Oliver and Thea were surprised when they were called to Iron Heights by Sam, since they thought that all the prep work for their mother's trial was done.
"What's going on?" Oliver asked Sam when they walked into the visitation room where Moira and Sam were waiting.
"I called you both here to let you know that there's a way to avoid a trial after all." Sam said.
"Mom got a pardon?" Thea asked hopefully.
"No, but I was able to get her a plea deal." Sam said.
"What kind of deal?" Oliver asked.
"She pleads guilty to aiding and abetting in a terrorist plot and she'll serve a maximum sentence of one year in a minimum security prison with the chance of early release with good behavior, since luckily, Moira came clean and helped prevent the undertaking before it could actually happen, not to mention the fact that we have plenty of proof that she was acting under duress." Sam said.
"And that's the best you can do?" Thea asked, disappointed.
"You're lucky I was able to get her this deal. The DA is pushing your mother to do serious time here." Sam said.
"What? Why, no one was hurt, since she confessed before the Undertaking had a chance to happen." Oliver asked.
"My best guess is that they want to make an example of Moira, to prove that not even the rich are above the law." Sam said.
"So, if we go to trial, how would my chances of an acquittal look?" Moira asked, trying to get a sense for how bad this could be.
"Pretty bad. That's why I'm encouraging you to take this deal. Especially considering the amount of bad press that a trial could bring to your family and your business, since you also have to think about that. This deal is the best chance you have at serving time with as little scandal as possible." Sam said.
"It's honestly probably better than I deserve." Moira said.
"Mom, you were coerced into being a party to a terrorist plot and the plot was prevented before anyone could get hurt. Not to mention we have proof that you were acting under duress." Oliver said.
"All of which is true, but it doesn't change the fact that DA Spencer is going to do everything she can to make an example out of you, since while there are plenty of other crooks in that list you turned over, none of them aside from Malcolm Merlyn, have the same name recognition as you and Merlyn's already dead." Sam said.
"How long does she have to consider this deal?" Oliver asked.
"They want an answer by the end of the day and if they don't get one, we're going to trial and it won't end well." Sam said.
"And I don't need anymore time to decide to take the deal, since I'm a guilty woman and I won't try to avoid the consequences of my actions, no matter what circumstances I made them under. And this way, I can try to avoid dragging our entire family's name through the mud with me. And like Samantha said, I can be out in six months and be able to pick up my life from there. Set a good example for my granddaughter." Moira said.
"Are you sure about this mom?" Oliver asked.
"Yes, I'm sure. This is a better deal than I deserve." Moira said.
"Ok then, sign this." Sam said as she pulled some papers out of her briefcase and placed them in front of Moira.
"This is the DA's offer. Once you sign it, I'll give it to the judge who will ratify it and then you'll be transferred to a slightly more comfortable prison than this one to begin your sentence and who knows, maybe I can get them to factor the time you've already served here into your sentence, as long as you behave like a model prisoner." Sam said.
"Thank you Sam." Moira said as she took the pen Sam offered her and after going over it once herself, since while Moira wasn't a lawyer, her experience as a business woman gave her enough experience with contracts and deals to want to look it over herself to make sure that it was what Sam said. Once she was satisfied, she signed it.
"I've done everything I can for you Moira. I just wish I could've done more." Sam said.
"You've done more than enough already." Oliver told her and Thea and Moira both nodded in agreement.
"Oh, by the way Sam, Laurel told me that she wanted you to call her after this meeting, she has something she wants to talk to you about." Oliver said.
"What is it?" Sam asked as she packed Moira's deal back into her case.
"You'll have to ask her about it, but it sounds important." Oliver said and Sam nodded.
"Okay, I'll give her a call after I drop Moira's deal off, since I want to make sure I give this my full attention." Sam said and Oliver nodded.