Chapter 9 - The Trial's End
A month later, the federal trials of Richard Klein, Donald Vance, and Eleanor Vance concluded in the Southern District Court of New York.
The conspiracy charges were overwhelming. The evidence provided by Robert’s security team and the FBI left no room for doubt. Eleanor Vance was sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison for racketeering and corporate espionage; Klein and Donald Vance received twenty-year sentences for attempted murder, poisoning, and conspiracy.
Robert attended the final sentencing hearing, sitting quietly in the back row.
When Eleanor Vance was led out in handcuffs, she paused near Robert’s bench, her face lined with bitterness and ruin.
"You ruined everything, Robert," she whispered, her voice venomous. "You were supposed to fall."
Robert looked at her without anger, without triumph—only with profound pity.
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"You thought my business was my heart, Eleanor," Robert said quietly, so only she could hear. "You tried to break me by taking what was most valuable. But all you did was wake me up."
She was led away by federal marshals, her heels clicking uselessly against the marble floor.
