Chapter 7 - The Depositions
Three weeks later, the snow had melted from the steps of the State Attorney General’s regional office in the city. The sun was shining through the large glass windows of the grand conference room, where a row of state prosecutors, forensic accountants, and defense attorneys sat around a massive mahogany table.
Evelyn sat at the head of the table, her laptop open, her expression cool and professional. Across from her sat Michael’s court-appointed defense attorney and Dana’s high-priced criminal defender, an aggressive man named Richard Vance (no relation to Dr. Vance).
"Ms. Hale," Richard Vance said, leaning forward and tapping a stack of papers. "We are prepared to offer a comprehensive plea. My client will return all claims to the Hale estate, waive any future interest in the property, and provide a full accounting of the shell corporations. In exchange, we want the elder abuse charge dropped to a misdemeanor and a cap of three years on the financial fraud counts."
Evelyn didn't even look at the documents he offered. She took a sip of her water and looked Richard Vance dead in the eye. "Mr. Vance, your client used physical violence against a defenseless elderly woman. We have forensic evidence showing the impact weapon was a cast-iron skillet, which we recovered from the scene with your client’s DNA on the handle and the victim's blood on the base. We have fourteen other families who have come forward since the news of Captain Ross’s arrest broke. Your client isn't facing a simple fraud charge. She is facing a RICO indictment for organized criminal exploitation."
"The evidence from the station was compromised," Vance countered aggressively. "The body camera footage was handled by an interested party—yourself."
"The body camera footage was imaged by a certified state technician directly from a secure cloud server that your client’s uncle tried to illegally delete," Evelyn replied instantly. "The metadata is flawless. The chain of custody is absolute. If you take this to trial, I will personally handle the prosecution, and I will ensure the judge sees every single photograph of the injuries inflicted on Eleanor Hale. Your client will spend the next twenty years in a maximum-security state facility."
The defense attorney shifted in his seat, his aggressive demeanor evaporating as he looked at the sheer volume of evidence stacked against his client. He leaned over, whispering urgently to his co-counsel.
Evelyn then turned her attention to Michael’s attorney. "As for my brother, Michael Hale. Because he co-operated with the financial unit and provided the necessary encryption keys to access Dana’s hidden digital ledgers, the state is willing to offer a plea to grand larceny in the third degree. He will serve five years of probation, perform one thousand hours of community service in elder care facilities, and execute a total forfeiture of any future inheritance from the Hale estate. If he violates any condition, the ten-year suspended prison sentence will be activated immediately."
Michael’s attorney nodded quickly. "We accept those terms, Ms. Hale. Michael is prepared to enter his plea on Monday morning."
"Good," Evelyn said, closing her laptop with a decisive snap. "Mr. Vance, you have until five PM today to have your client sign the absolute guilty plea for the top counts of the RICO indictment. If it’s not on my desk by then, we go to trial, and I will seek the absolute maximum under the law."
As the attorneys filed out of the room, Marcus stepped in from the side office, holding two cups of coffee. He handed one to Evelyn, looking at her with profound respect.
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"You handled that beautifully," Marcus said. "The county commission just voted to permanently dismantle the Westbridge Police Department's current command structure. They're bringing in the State Police to oversee local law enforcement until a complete reorganization can be completed. Ross and his associates are officially finished."
Evelyn took a deep breath, the tension that had been locked in her shoulders for weeks finally beginning to release. "It’s a start, Marcus. But the real healing hasn't even begun yet."
