Chapter 2 - The Trap Is Sprung
The heavy oak doors of Courtroom 14B clicked shut with a sharp, terrifying echo.
Julian panicked. He shoved his chair back and stood up, his hand reaching for his leather briefcase. “This is a setup! You can’t hold us here! We came as plaintiffs! We are the victims here!”
“You were plaintiffs five minutes ago, Mr. Owens,” Judge Vance replied, sweeping his gaze across the room. “Now, based on the evidence presented by Miss Owens, you are key subjects in an active federal investigation.”
I turned around slowly to look at my family. The arrogance that had painted their faces when I walked into the room was entirely gone, replaced by a raw, naked panic.
“You did this on purpose,” Eleanor hissed, her eyes wide with rage, tears of fury welling at the corners of her heavy eye makeup. “You let us file this lawsuit! You dragged us into court!”
“I didn’t drag you anywhere, Mother,” I said quietly. “You spent six months threatening to sue me. You sent process servers to my apartment. You posted public slander on social media claiming I was a thief. You wanted a public stage to humiliate me. I simply gave you the biggest stage available.”
Two heavy-set men in dark gray suits walked through the side door reserved for law enforcement. One of them was Special Agent Marcus Sterling, my supervisor for the past three years. He carried a pair of polished steel handcuffs in his right hand.
“Judge Vance,” Agent Sterling said, nodding toward the bench. “Thank you for holding the proceedings. We have warrants signed by the District Court for the immediate arrest of Eleanor Owens and Julian Owens.”
“What? No! Julian, do something!” Eleanor shrieked, backing away until she hit the railing. “Call our lawyer! Call Arthur!”
“Arthur won’t be answering his phone today, Mother,” I said, taking a step toward her. “Arthur’s office was raided by federal marshals forty-five minutes ago. He was the one who helped you draft the forged power of attorney. He traded his legal license for a thirty percent kickback on my stolen dividends.”
Julian backed into a corner, his eyes wild. “Victoria, please! We’re family! We’re your flesh and blood! You can’t do this to your own mother and brother! Dad would be disgusted by what you’re doing!”
The mention of my father made a cold, sharp blade turn in my chest.
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“Dad died in a state hospice facility because you took his medical insurance payout and used it to buy Julian’s first business franchise,” I said, every word dripping with absolute clarity. “You left him alone in a cold room while you flew to Cabo. Do not ever speak my father’s name again.”
Agent Sterling stepped forward, grabbing Julian’s wrist and twisting it smoothly behind his back. The metal cuff snapped shut with a crisp, final click.
