Chapter 6 - The Judge
The judge had seen angry people before.
He had seen wealthy people try to intimidate others.
He had seen attorneys manipulate facts.
He had seen couples destroy each other over money.
But what had happened in his courtroom was different.
He looked down at Claire.
She was still on the floor.
One hand protected her abdomen.
Blood remained visible around her mouth.
The judge's jaw tightened.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"Do not move."
Ethan froze.
The officers entered.
One stood near the doors.
The other moved farther into the courtroom.
Claire looked at them.
The judge spoke.
"Make sure she receives medical attention."
An officer nodded.
Ethan's attorney approached.
"Your Honor, this situation is being misunderstood."
The judge turned toward him.
"Not another word."
The attorney stopped.
The judge pointed toward Ethan.
"You will remain there."
Ethan swallowed.
Victoria stepped backward.
The judge looked at her.
"And you."
She stopped.
"Do not leave."
For the first time, Claire saw something approaching equality in the room.
Money had mattered outside.
Reputation had mattered outside.
Power had mattered outside.
Inside the courtroom, the rules were different.
Evidence mattered.
Witnesses mattered.
And what everyone had just seen mattered most of all.
Claire slowly tried to sit up.
The officer moved toward her.
"Take your time."
She nodded.
Her body shook.
She looked at the judge.
Their eyes met.
He gave a small nod.
Not reassurance.
Not yet.
But recognition.
He had seen what happened.
He had not looked away.
Claire sat there, breathing slowly.
The papers from the divorce proceeding were scattered around her.
She looked at them.
They seemed absurd now.
A few minutes earlier, those pages had represented the end of her marriage.
Now they represented something else.
The beginning of an investigation.
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The beginning of consequences.
The beginning of a truth that could no longer be buried beneath signatures and money.
