Chapter 13 - The Judgement of Fire
Judge Marcus Vance adjusted his black robes, leaning forward over the high mahogany bench to deliver the historic sentence.
His voice rang through the packed courtroom with the solemn weight of the entire federal judiciary behind it.
“In my thirty-five years on the federal bench, I have rarely witnessed such callous, calculated cruelty disguised as human affection,” Judge Vance stated.
“Beatrice Sterling, for the premeditated murder of Thomas Vance and the aggravated torture of Valerie Vance, you are sentenced to forty-five years in federal prison without parole.”
Beatrice collapsed forward onto the table, shrieking in despair as two female marshals immediately moved to secure her arms.
“You will serve your sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Aliceville, Alabama, where you will spend twenty-three hours a day in solitary confinement,” the judge continued mercilessly.
Judge Vance then turned his gaze toward Julian, whose shoulders shook with violent, pathetic sobs.
“Julian Sterling, for your direct leadership in federal racketeering, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit torture, you are sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.”
“You will be remanded immediately to the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado.”
Judge Vance slammed his heavy wooden gavel onto the desk three times: BAM! BAM! BAM!
“Court is officially adjourned!”
The heavy metal doors of the prisoner holding cell swung open behind the defense table.
Marshals grabbed Beatrice by her orange jumpsuit, lifting her limp, screaming body off the chair and dragging her out of the courtroom.
Julian looked back over his shoulder one final time, his eyes pleading for a shred of mercy, for a single tear of pity.
May you like
I stood tall, my arms folded across my chest, watching him being led away into eternal oblivion without a single flicker of emotion.
The nightmare was officially over, and the light of day had never looked so pure and bright.
