Chapter 18 - THE VERDICT
The jury deliberated for exactly one hour and forty-two minutes.
When the buzzer sounded indicating a verdict had been reached, the courtroom filled within five minutes. The air was thick with tension, electric and suffocating.
Ross Vance was trembling so violently that the defense table rattled against the floorboards. Evelyn was clutching a rosary in her cuffed hands, mumbling incoherent prayers under her breath.
I sat in the front row, holding Victoria’s hand on my left and Marcus’s on my right.
Judge Higgins took the bench. “Has the jury reached a verdict?”
The jury foreperson, a dignified woman in her fifties who worked as a high school principal, stood up.
“We have, Your Honor.”
The clerk walked the verdict forms to the bench. Judge Higgins reviewed them with an impassive face, signed them, and handed them back.
“Defendants will rise for the verdict,” the clerk ordered.
Ross had to be physically supported by his attorney; his legs had turned to jelly. Evelyn stood with her head bowed, weeping quietly.
“In the matter of the People versus Ross Vance,” the clerk read. “On count one, aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm: *Guilty.*”
A sharp gasp echoed through the room.
“On count two, reckless depraved-heart assault: *Guilty.*
On count three, attempted depraved-heart manslaughter: *Guilty.*
On count four, grand larceny: *Guilty.*
On count five, wire fraud: *Guilty.*”
Ross’s knees buckled. He hit the floor with a heavy thud, his hands clawing at his attorney’s trousers as he began to wail like an injured animal.
“No! No! Please! Oh God, no!”
The clerk didn’t pause.
“In the matter of the People versus Evelyn Vance. On count one, felony child neglect causing great bodily harm: *Guilty.*
On count two, accomplice to depraved-heart assault: *Guilty.*
On count three, conspiracy to commit grand larceny: *Guilty.*”
Evelyn dropped her rosary. She looked toward the ceiling, let out a dry, croaking gasp, and collapsed sideways into the arms of the female bailiff.
*BANG!*
Judge Higgins slammed her gavel down, cutting through the hysteria like an executioner’s blade.
“Order in this courtroom!” she barked. “Bailiffs, remove the defendants to holding until sentencing!”
Ross was dragged across the carpet, his heels leaving scuff marks on the floorboards as he screamed at the top of his lungs:
“Lauren! Tell them! Lauren, please! I’m sorry! I’m sorry about the chocolate fountain! Lauren!”
I watched him disappear through the heavy metal door.
My heart didn't race. My hands didn't shake. I felt only a profound, crystalline peace—the quiet stillness that comes when a lethal tumor has finally been excised from the body.
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Victoria wrapped her arm around my shoulders, tears streaming down her fierce face. “It’s over, Lauren. It’s finally over.”
***
