Chapter 7: The Hour Heloise Almost Won
Conrad caught the stairwell door before it closed, but Corvin had already disappeared into the crowd.
The certified copies remained with the bank manager; the original was gone.
At the afternoon hearing, Heloise sat beside Corvin as if neither had been near the bank.
A dark bruise marked her face.
Her attorney rose first.
“Mr.
Vane admits using violence in a room full of witnesses.”
Aldric stood beside Fiona.
“I admit what I did.
I also admit it was wrong.”
Heloise smiled at the judge.
“He cannot control himself.”
Aldric looked directly at her.
“And you cannot explain why my daughter was dressed as a servant.”
“She liked costumes.”
“Or why her bed was beside the kitchen.”
“She built a fort.”
“Or why she knew about the forged petition.”
Heloise’s smile tightened.
“Because you coached her.”
Corvin placed six signed statements before the judge.
“Every witness confirms Aldric struck Heloise.”
Celeste rose from the public seats.
“My statement does not.”
Corvin turned.
“You signed it.”
“I signed a blank attendance sheet at dinner.” Celeste held up a copy.
“You added the statement afterward.”
The judge looked at Corvin.
“Did you witness her signature?”
“Yes.”
“Then why does the document claim she signed at ten fifteen when security footage shows her leaving at nine forty?”
Corvin’s fingers tightened around his pen.
“A clerical error.”
Fiona called Reid to the witness chair.
He described the payments, the false authentication, and the travel itinerary.
Heloise leaned toward him.
“Think carefully before you destroy your career.”
The judge struck the desk with her gavel.
“You will not address the witness.”
Reid swallowed.
“Heloise told me Aldric would lose custody for one week.
She said Thora would be returned after the house transfer.”
“She is lying,” Heloise said.
“He,” Reid corrected.
“And I have the payment records.”
Corvin stood.
“Those records were obtained from a company server without a warrant.”
“It is Aldric’s company,” Fiona replied.
“He authorized the audit.”
Heloise slid a folder toward her attorney.
“Then show the judge the medical report.”
The report described her injury and included photographs.
The judge read it slowly before looking at Aldric.
“This court cannot ignore your conduct,” she said.
“Even when protecting a child, a parent is expected to use lawful restraint.”
Aldric’s face went pale.
Heloise sat back, certain the room had turned in her favor.
The judge continued, “Until all evidence is reviewed, Thora will remain in temporary care.”
“No,” Aldric whispered.
Heloise leaned across the aisle.
“Sign over the house tonight, and I may still help you.”
Aldric turned toward her.
“You would bargain with a child’s fear in front of a judge?”
“I would bargain with anything you value.”
Fiona placed a certified copy of Elara’s amendment on the evidence table.
“Including this?”
Corvin shot to his feet.
“The original is missing.
A copy proves nothing.”
The bank manager entered with Conrad.
“I certified it before Mr.
Hale removed the original during a false fire alarm.”
Corvin’s face lost its color.
The courtroom door opened again.
Miriam walked in holding Thora’s hand.
“I apologize for the interruption,” Miriam said.
“Thora asked to speak with her advocate.”
Thora carried her worn stuffed rabbit under one arm.
She looked at Heloise, then placed the rabbit on the evidence table.
“Heloise cut open my music box,” she said.
“But Mommy told me to hide the other promise where someone would always hug it.”
She opened a loose seam beneath the rabbit’s ear and pulled out a tiny black device.
Corvin whispered, “That’s not possible.”
May you like
Thora looked at the judge.
“It heard everything Heloise said after Daddy went away.”
