Inheritance of Vengeance

Three weeks later, the federal district courthouse downtown was a media circus. Flashbulbs blinded the defendants as they were escorted up the granite steps. The trial of the decade—United States v. Viktor Vance, Julian Vance, and Richard Sterling—had officially begun.

I sat in the front row of the gallery, wearing a tailored navy suit, my expression carved from absolute ice. To my left sat Marcus Vance; to my right, Uncle Thomas, pale but recovering from his ordeal in the warehouse.

Inside the oak-paneled courtroom, Judge Arthur Sterling... no relation to my family, an impartial federal magistrate known for his zero-tolerance policy on white-collar crime... banged his gavel.

'The court is now in session,' Judge Sterling announced, his voice booming. 'We are hearing testimony regarding charges of corporate espionage, wire fraud, identity theft, and extortion. Prosecution, you may call your first witness.'%

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Lin stepped up to the podium, her briefcase resting neatly on the wood. 'The prosecution calls Julian Vance.'%

A murmur swept through the gallery. Julian was led out in an orange jumpsuit, his hair unwashed, his once-arrogant posture completely shattered. He looked over at me, his eyes filled with a desperate, pleading agony, but I refused to give him even a flicker of recognition.

As Julian took the witness stand, Attorney Lin began her interrogation. 'Mr. Vance, directing your attention to the events of November 14th, did you or did you not forge the corporate succession documents for Sterling Global Logistics under the direct instruction of Viktor Vance?'%

Julian swallowed hard, glancing nervously over at Viktor, who sat at the defense table looking cool, collected, and impossibly arrogant in an Italian silk suit.

'I... I decline to answer on the grounds of self-incrimination,' Julian muttered.

Judge Sterling leaned forward, peering over his glasses. 'Mr. Vance, you entered into a cooperating plea agreement with the Department of Justice three days ago. If you refuse to testify truthfully, your plea deal is immediately revoked, and you will face the maximum consecutive sentence of forty years. Answer the question.'%

Julian trembled violently. He looked down at his cuffed hands, then over at Vanessa sitting in the back row with her newborn baby, staring at him with cold contempt.

With a broken sigh, Julian whispered into the microphone, 'Yes. I forged the documents. And Viktor Vance paid me two million dollars to do it.'%

Viktor's defense attorney leaped up from his chair. 'Objection! Hearsay! Unsubstantiated claims by a compromised witness!'%

'Overruled,' Judge Sterling snapped, banging his gavel. 'Mr. Vance, continue.'%