Chapter 12 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than thirty minutes—one of the fastest deliberations for a capital murder trial in state history.
When the court reconvened, the atmosphere in the room was so tense that the sound of a pen dropping on the floor echoed like a gunshot.
"Will the defendant please rise," Judge Thomas ordered.
Clara stood up slowly, her gray suit neat, her posture still attempting to project an image of cold superiority.
"Madam Foreperson," Judge Thomas said. "Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?"
"We have, Your Honor," a middle-aged woman in the front row of the jury box announced, reading from a piece of paper.
"On Count One, First-Degree Premeditated Murder in the death of Elena Vance, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
"On Count Two, Attempted First-Degree Murder of Sophy Vance, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
"On Count Three, Grand Larceny and Extortion, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
A loud, collective exhale swept through the gallery. Julian closed his eyes, leaning back against the wooden bench, feeling an immense weight lift off his chest.
Judge Thomas looked down at Clara with stern, uncompromising eyes. "Clara Sterling, you have demonstrated a degree of depravity and callousness that shocks the conscience of this court. You stole a mother from a child, and then tried to destroy that child to cover your tracks. It is the judgment of this court that you be remanded to the state penitentiary to serve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole."
Gavel strikes.
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Clara was immediately swarmed by bailiffs who clicked heavy iron cuffs around her wrists. As she was turned toward the side exit, her eyes found Julian’s one last time.
Julian did not look at her with anger. He looked at her with complete, absolute indifference, as if she were nothing more than a ghost that had already faded away.
