Chapter 38 - The Lining of Deceit
Judge Thorne adjusted his reading glasses and picked up the magnifying lens provided with the state crime lab report. He spent five agonizing minutes examining the enlarged photographs of the titanium strip, checking the forensic notary seals, comparing the etched signature with the historical county records on his bench.
Finally, he set the lens down.
He looked at Clara Gable.
"Mrs. Gable," the judge said, his voice dropping into a register of utter finality. "Do you have any documented evidence to refute the chemical and metallurgical authentication provided by the state forensics unit?"
Calloway looked at Clara. Clara looked at Calloway.
The high-priced attorney didn't open his mouth. He slowly closed his leather portfolio, took half a step backward, and sat down. He knew when a ship had sunk beneath the waves.
"I thought as much," Judge Thorne said. "This court finds the titanium codicil to be the legitimate, uncorrupted, and final testamentary instrument of Arthur Blackwood. The emergency petition filed by the Sterling-Gable trust is denied with prejudice."
"No!" Vanessa screamed from the defense bench, jumping up and rattling her handcuffs against the wood. "No! That means Julian has nothing! I have nothing! What about my house?! What about my cars?!"
"Your house was purchased with funds laundered through the Blackwood Timber payroll account, Mrs. Sterling," Judge Thorne replied without even looking at her. "All assets acquired through the unauthorized conversion of the trust are hereby seized under the state civil forfeiture statute, pending the outcome of Julian Sterling’s federal racketeering trial. Bailiffs, remove the defendant."
"David!" Vanessa shrieked as two deputies grabbed her by the arms and dragged her toward the side holding cell. "David, please! We're family! You can't let them take everything! It was just a cake! It was just a stupid homemade cake!"
The heavy steel door slammed shut behind her, cutting off her screams in an instant.
Clara Gable didn't scream. She didn't cry.
She slowly stood up, smoothing the front of her navy suit jacket with trembling hands. "This isn't over, David. You might have the land. You might have the timber. But you don't have the liquid capital to pay the back taxes Arthur accrued before his death. The township will auction the deed within thirty days for non-payment."
"Actually, Clara," Vance spoke up, stepping forward and tossing a certified bank draft onto the table in front of her. "The back taxes were paid two hours ago."
May you like
Clara stared at the check. "With what money? He’s a mechanic!"
"With the twenty-five-thousand-dollar restitution check you wrote to David six months ago to settle the destruction-of-property claim for Vanessa's purse," Vance said with a grim smile. "David took your personal check, invested it in the short-position options Julian had placed against Blackwood Timber stock, and when the mill burned this morning, the stock plummeted seventy percent. David didn't just pay the taxes, Mrs. Gable. He bought your mortgage."
