Chapter 7: The Trial Begins
The courtroom was packed on the opening day of State v. Arthur Vance. Local news crews lined the steps outside, drawn by the dramatic story of family betrayal, corporate fraud, and child endangerment.
The prosecutor, a sharp woman named Marcus, opened the case by playing the full video sequence captured by Julian’s secondary camera angle, followed by high-resolution still frames of the heavy wooden board frozen inches above the floor.
The defense argued that Arthur was merely reacting to an unpredictable event, attempting to save a costly cake from falling, and that the board was lifted as a reflex.
When Arthur took the stand, he presented himself as a stressed patriarch, overburdened by the responsibility of keeping dozens of relatives employed.
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""I loved my niece,"" Arthur said, his voice smooth and rehearsed. ""It was an intense moment. I raised the board to catch falling decorations. It was never intended to strike anyone.""
From the witness gallery, Eleanor watched his polished performance, feeling a cold stillness replace her fear. She knew her turn on the stand was coming next.
