Chapter 8 - The Bail Hearing Denied
The courtroom was packed to the gills. Reporters, legal bloggers, and curious onlookers filled every wooden bench, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of high society's newest fallen stars.
Brooke and Julian sat at the defense table, wearing standard orange county jumpsuits. Brooke looked like a ghost, her hair unwashed, her face stripped of all makeup, sobbing quietly into her cuffed hands. Julian sat rigidly beside her, staring straight ahead at the mahogany judge's bench, refusing to look at the gallery.
The Honorable Judge Evelyn Vance—no relation to me, but a woman known for her absolute intolerance of white-collar corruption—walked into the courtroom, her black robes rustling sharply.
"All rise," the bailiff chanted.
We all stood, then settled back into our seats as Judge Vance adjusted her glasses and opened the case file.
"We are here today to review the bail motions for defendants Brooke Sterling and Julian Montgomery," Judge Vance began, her voice crisp and commanding. "The charges include reckless endangerment resulting in mass hospitalization, child endangerment, grand larceny, and corporate fraud."
Julian’s defense attorney stood up quickly. "Your Honor, my clients pose no flight risk. We request release on personal recognizance, or a modest bail structure, given their deep community roots—"
"Community roots?" Judge Vance interrupted, her eyes flashing with cold fury. "Counsel, your clients locked a fourteen-year-old child in rags, forced her to sleep on a freezing floor, and deliberately disabled a carbon monoxide detector during a packed party, putting thirty lives at risk while simultaneously looting the child’s trust fund."
The gallery murmured in shock.
Judge Vance closed the file with a decisive thud. "These actions demonstrate a chilling disregard for human life and absolute moral bankruptcy. Flight risk? They are a danger to society."
She looked down at Brooke and Julian.
"Bail is denied. Both defendants will be remanded to the county detention center without bond pending trial."
May you like
Bang!
The gavel struck wood like a gunshot. Brooke let out a sharp, pathetic wail, burying her face in Julian's shoulder, while Julian closed his eyes in defeat. The trap had snapped shut, and there was no escape.
