Chapter 7 - The Mastermind's Fall
Three months later.
The trial of Patricia Mitchell and Brandon Mitchell was brief, public, and brutal.
With Veronica’s full testimony, along with the forensic evidence uncovered by Crawford Systems’ IT team, the defense collapsed within four days. The jury took less than two hours to return guilty verdicts on all counts: wire fraud, corporate espionage, conspiracy, and illegal surveillance.
The sentencing hearing was held on a cold November morning.
Nicole sat in the front row of the gallery, wearing a charcoal wool coat, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
In the defense box sat Patricia and Brandon, dressed in orange prison jumpsuits. Patricia’s silver hair was unstyled, her famous arrogance replaced by a bitter, defeated glare that remained fixed on the floor. Brandon looked broken, his eyes red, his shoulders hunched as if trying to shrink away from the world.
The judge slammed his gavel down.
"Patricia Mitchell, for your leadership role in a calculated, predatory conspiracy to defraud an American defense technology firm, you are hereby sentenced to fourteen years in federal custody, without the possibility of parole for ten years."
Patricia didn't move. A quiet gasp went through her remaining legal team.
"Brandon Mitchell," the judge continued, turning his sharp gaze onto the younger man. "For your active participation in corporate espionage, fraud, and illegal surveillance against your spouse, you are sentenced to eight years in federal custody."
Brandon burst into tears, covering his face with his hands as the court bailiffs stepped forward to escort them toward the holding cells.
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As Brandon was led away, he looked across the courtroom one last time, his eyes searching for Nicole.
Nicole stood up slowly. She met his gaze with a look of absolute, calm indifference. She didn't wave. She didn't smile. She simply turned her back on him and walked out of the courtroom into the bright afternoon sun.
