Chapter 7 - The Hammer Falls
|
Silence settled over Courtroom 3B as the video ended.
Judge Miller slammed her gavel down with a crack that echoed like a gunshot.
"This court is disgusted," Judge Miller declared, her voice trembling with righteous fury. "Not only is this petition dismissed with prejudice, but I am referring Dr. Harold Vance to the District Attorney for immediate criminal fraud charges!"
Carla gasped, collapsing back into her chair. "Your Honor, please! We were just trying to help!"
"Silence!" Judge Miller barked. "Mrs. Carla Bell, Mrs. Denise Bell, you have abused this court's emergency petition system to harass a grieving mother. I am issuing a permanent, non-expiring restraining order against all named petitioners."
She looked at the bailiff standing near the door.
"Bailiff, arrest Carla Bell and Denise Bell for perjury and filing false legal instruments immediately."
Two officers stepped forward, clicking handcuffs around my mother’s and sister-in-law’s wrists right in front of the local news cameras. Denise began to wail, trying to pull away, while Carla hid her face against her arm as camera shutters clicked rapidly in the gallery.
As they were led out in chains, Thomas turned to me with a small smile. "That takes care of their legal attempt."
"It's not over, Thomas," I whispered, holding Noah close against my chest. "My father is still in jail, but he has connections. He didn't build his business on honest deals."
Logan stepped beside us, his hand resting near his coat. "Clara’s right. Richard owed two hundred thousand dollars to a local loan shark named Victor Vance. Now that Ethan is gone, Victor is going to come looking for that money from Ethan's trust."
May you like
Right on cue, my phone chimed in my purse with a text message from an unregistered number.
You won the courtroom, widow. But you haven't paid your father's debt. See you soon.
