Chapter 16 - Whispers in the Gallery
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As the bailiff led a handcuffed Victor back through the side doors of the courtroom, the gallery erupted into a low murmur of journalists and legal analysts whispering among themselves.
Several prominent attorneys sitting nearby glanced over at me, their eyes filled with a new, profound level of respect—and perhaps a healthy dose of fear. Word had circulated through the legal community about whose wiretap warrant had initiated the entire takedown of the Hale syndicate.
Director Callahan slipped quietly into the row beside me, sitting down for a brief moment before the courtroom cleared out.
“Well, Judge Vance,” Callahan murmured with a quiet grin. “That went precisely as planned. Hale’s defense team is completely paralyzed. They don't even have a plea deal to offer because we seized every offshore cent he possessed.”
“Good,” I replied quietly, keeping my eyes fixed on the empty doorway where Victor had exited. “Let him spend the rest of his natural life reflecting on the cost of arrogance.”
“By the way,” Callahan added, leaning in slightly. “We recovered some encrypted files from his primary server last night. It appears his network extended further than we initially thought. There are names of two state-level politicians and a major real estate developer in the neighboring county who were taking kickbacks.”
I turned my head to look at Callahan, raising an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
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“Yes, ma’am. Our cyber unit is compiling the decrypted logs as we speak. It looks like your jurisdiction might be expanding very soon.”
I let out a slow, calculated breath, pulling my gloves on as I stood up from the wooden bench. “Send the case files directly to my chambers, Director. It looks like spring cleaning is coming early this year.”
