Chapter 5 - Arrogance Shattered
The hallway outside Courtroom 302 was packed with reporters, local business owners, and legal assistants by the time we arrived for Evan’s arraignment.
Raymond, Judith, and Paige stood near the velvet ropes, looking disheveled and desperate. They had spent the night trying to find an attorney willing to take their case without a retainer fee, but every reputable firm in the city had declined once they heard my name was on the complaint.
When Judith saw me approaching with Claire and Marcus, her face twisted into a mask of pure venom.
“You!” Judith shouted, rushing toward us until Detective Miller stepped in her path. “You think you’re so smart, Arthur! You ruined my son’s life over a simple family disagreement!”
“A simple disagreement?” I stopped, leaning lightly on my cane, looking Judith up and down. “Your son fractured two of my daughter’s ribs three months ago—medical records we submitted to the judge ten minutes ago confirm the healed fractures. He struck her face last night and left her in a rainstorm.”
“She disobeyed him!” Paige chimed in, tossing her dyed hair back with a sneer. “She signed a prenuptial agreement! She doesn’t own anything!”
Marcus pulled a document from his briefcase and handed a copy to Paige. “You might want to check the clause on page twelve, Miss Vance. The prenuptial agreement specifically voids all spousal asset protections in the event of documented domestic felony abuse.”
Paige’s jaw dropped as she scanned the page.
“Furthermore,” Marcus continued, raising his voice so the surrounding news crews could hear every word clearly, “the district attorney’s office has just expanded the indictment to include grand larceny, bank fraud, forgery, and illegal wire transfers totaling $2.4 million.”
Raymond turned pale, his hand flying to his chest. “What... what are you talking about?”
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“Your Nevada shell company was seized by the IRS an hour ago, Raymond,” I said quietly. “The agents are at your corporate office right now executing a search warrant.”
The double doors of the courtroom swung open, and a bailiff called out, “State versus Evan Vance. All rise.”
