Chapter 17 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
When the bailiff announced that a verdict had been reached, the tension in the courtroom snapped back to a fever pitch.
I sat in the gallery, my heart beating a steady, calm rhythm in my chest. I wasn't afraid of the outcome. The evidence was insurmountable.
The judge took his seat on the bench. Evelyn and Richard were instructed to stand.
Evelyn looked like a ghost. Her hands were shaking so violently she had to grip the edge of the defense table to remain upright. Richard looked entirely defeated, his shoulders slumped in resignation.
The jury foreperson, a tall man in a gray suit, stood up and handed the verdict form to the bailiff, who passed it to the judge.
The judge read it silently, his expression unreadable. Then, he handed it back to the clerk.
"On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, we find the defendant, Evelyn Lawson... Guilty."
A collective exhale moved through the room.
"On the charge of Identity Theft, we find the defendant, Evelyn Lawson... Guilty."
"On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Medical Fraud and Endangerment of a Vulnerable Adult... Guilty."
Evelyn's knees buckled. Her lawyer had to catch her arm to keep her from collapsing to the floor. She let out a low, agonizing wail, the sound of a woman realizing her life of luxury and manipulation was permanently over.
The clerk continued.
"On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, we find the defendant, Richard Lawson... Guilty."
Richard closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.
They were guilty on all counts. Every single one.
The judge slammed his gavel, cutting through the murmurs in the gallery. "The defendants are remanded into custody without bail pending sentencing."
Bailiffs immediately stepped forward, grabbing Evelyn and Richard by the arms.
As they were being led out of the courtroom, Evelyn suddenly twisted around, searching the gallery until her eyes locked onto mine. There was a desperate, chaotic frenzy in her gaze.
May you like
But I didn't give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I didn't smile. I didn't sneer.
I simply turned my head, breaking the connection, and looked at Chloe. We stood up and walked out of the courtroom, leaving the monsters behind in the dark.
