Chapter 8 - THE MASSACRE
The blood instantly drained from Julian’s face. He fell back into the witness chair as if he had been shot.
Sterling jumped to his feet. "Objection! We were not made aware of this video!"
"It was submitted to the court clerk at 8:00 AM this morning, per the discovery rules," Evelyn countered. "Counsel had access to it. He simply didn't check his inbox."
The judge nodded. "Play the video."
The bailiff hooked up a laptop to the courtroom monitor.
The silence in the courtroom was deafening as the video began. Everyone watched Julian drag a screaming toddler across the room. The speakers echoed with his cruel, venomous words: “Naughty girls freeze.”
The entire courtroom watched him lock the deadbolt, grab his tennis bag, and walk out the front door, leaving a terrified four-year-old pounding on the glass.
The judge’s face turned bright red. He looked from the screen to Julian, gripping his gavel so hard his knuckles turned white.
"You committed perjury in my courtroom less than three minutes ago, Mr. Vance," the judge said, his voice shaking with fury.
"Your Honor, it’s out of context!" Julian stuttered, sweating through his expensive suit.
"Shut your mouth!" the judge roared. The sound echoed like a gunshot.
Sterling silently sat down and packed up his briefcase. He knew a sinking ship when he saw one.
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"But wait, Your Honor," Evelyn said. "There is also Exhibit B. An audio recording taken yesterday afternoon, at my client's front door."
Beatrice Vance bolted out of her seat in the gallery and bolted for the door, but the bailiff blocked her exit. The courtroom listened in horror as Beatrice offered a $250,000 bribe to cover up her son's felony.
