Chapter 7 - The Witness
The courtroom was stifling, smelling of old paper, floor wax, and barely concealed desperation.
Judge Thomas Vance—a stern, grey-haired man who had been on the bench for thirty years—sat behind the mahogany dais, looking unimpressed by the commotion outside. Gary’s lawyer, a sleazy man named Henderson whose tailored suit couldn't hide his nervous sweat, was already laying out his closing arguments.
"Your Honor," Henderson droned, gesturing dramatically toward Sarah. "As our financial exhibits demonstrate, the defendant has a history of instability, corporate association with illicit entities, and a chronic inability to maintain stable housing. To grant her sole custody would be a profound miscarriage of justice."
Judge Thomas frowned, peering over his half-moon spectacles at Sarah. "Miss Bennett? What do you have to say to these allegations?"
Before Sarah could stand, Marcus Vance—her bulldog of an attorney—rose smoothly to his feet.
"Your Honor," Vance said, his rich baritone filling the courtroom. "We object to the characterization of my client. Furthermore, we have a rebuttal witness whose testimony will clarify not only Miss Bennett’s immaculate record, but also the origin of the fraudulent corporate audits introduced by the plaintiff."
Judge Thomas raised an eyebrow. "A rebuttal witness? You didn't file this on the docket."
"When the witness is Vincent Moretti, Your Honor, you don't file on the docket—you bring him directly to the table," Vance replied smoothly.
The heavy oak doors at the back of the courtroom swung open.
A collective gasp sucked the air right out of the room. Flanked by two federal marshals and Julian’s personal security detail, Vincent Moretti walked down the center aisle. He looked bruised, pale, and utterly terrified, wearing an orange jumpsuit that made it painfully clear he had spent the last forty-eight hours in federal custody.
Gary turned completely white. His lawyer dropped his pen with a loud clatter.
Vincent took the witness stand, his watery blue eyes darting nervously toward Julian, who sat in the front row like an executioner watching a condemned man.
"State your name for the record," the court stenographer droned.
"Vincent Moretti," the thug muttered, his voice shaking.
"Mr. Moretti," Vance said, stepping up to the podium with a predatory grin. "Isn't it true that you personally coerced Sarah Bennett’s former employer to falsify financial ledgers, and that when Miss Bennett discovered the fraud, you threatened her life to keep her quiet?"
Vincent looked at Julian. Julian gave him a microscopic, terrifying nod.
"Yeah," Vincent choked out. "It’s true. She wouldn't sign off on the books. She was honest. We framed her to cover our tracks."
May you like
The courtroom erupted into murmurs. Judge Thomas banged his gavel twice, his face dark with fury as he glared down at Gary and his lawyer.
"Case dismissed," Judge Thomas declared, his voice ringing like a gunshot through the room. "And Mr. Henderson, I am referring your client to the state bar for subornation of perjury. Miss Bennett is awarded full, sole custody of her daughter, effective immediately."
