Chapter 10 - The Final Verdict
Six months later, the high-profile trial of State v. Vanessa Sterling and Julian Vance came to a dramatic close in the city supreme court.
The prosecution’s case was indisputable. The encrypted cloud footage, the toxicology reports confirming scopolamine poisoning, the forged land deeds, and Julian’s frantic plea-bargain confession left the defense with nowhere to hide.
The jury took less than forty minutes to return a verdict.
"On the charge of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, how do you find the defendant, Vanessa Sterling?" the judge asked.
"Guilty," the jury foreman announced.
"On the charge of Felony Elder Abuse and Intentional Poisoning?"
"Guilty."
"On the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny?"
"Guilty."
Vanessa collapsed at the defense table, sobbing uncontrollably as the judge delivered her final sentence: thirty-five years in a maximum-security state penitentiary without the possibility of early parole. Julian Vance received twenty-eight years for his role as co-conspirator.
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As the guards led Vanessa away in orange prison scrubs and leg shackles, she looked toward the gallery one last time. Her eyes met mine sitting in the front row.
I didn't feel anger, nor did I feel triumph. I felt only a profound sense of relief that justice had been served, and that a toxic shadow had been permanently purged from our lives.
