Chapter 5 - The Arraignment and the ShockThe courtroom was cold, smelling of old pine and industrial floor cleaner. I sat in the front row of the gallery, flanked by my attorney, Marcus Thornton, and Arthur Pendelton.
Daniel was led in through the side door, his hands cuffed behind his back, his orange prison jumpsuit looking stark against his pale skin. He looked searchingly through the gallery until his eyes landed on me. For a brief second, a flicker of his old, manipulative charm crossed his face—he tried to offer me a weak, apologetic smile, as if this were just another argument we could resolve with a quiet dinner and an expensive apology.
I didn't smile back. My face was a wall of stone.
"Your Honor," the Assistant District Attorney, a sharp young woman named Clara Vance (no relation to Daniel, though the irony was beautiful), began. "The state is requesting bail be set at $250,000. The defendant is charged with felony domestic assault, second-degree coercion, and we are preparing additional charges regarding significant financial fraud and forgery."
Daniel’s defense attorney, a sleek man in an expensive grey suit named Sterling, stood up quickly. "Your Honor, this is a first-time offense for my client. He is a respected business owner in this community. A bail of $250,000 is predatory and unnecessary. He is not a flight risk."
"He is a flight risk, Your Honor," Clara countered, placing a document on the podium. "We have evidence that the defendant has been systematically liquidating his corporate assets and transferring them to offshore accounts. Furthermore, his wife has active protection orders against him, and his primary business accounts have just been frozen under a federal asset preservation order."
Daniel’s head snapped toward his attorney, his jaw dropping. "What?" he muttered, his voice carrying across the quiet courtroom. "Frozen? That’s impossible!"
"The asset freeze is active, Mr. Vance," the judge said, looking down at him over her glasses with utter disdain. "Based on the severity of the physical injuries to the victim—specifically, two broken ribs and a facial laceration requiring stitches—and the pending financial investigation, bail is set at $250,000. Cash or bond."
Daniel slumped back against his chair, his hands shaking in his cuffs. He turned his head to look at his mother, who was sitting in the back of the gallery, but Gloria was busy staring at her own hands, realization finally dawning on her that the golden goose had been cooked.
As they led Daniel back to the holding cells, he screamed my name.
"Sarah! Please! You’re destroying everything! What about the baby? What about Celeste?"
The heavy steel door slammed shut, cutting off his desperate cries.
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"He's done, Sarah," Arthur said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "The financial crimes unit has already flagged the forgery. He won't be seeing the outside of a cell for a very long time."
"Good," I said, standing up, the pain in my ribs a quiet reminder of why I had to finish this. "Because we’re only halfway done."
