Chapter 13 - The Prisoner’s Arrogance
The pre-trial hearing took place in the federal courthouse in Providence.
Because of the ongoing forensic audit, the judge required the principal parties to appear in person for the asset forfeiture confirmation. I arrived flanked by Nathan and Luke, wearing a tailored charcoal suit and carrying my father’s leather briefcase.
When the side door of the courtroom opened, two armed U.S. Marshals escorted Preston Vale inside.
The man who had once worn three-thousand-dollar Brioni suits and diamond cuff links was now wearing an orange corrections jumpsuit and heavy wrist chains connected to a belly band. His golden hair was greasy, unwashed, and pulled back in an untidy tangle. The arrogant, self-assured smirk that had terrified me for half a decade was fractured, replaced by an ugly, twitching tension.
When his eyes found me sitting at the plaintiff table, his jaw clamped shut with such force that the tendon in his cheek jumped.
"Grace," he snarled, taking a step toward our table before the marshals hauled him back by his shoulder chain. "You think you’re clever? You think hiding behind your backwoods brothers is going to save you? You don't know who you’re dealing with! You don't have the stomach for this war!"
"Silence, Mr. Vale," Judge Holbrook barked from the bench, slamming his gavel down with a sharp crack that echoed off the walnut walls. "One more outburst and you will be held in contempt and remanded without the privilege of attending your own trial."
Preston leaned down toward his public defender—his high-priced legal team had walked away the moment his overseas accounts were frozen—whispering furiously into the attorney’s ear.
"Your Honor," my attorney, Arthur Vance (no relation to Julianna, but a seasoned maritime lawyer who had served our father for forty years), rose with quiet dignity. "We submit to the court the supplemental evidence recovered from the Vale residence, including the encrypted ledger and the physical manifest of the vessel *Northern Star*. In light of this evidence, we request that all remaining stays on the Bennett commercial assets be dissolved permanently."
Judge Holbrook reviewed the affidavits, his expression darkening with every page. He glanced up at Preston, then down at the files.
"The court finds prima facie evidence of systemic fraud, grand larceny, and corporate sabotage," the judge announced. "All accounts, properties, and maritime licenses previously claimed by Preston Vale are restored in full to the Bennett estate. Furthermore, bail is formally denied. The defendant will remain in federal custody pending trial for racketeering."
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As the marshals pulled Preston toward the holding cells, he twisted his neck, his eyes locked on mine with murderous intensity.
"You think you’ve won, Grace?" he spat, his voice carrying a venomous hiss before the heavy steel door closed behind him. "You’re sitting on their money now. And they don't leave debts uncollected!"
