Chapter 6 - THE IMPLOSION
I watched Brandon’s family disintegrate in real-time.
Brenda turned on her son, her face red with rage. “You idiot! Why would you say that on tape?!”
“Me?!” Brandon shouted back at his mother, completely forgetting where they were. “You’re the one who told Dad to forge the signatures! You said her parents were too stupid to ever check the property records!”
“Bailiff!” Judge Harrison roared, slamming her gavel so hard the sound cracked like a gunshot. “Silence in this courtroom immediately!”
The bailiff stepped forward, his hand resting on his utility belt, and the family instantly froze, though they were glaring at each other with pure hatred.
Judge Harrison took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked at Brandon’s attorney.
“Mr. Thorne, do you have any defense against this evidence?”
Thorne, realizing his career was on the line for presenting a fraudulent case, immediately distanced himself. “Your Honor, I was hired under the pretense that this was a simple marital asset dispute. I am officially requesting to withdraw as counsel for the plaintiffs.”
“Granted,” Judge Harrison said.
She turned her furious gaze toward Brandon and his parents.
“In my twenty years on the bench, I have rarely seen such a disgusting, calculated attempt to ruin an innocent family,” the judge stated coldly. “Not only did you plot to steal this young woman’s life savings, but you weaponized this court to do it.”
She looked down at her papers, making several swift signatures.
“I am immediately unfreezing the $200,000 belonging to Melanie’s parents and ordering it returned to her sole control. As for the $450,000 loan, those funds are hereby frozen and transferred to a court-appointed holding account pending a full criminal investigation.”
“No, wait!” Patrick pleaded, his voice cracking. “If you freeze that money, the creditors will take our house! We’ll be homeless!”
“You should have considered that before you forged a deed,” Judge Harrison replied without an ounce of pity. “Furthermore, I am forwarding all evidence presented today to the District Attorney’s office with a strong recommendation for grand jury indictments for wire fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.”
Brenda let out a loud, theatrical wail and slumped in her chair, pretending to faint. Nobody moved to help her.
“Court is adjourned,” Judge Harrison declared.
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As Victoria packed up her briefcase, she looked at me and smiled. “Well. That went exactly as planned.”
I stood up, feeling a physical weight lift off my shoulders. I turned to look at Brandon. He was staring at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror and regret. He opened his mouth to speak, but I just smiled, turned my back, and walked out of the courtroom, leaving him in the ruins of his own making.
