Chapter 16 - The Courtroom Setup|
The morning of the custody hearing arrived with a cold, gray dawn.
Family Court Room 4B was quiet, the heavy oak doors closed to the public. Lucas sat confidently at the petitioner’s table, flanked by three high-priced corporate lawyers. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, looking every bit the concerned, responsible father.
At exactly 9:00 AM, the heavy wooden doors swung open.
Ricardo walked down the center aisle. He wasn't in handcuffs. He wasn't flanked by police.
He walked alone, wearing a simple gray suit, his expression entirely unreadable.
Lucas’s lead attorney immediately stood up. “Your Honor, my client has filed a police report regarding Mr. Silva’s erratic and violent behavior yesterday. There is an active warrant for his arrest. He should be detained immediately.”
The judge, a stern-faced woman with decades on the bench, adjusted her glasses and looked toward the back of the courtroom.
“I don't see any police officers here to execute a warrant, Counselor,” the judge said dryly.
Lucas frowned, turning to look at the courtroom doors. Two federal marshals stood perfectly still by the exit, their arms crossed. They weren't local cops. They were feds.
Julian stepped out from behind the marshals and walked smoothly to Ricardo’s side at the respondent’s table.
“Your Honor,” Julian began, his voice carrying the effortless authority of a former federal prosecutor. “My client is here today not to contest a custody hearing, but to present an emergency federal injunction. As of one hour ago, all assets belonging to Mr. Lucas Sterling have been frozen under the RICO Act.”
The courtroom erupted into panicked whispers. Lucas’s lawyers frantically began checking their phones.
“What is this?” Lucas hissed, standing up, his polished facade finally cracking. “This is a family court! This is about my daughter!”
“This is about the murder of Camila Silva,” Julian corrected, his voice cutting through the noise like a knife. He approached the bench, handing the judge a thick manila folder. “Included in this brief is the original toxicology report, signed by Dr. Aris Vance, proving homicide. We also have offshore bank records tying Mr. Sterling to Vanguard Holdings.”
Lucas turned pale. He looked frantically at his lead attorney, who was currently staring at his phone in absolute horror.
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“Lucas,” the attorney whispered, standing up and stepping away from his client. “Helena just withdrew the firm’s retainer. We no longer represent you.”
Lucas was completely, utterly alone.
