Chapter 4 - The Snakes Squirm
The Fulton County Pre-Trial Detention Center was a stark, depressing fortress of concrete and thick glass.
In Interrogation Room B, Victor Vance sat bolted to the steel chair, wearing an orange jumpsuit that clashed violently with his manicured appearance. His knuckles were raw, his jaw was bruised from Alex’s kick, and his posture was slumped in desperate frustration.
Across the stainless-steel table sat Arthur Pendelton, looking pale and exhausted.
"What do you mean the accounts are frozen?!" Victor roared, slamming his handcuffed fists onto the metal table. "My father has three million in liquid reserves at Chase Bank! Use that for my bail!"
"It’s gone, Victor," Pendelton said, rubbing his temples. "Sterling Holdings executed a total freeze through the Chancery Court this morning. They cited the felony assault charge and the cross-collateralization clause. The bank locked every single credit line. Your father’s personal accounts, your mother’s accounts, your sister’s trust fund—all frozen solid."
"That’s illegal!" Victor screamed, his eyes bloodshot. "My mother didn't touch her! Nora didn't touch her! Why are they locked up?!"
"Because your sister was filmed attempting to destroy evidence of a felony, which makes her an accessory after the fact," Pendelton explained grimly. "And your mother was recorded actively encouraging you to commit aggravated battery on a pregnant woman. The prosecutor, District Attorney Marcus Vance—no relation to you—is treating your family like an organized criminal syndicate."
The heavy steel door swung open, and Detective Torres walked in, holding a yellow manila folder. He sat down opposite Victor, placing the folder quietly on the table.
"Mr. Vance," Torres began, opening the file. "We just finished auditing your home search warrant results. Would you like to explain why our forensic team found three hidden micro-cameras planted in your wife’s bedroom and bathroom?"
Victor blinked, his mouth going dry. "I... I put those in for security. To make sure she didn't leave the house without telling me."
"You put them in to monitor and psychologically abuse her," Torres corrected coldly. "And unfortunately for you, those cameras were connected to a local hard drive in your study. They recorded the last three months of your life."
Pendelton’s head snapped toward Victor in horror. "You had cameras running inside the house?!"
"They recorded you starving her," Torres continued, pulling out a stack of printed video still-frames. "They recorded your mother refusing to give her water. They recorded you slapping her across the face three weeks ago when she couldn't sweep the garage. We don't just have yesterday's assault, Victor. We have ninety days of systematic, premeditated torture."
Victor slid back in his chair, the blood completely draining from his face. "I... I’m her husband... I was just trying to control her mood swings..."
"The grand jury met an hour ago," Torres said, standing up and closing the folder. "They returned a twelve-count indictment. Aggravated assault on an unborn child, kidnapping, conspiracy, and systematic domestic torture. In Georgia, that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty-five years without parole."
"Thirty-five years?!" Victor gasped, hyperventilating as panic clawed at his throat. "Mr. Pendelton! Do something! Call my father!"
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"Your father had a minor heart attack in Cell Block 4 an hour ago when he learned Vance Logistics filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy," Pendelton said quietly, packing his briefcase. "I'm sorry, Victor. There is nothing left to fight with. You're going to trial, and you're going to lose."
As Pendelton walked out, Victor collapsed over the metal table, his hysterical sobs echoing off the cold concrete walls.
