. Emily punished too.

All accomplices arrested. Reputation restored. Money returned.

Truth triumphed. But main, no longer victim. Became fighter justice.

And liked role much more. Eight months passed since Paul’s sentencing. Stood riverbank outside city, last court document hands, final decision all cases.

Paul got 12 years strict regime. Emily found guilty institutional violence attempt got three years probation, mandatory psychiatric treatment. Paper rustled wind.

Looked water thought how much changed time. River flowed calm. Carried leaves trash.

Just time carried pain. Yesterday drove parents. First time two years.

Mom met threshold cried. Not grief, relief. Said feared wouldn’t cope.

Would break completely. Sat kitchen late night. Drank tea, ate mom’s pies.

Talked everything, past, future. Mom told news old neighborhood. Who married, divorced, had kids.

Ordinary life. Simple, understandable life deprived long. Dad silent most evening…