Chapter 2 - The Basement Secret
A collective intake of breath swept through the gallery. Clara’s breath caught in her throat, the blood rushing in her ears as the pieces of the past six months suddenly snapped together with brutal clarity.
"Violet," Clara breathed, tears instantly spilling over her lower lashes. "What are you talking about, sweetie? What closet?"
Judge Holloway gestured gently for the court bailiff to bring a chair forward for the little girl. The bailiff, a burly man with a permanent scowl, moved with surprising gentleness, placing a small step-stool near the witness box so Violet could sit comfortably without being overwhelmed by the high wooden panels.
"Tell the court what you told me outside by the vending machines, Violet," Judge Holloway said gently, resting her forearms on the desk. "You don't have to be afraid of anyone here."
Violet sniffled, wiping a stray tear with the sleeve of her yellow cardigan. She glanced sideways at Gabriel, who was now staring straight ahead with a look of pure, unadulterated panic, his jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek.
"Last month... when you were at the doctor for your checkup, Mommy Clara," Violet said, her voice small and shaking. "Samantha came over to the house. She brought a big box of papers and folders from Daddy's office downtown. They went down to the basement storage room."
Samantha leaned forward, her voice sharp and defensive despite her fear. "Your Honor, this is complete fiction! The child has an overactive imagination—she watches too many movies—"
"Ms. Drake," Judge Holloway warned without even turning her head, "another word and I will hold you in direct contempt of court. Continue, Violet."
"I was looking for my colored pencils," Violet continued, her fingers burying deeper into the fur of her stuffed rabbit. "The basement door was open just a little bit. I heard Daddy telling Samantha that if they couldn't get Mommy Clara to sign away the house and the savings before the baby was born, the 'audit' would catch them."
Clara’s attorney stiffened. "An audit, Your Honor?"
"Yes," Violet nodded vigorously. "Daddy said Clara didn't know anything about the second set of business books. He said if Clara walked away with nothing in the divorce, she’d take all the legal liability for the missing company taxes with her, and the federal investigators would look at her instead of him."
The courtroom erupted into a sharp wave of whispers. Clara stared at Gabriel, the man she had loved, supported through grad school, and trusted with her entire life. The man who had convinced her that signing a total waiver of assets was the 'noble, clean way to end things.'
May you like
He hadn't been protecting her dignity. He had been framing her for federal tax fraud.
---
