Chapter 13 - THE TAPE JULIAN DELETED
The courtroom listened in silence.
Julian's voice filled the speakers.
Audrey was crying.
“You can't keep doing this.”
“I can do whatever I want.”
“You're hurting me.”
“Then stop making me.”
A chair scraped.
Audrey gasped.
Then Miriam's voice.
“Julian, not her face.”
A juror covered her mouth.
The recording continued.
Arthur entered.
“What's going on?”
Julian answered.
“She tried to call her father.”
Arthur sighed.
“Then take the phone.”
“She hid it.”
Another sound.
Audrey crying.
Then Arthur's voice.
Cold.
Calm.
“Do whatever is necessary, but stop leaving marks people can see.”
The recording ended.
Nobody moved.
Julian stared at the table.
Arthur looked twenty years older.
Miriam closed her eyes.
The defense tried to claim the recording lacked context.
Rachel stood.
“What context makes that acceptable?”
The judge sustained the objection before the attorney could answer.
But the jury had heard enough.
Then Dr. Preston Hall testified.
He admitted falsifying medical evaluations.
Nathan Pike testified about the hospital attempt.
Caleb Mercer admitted guarding Audrey.
Lydia accepted a plea agreement.
Each person traded loyalty for fewer years in prison.
Julian watched his empire of fear become evidence.
Then it was my turn.
The defense attorney approached.
“Colonel Vale, you don't like my client.”
“No.”
Several jurors smiled.
“You threatened him.”
“No.”
“You brought former military personnel to his home.”
“Yes.”
“Was that intended to intimidate him?”
“No.”
“What was it intended to do?”
“Make sure my daughter came out alive.”
The attorney paced.
“You consider yourself a protector?”
“I consider myself her father.”
“You failed to protect her for eight months.”
The courtroom went still.
He wanted anger.
I gave him truth.
“Yes.”
Audrey looked at me.
The attorney seemed surprised.
“You admit that?”
“Every day.”
He stopped.
“I should have recognized something was wrong sooner.”
I looked at Audrey.
“I will live with that for the rest of my life.”
The lawyer said nothing.
I continued.
“But my failure doesn't make Julian innocent.”
The attorney changed direction.
“You once served in classified military operations?”
“Yes.”
“You've used violence professionally?”
“Yes.”
“So when you arrived at the Thorne estate—”
“I arrived with empty hands.”
“And eight military friends.”
“Also with empty hands.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew men like Julian.”
The attorney frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Men who feel powerful when everyone else is alone.”
I looked directly at Julian.
“So I made sure my daughter wasn't alone anymore.”
No more questions.
The jury deliberated for nine hours.
Nine hours felt longer than eight months.
Audrey sat beside me.
“What if they let him go?”
“They won't.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
I squeezed her hand.
“But whatever they decide, he doesn't own tomorrow anymore.”
The courtroom doors opened.
The jury entered.
We stood.
Julian stared at the foreman.
“On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder…”
Audrey stopped breathing.
“Guilty.”
Her knees weakened.
I held her.
“On the charge of kidnapping…”
“Guilty.”
“Aggravated assault…”
“Guilty.”
“Financial exploitation…”
“Guilty.”
One after another.
Guilty.
Guilty.
Guilty.
Miriam cried.
Arthur stared straight ahead.
Julian didn't move.
Then he turned toward Audrey.
His lips formed two words.
You lied.
Audrey stared back.
Then quietly answered.
“I survived.”
But the final shock came after sentencing.
Rachel found us outside the courthouse.
“There is one more thing.”
I sighed.
“I've had enough things.”
“This one belongs to Audrey.”
She handed my daughter an envelope.
Inside was a deed.
Audrey looked confused.
“What is this?”
May you like
Rachel smiled.
“The Thorne mansion.”
