Chapter 6 - The Reversal
Silence smothered the courtroom. It was so total, so suffocating, that you could hear the air conditioning vents whispering against the ceiling.
Judge Harrison took off his glasses. His face had flushed a deep, mottled purple.
In the front row, Eleanor let out a choked gasp and scrambled to her feet, knocking her handbag onto the floor. "That's... that video is altered! It’s deepfake technology! My daughter tried to kill us!"
"Silence in this courtroom!" Judge Harrison slammed his gavel down with enough force to splinter the block. "Bailiffs, secure the doors! Nobody leaves this room!"
Vanessa was frozen. The color had drained completely from her face, leaving her a pasty, sickly gray. She stared at the monitor as the video looped, showing her cold-blooded, deliberate stab into my skull over and over.
The prosecutor turned around slowly, staring at Eleanor and Vanessa with an expression of sheer disgust. "Your Honor... the State moves to immediately dismiss all charges against Emily Vance with prejudice."
"Granted," Judge Harrison boomed, his gaze burning into my mother and sister. "And further, based on the blatant criminal perjury, fabrication of physical evidence, and felonious assault captured on authenticated digital media, I am remanding Vanessa Vance and Eleanor Vance into immediate custody without bail pending formal indictment by the District Attorney!"
Two armed bailiffs moved in instantly.
"Wait! No! Mom, do something!" Vanessa shrieked as a burly deputy seized her wrists, snapping cold steel handcuffs over her fake bandages. "Get off me! She attacked me! Emily made me do it!"
"Vanessa, shut your mouth!" Eleanor screamed, struggling as another officer pinned her arms behind her back. "Call our attorney! Don't say a word!"
I sat at the defense table, tears finally spilling freely down my cheeks. David placed a warm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It’s over, Emily. The assault charges are gone."
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"It's not over," I whispered, watching Vanessa thrash against the deputies. "Where is the mahogany box, David? Why would they risk prison just to keep me out of Dad's estate?"
David looked down at me, his jaw tight. "We’re going to find out. Right now."
