Chapter 5 - THE LEGAL AMBUSH
The grand executive boardroom of the county family court was silent as a tomb when the emergency custody and asset hearing commenced.
My brother, Ryan, sat at the defense table, his expensive linen resort shirt wrinkled, his face a pale, sweating mask of raw, primitive panic.
Beside him sat Madison, her designer maternity dress looking out of place under the bright, clinical glare of the LED chandeliers.
"This is an absolute farce, Your Honor!" their high-priced corporate defense attorney shouted, pointing an aggressive finger toward our table.
"My clients are respected members of the community, and this temporary arrest at the airport was a massive violation of their civil rights!"
"The civil rights of your clients ended the moment they abandoned four minor children in an unlocked house to board a flight to Cabo," my attorney, Marcus, announced.
He placed the certified, state-stamped digital notary records on the mahogany table, the bold red security seals gleaming under the lights.
"We have the physical security footage from the neighbors' doorbell cameras showing the suspects packing their luggage and leaving at four in the morning."
"We have the forensic audio capture of the suspect, Ryan Carter, telling his eldest daughter that Olivia would be there to handle everything."
"And we have the certified bank records showing sixty-four separate fraudulent transactions designed to siphon the family's educational trust."
Ryan looked across the room at me, his eyes wide with a desperate, silent pleading that held zero remaining traces of his usual arrogance.
"Olivia, please... we are family," he whispered, his voice cracking into a high-pitched, pathetic whine.
"Think of the new baby; Madison can't handle the stress of a federal investigation while she's pregnant."
May you like
"You should have thought of your children before you used them as human shields to protect your luxury lifestyle, Ryan," I said clearly.
"And as of nine o'clock this morning, your executive authority over Cole Logistics has been permanently revoked by the state treasury."
