Chapter 8 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than two hours.
At three o'clock on a sunny Friday afternoon, the courtroom was packed to capacity as Judge Margaret Vance took her seat on the bench.
"Will the defendants please stand?" the clerk announced.
Nathan, Evelyn, and Clara stood up behind the defense table. Nathan looked utterly broken, his confidence completely destroyed. Evelyn stood with a stiff back, though her hands trembled so violently she had to hold onto the edge of the table.
"Members of the jury," Judge Vance asked. "Have you reached a unanimous verdict?"
The jury foreperson—a middle-aged mother of three—stood up, holding the verdict sheets.
"We have, Your Honor."
"On Count One: Felony Child Endangerment against Nathan Vance... how do you find?"
"Guilty," the foreperson declared.
Nathan lowered his head into his hands, letting out a sharp gasp.
"On Count Two: Reckless Endangerment of a Minor against Evelyn Vance... how do you find?"
"Guilty."
Evelyn let out a high-pitched gasp, her knees giving out slightly as her attorney had to catch her elbow to keep her upright.
"On Count Three: Failure to Render Aid to a Minor against Clara Vance... how do you find?"
"Guilty."
The judge read through the remaining counts—all guilty verdicts across the board.
Judge Vance laid the papers down, looking down at the defense table with absolute, unyielding severity.
"This court finds the actions of these three defendants to be among the most callous, cold-hearted displays of neglect I have witnessed in my twenty years on the bench," Judge Vance stated.
"Nathan Vance, I sentence you to four years in state prison. Evelyn Vance, I sentence you to three years in state prison. Clara Vance, I sentence you to eighteen months of prison and three hundred hours of mandatory community service in a pediatric care facility."
The gavel came down with a heavy, final thud.
Bailiffs stepped forward immediately, placing handcuffs onto the wrists of Nathan, Evelyn, and Clara, leading them out through the side doors toward the holding cells.
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Evelyn turned her head as she was led away, looking at me with eyes filled with bitter defeat.
I sat calmly in my seat, watching them walk into the dark hallway, knowing that they would finally learn what it felt like to be locked out in the cold.
