Chapter 8 - THE LEGAL WAR BEGINS
The next morning,
the top lawyers,
hired by Arthur,
arrived at hospital,
meeting with Caleb.
They carried files,
thick with evidence,
of financial fraud,
committed by Vanessa,
over five years.
She had stolen,
from company funds,
to pay for,
her luxury lifestyle,
and secret trips.
"We can ruin,"
the lawyer said,
"her completely now,"
"sending her away,"
"for ten years."
"Do it fast,"
Caleb ordered them,
"no plea deals,"
"no mercy shown,"
"maximum sentence requested."
The lawyers nodded,
leaving the room,
ready to strike,
the final blow,
in the court.
Meanwhile at motel,
Vanessa was waiting,
for Rick's call,
becoming very anxious,
pacing the floor.
Her money was,
running low now,
only fifty dollars,
left in purse,
buying cheap food.
The television screen,
showed her face,
again and again,
as police searched,
the entire city.
She felt trapped,
like a wild,
animal in cage,
losing her mind,
with dark thoughts.
Rick finally called,
his voice nervous,
"the hospital has,"
"too much security,"
"I cannot get,"
"near her room."
"You must try,"
she screamed out,
"find a way,"
"dress like doctor,"
"poison her food!"
"You are crazy,"
Rick spat out,
"I am not,"
"committing murder for,"
"a broke girl."
"Lose my number,"
he hung up,
leaving her stranded,
without any help,
completely alone now.
Vanessa threw phone,
against the mirror,
shattering the glass,
screaming in agony,
realizing her end.
She had no,
one left to,
turn to now,
her empire fallen,
her name trash.
She walked out,
into the rain,
without an umbrella,
wet and cold,
wandering the streets.
She looked like,
a ghost now,
her expensive clothes,
soaked and dirty,
her pride gone.
She walked past,
a newsstand clear,
seeing her picture,
on front page,
with bold text:
"THE SCANDAL OF,"
"THE VANCE FAMILY,"
"THE HUNT FOR,"
"THE CRUEL SISTER."
She covered face,
running down alley,
hiding from eyes,
of the public,
who hated her.
The ultimate justice,
was catching up,
closing the net,
May you like
around her life,
tightly and fast.
