Chapter 9 - The Final Trial
Six months later.
The criminal trial of Roland, Beatrice, and Mallory Vance reached its final, dramatic conclusion at the state federal courthouse.
The courtroom was quiet as the judge prepared to hand down the final sentences.
Roland and Beatrice sat at the defense table in their orange jumpsuits. They looked twenty years older. Roland’s hair was completely white, his hands trembling constantly from parkinsonian tremors. Beatrice sat hunched over, her face hollow and defeated.
Beside them sat Mallory, wearing a plain gray prison uniform, her hair unwashed, her posture crushed under the weight of her federal convictions.
The prosecutor, Elena Rostova, stood up. "Your Honor, the defendants acted with extreme malice, calculated cruelty, and total disregard for the law. They destroyed a commercial establishment, terrorized an innocent business owner, and defrauded elderly citizens. We request maximum sentencing."
The judge turned her gaze to the defense table. "Roland Vance, Beatrice Vance, Mallory Vance. Do you have anything to say before sentence is passed?"
Roland stood up unsteadily, holding a piece of paper. He looked back at me, sitting in the gallery. His voice was no longer filled with rage—only a hollow, echoing grief.
"I... I ruined my family," Roland whispered, tears falling onto his jumpsuit. "I thought I was protecting my daughter. I thought... I thought we were untouchable. I was wrong. I apologize to the court. And... I apologize to Nadine."
Beatrice just sobbed quietly into her hands. Mallory kept her eyes fixed firmly on the table, unable to look anyone in the eye.
The judge slammed her gavel down.
"Roland Vance, for felony arson, structural sabotage, and conspiracy, you are sentenced to twelve years in federal prison without possibility of parole."
"Beatrice Vance, for felony destruction of property, insurance fraud, and conspiracy, you are sentenced to eight years in federal prison."
"Mallory Vance, for grand larceny, securities fraud, and illegal financial operations, you are sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by full financial restitution."
BANG.
The gavel sounded like the closing of a massive steel vault.
Beatrice collapsed into her chair, shrieking hysterically as marshals stepped forward to lead them away. Mallory burst into loud, ragged sobs as steel handcuffs were locked around her wrists.
Roland turned to look at me one last time as he was led toward the back holding doors.
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I didn't gloat. I didn't smile. I simply nodded once—a quiet acknowledgment of a long, painful chapter finally coming to an absolute close.
They had chosen their path of entitlement, greed, and destruction. And now, the law had delivered their final accounting.
