Chapter 35 - The Federal Deposition
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In January of the following year, I was summoned to the federal courthouse downtown to give my final sworn deposition in the trial of United States v. Daniel Mercer and Vivian Mercer.
Both mother and son had been indicted on joint federal charges of tax evasion, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
I walked into the deposition room, flanked by Marcus and Julian Vance.
Daniel and Vivian sat at the defense table, wearing matching orange federal jumpsuits. Vivian looked broken, her hair silver, her face lined with deep, permanent wrinkles. Daniel looked frail, staring at his cuffed hands resting on his lap.
Neither of them dared to make eye contact with me as I took the witness stand.
For two hours, the federal prosecutor asked me detailed questions about the financial transfers, the forged power of attorney document, and the night of the assault.
I answered every question with total clarity, precision, and calm truth. I presented bank ledgers, email trails, and security footage.
When the prosecutor finished, Daniel’s federal public defender stood up hesitantly.
"Ms. Miller," the defender asked softly. "My client, Daniel Mercer, wishes to know if you would be open to submitting a character reference statement to the judge to help reduce his federal sentencing minimum."
The room went completely silent.
I turned my head and looked directly at Daniel. For the first time in months, he raised his head, his eyes filled with pathetic hope, begging me silently for one last scrap of mercy.
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"No," I replied clearly into the record. "Daniel Mercer is a man who enabled financial fraud, forged my signature, and stood by while I was assaulted. He deserves every single year the federal government gives him."
Daniel slammed his forehead onto the table, sobbing hysterically as the federal guards led them both away to their cells.
