Chapter 12 - THE COURTROOM
The final hearing arrived in late summer.
Vanessa sat beside her attorney.
She looked different.
No designer dress.
No confident smile.
Just exhaustion.
The judge reviewed the evidence.
The fraudulent application.
The unauthorized communications.
The deceptive property claims.
The recorded conversation.
Then the judge looked at Vanessa.
"You understood this property did not belong to you?"
"Yes."
"You attempted to obtain financing against it?"
She swallowed.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because I thought she would eventually give it to Daniel."
The judge frowned.
"That does not answer my question."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I wanted security."
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
The ruling confirmed my ownership.
The occupancy agreement was terminated.
Financial claims against the property were dismissed.
Several other matters were referred for further investigation.
As we left the courthouse, Daniel stood beside me.
He whispered, "Is it over?"
I looked at the courthouse doors.
"For them?"
"Yes."
"No."
He frowned.
"It isn't over until they understand what they lost."
"What?"
I smiled sadly.
May you like
"They lost the trust of the one person who would have given them everything."
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