Demi, from the defense table, called him a coward and worse, and the two of them turned on each other in open court, and it helped neither of them. The final piece the prosecution entered into evidence was a single text message Demi had sent the night before Roderick died: a note to no one, a plan spoken to herself, saying that if he lasted past morning she would give him more.

The jury was out for less than two hours.

Demi Benedict was convicted of murder in the first degree for financial gain, of criminal conspiracy, and of solicitation of felony assault, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gareth was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted kidnapping, and extortion, and received thirty-two years.

As they led her out in chains, Demi turned her head and found Brandon in the gallery.

“You took everything from me,” she said.