Chapter 8 - THE TRIAL OF ARTHUR VANCE
Six months later.
Courtroom 10A of the Federal District Court was silent as the jury returned to their seats.
Arthur Vance sat at the defense table, wearing a dark gray suit provided by the state detention center. His cheeks were sunken, his hair graying rapidly. Beside him, Madison sat in a plain dark dress, her head held low, her arrogance entirely gone.
At the witness stand sat Tyler, having just finished three hours of decisive, detailed testimony outlining every forged document, every wire transfer, and every direct order given by his father over four years.
In the front row of the gallery sat Rebecca, dressed in an immaculate charcoal suit, her posture composed, watching the final moments of the empire’s collapse.
Judge Sterling cleared his throat, addressing the foreperson of the jury. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor,” the foreperson, a stern woman in her fifties, stood up, unfolding a piece of paper.
“On count one, grand larceny in the first degree—we find the defendant, Arthur Vance, guilty.”
A collective gasp ran through the gallery. Arthur’s hands twitched against the table.
“On count two, federal wire fraud—guilty.”
“On count three, tax evasion—guilty.”
“On count twenty-four, felony aggravated strangulation with intent to cause severe bodily harm—guilty.”
The foreperson continued reading, finding Arthur guilty on thirty-eight of the forty-two counts. Madison was found guilty on six counts of accessory to grand fraud and tax evasion.
Judge Sterling turned his sharp gaze toward Arthur.
“Arthur Vance,” Judge Sterling declared, his voice echoing off the mahogany walls. “You operated a criminal enterprise under the guise of a family business, stealing millions from public infrastructure funds, and when confronted by your own daughter, you responded with brutal, potentially lethal physical violence.”
Judge Sterling raised his gavel.
“For the financial crimes, you are sentenced to twenty-two years in federal prison. For the aggravated assault of Rebecca Vance, you are sentenced to an additional eight years, to run consecutively. Thirty years total, without the possibility of early parole.”
BANG.
Madison broke into hysterical sobs, burying her face in her hands as officers stepped forward to put her in cuffs for her four-year sentence at a state correctional facility.
Arthur didn't move. He sat frozen in his chair, staring at the judge, realizing that he would spend the rest of his natural life behind iron bars.
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As the bailiffs stepped forward to chain his wrists, Arthur turned slowly to look at Rebecca one last time.
Rebecca met his gaze. She didn't smile, nor did she gloat. She simply stood up, adjusted her jacket, turned her back on him, and walked out into the bright sunlight of the courthouse steps.
