Chapter 10 - JUSTICE SERVED
Six months later.
The crisp autumn air blew yellow leaves across the steps of the Municipal Justice Center.
Inside Courtroom 302, the final sentencing hearing was drawing to a close.
Judge Evelyn Mercer sat at the high bench, looking down over her glasses at the defense table.
Victor Dubois sat slumped in his chair, wearing a orange correctional jumpsuit, his silver hair unkempt and his arrogance completely stripped away. Beside him, Selena Dubois sat weeping silently, wearing matching prison attire.
"The court has reviewed the overwhelming financial and digital evidence presented by the prosecution," Judge Mercer announced, her voice echoing solemnly through the room. "The abuse of power, systemic extortion, and brazen corruption demonstrated by the defendants is a scar on our civil society."
Judge Mercer slammed her wooden gavel down.
"Victor Dubois: for racketeering, wire fraud, and commercial bribery, you are sentenced to twelve years in state penitentiary without the possibility of early parole."
Victor hung his head in absolute defeat.
"Selena Dubois: for grand larceny and obstruction, you are sentenced to three years in a medium-security facility, followed by five hundred hours of community service."
Selena let out a loud, shuddering sob as bailiffs stepped forward to lead her away in chains.
Isabelle Corbo, who had co-operated with prosecutors in exchange for a plea deal, received a five-year sentence for her direct role in the scheme.
Former Deputy Mayor Harrison Vance had resigned in disgrace three weeks prior and was currently awaiting his own federal trial for tax fraud and public corruption.
Meanwhile, Officers Elias Thorne and Caleb Stone had been permanently stripped of their police badges and badges after an internal review board found them guilty of gross misconduct and falsifying arrest reports.
I sat in the front row of the gallery, watching the bailiffs lead the defendants out through the heavy wooden side doors.
Beside me sat Mia Jenkins—the young sales associate who had dared to tell the truth. With the help of a legal defense fund, Mia had completed her degree and was now working as a junior fraud analyst for the District Attorney's office.
"Thank you, Chief Vance," Mia said softly, looking at me with deep gratitude. "If you hadn't stood your ground that day, I’d still be trapped in that store, living in fear."
"You saved yourself, Mia," I smiled, patting her hand gently. "All I did was show them my badge."
We walked out of the courthouse together into the bright, warm afternoon sunlight.
My phone chimed in my pocket. It was a text message from my department dispatcher in Brook Haven:
“Chief Vance, all units reporting quiet across the district. Welcome back.”
May you like
I smiled, sliding the phone back into my suit coat, right next to the heavy gold shield resting securely over my heart.
justice wasn't just a title or a badge. It was a promise—and as long as I breathed, it was a promise I intended to keep.
