Chapter 13 - The Trial of Seattle EliteTwo months later, the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle was swarmed by national news networks for the opening of The United States v. Richard Vance and Victoria Sterling.
Inside the packed courtroom, Richard sat at the defense table looking hollowed out, having lost twenty pounds while awaiting trial. Beside him, Victoria sat with her head bowed, refusing to meet the eyes of the reporters filming her every movement.
At the prosecution table sat Elena Vance alongside the U.S. Assistant Attorney.
When Elena took the witness stand to testify about the financial structure of the Vance Family Trust, the courtroom fell into absolute silence.
With sharp precision and flawless memory, Elena walked the jury through three years of complex corporate ledgers. She explained how Richard had abused his position as project manager, how Victoria’s father's law firm had falsified property deeds, and how the two had attempted to have her declared mentally incompetent to cover up their crimes.
During cross-examination, Richard’s defense lawyer attempted a soft tactic: "Miss Vance, isn't it true that Richard was like a brother to you after your parents passed away? Did you ever attempt to resolve these financial discrepancies privately before destroying his career?"
Elena looked directly at Richard, her dark eyes steady and unyielding.
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"A brother does not steal from his family's trust," Elena answered softly. "A brother does not bribe doctors to put his sister in an asylum. And a civilized human being does not shove a person in a wheelchair onto a marble floor simply because she wears a healthcare worker's uniform."
Several jurors nodded in stern agreement. The defense lawyer slowly sat down, realizing his line of questioning had backfired completely.
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