Chapter 4 - The Stenographer’s Record
The rhythmic clicking of the stenographer’s machine was the only sound in the tense, suffocating quiet of the room.
Judge Barrett looked down at the official transcript record on her desk, then raised her eyes to Gabriel. “Did you just say, Mr. Albright, that your wife was ‘poking around your office asking questions about corporate accounts’?”
Gabriel swallowed hard, his throat dry. He looked at his lawyer, who had dropped his head into his hands in absolute defeat.
“I... I misspoke, Your Honor,” Gabriel stammered, his voice lacking any of the arrogant confidence he had walked into the courtroom with an hour earlier.
“The record will reflect the defendant’s spontaneous statement,” Judge Barrett said coolly. She stepped down from the bench and walked over to where Daisy stood holding her worn stuffed rabbit. The judge gently scooped the little girl up into her arms, ignoring protocol in favor of human decency. “Daisy, you are a very brave girl. The bailiff is going to take you and your stuffed rabbit to my chambers, where there is a coloring book, some juice, and a secure social worker waiting to ensure you never have to spend another night around these two dishonest people.”
“Can Mommy come too?” Daisy asked, burying her face in the judge’s black robe.
“Your mommy is going to stay right here,” Judge Barrett said softly, looking over at Penelope with an expression of profound respect. “And we are going to make sure justice is served.”
As the bailiff escorted Daisy safely out of the courtroom, Penelope felt a strong, protective wave of energy wash over her. The eight months of silent suffering, the sleepless nights staring at the ceiling while Gabriel lied about late nights at the office, the humiliation of being pushed out of her own home—it all crystallized into a burning demand for accountability.
May you like
Bianca stood up, her face flushed with anger, grabbing her designer handbag. “This is ridiculous! I’m leaving. You can’t hold me here against my will—I’m not even a party to this marriage!”
“Sit down, Ms. Shepherd,” Judge Barrett commanded, her voice dropping into a register that made even the burly bailiff pause. “You are named as a co-conspirator in the fraudulent diversion of marital assets currently documented on my desk. You aren't leaving this building until the county sheriff completes the search of Mr. Albright’s residence.”
