“Mrs. Vance, you stood over your son’s wife, a woman in mourning for her father, and beat her while demanding she scream louder. You broke the most sacred trust that exists in a civilized society: the sanctuary of a home, and the bond between parent and child. Your actions on Friday night proved beyond any doubt that you are a menace to this community and utterly devoid of remorse.”

Harrison picked up his heavy wooden gavel.

“On the count of First-Degree Burglary, I sentence you, Diane Vance, to eight years in the Department of Corrections. On the count of Aggravated Assault, I sentence you to an additional four years, to run consecutively. You will serve a mandatory minimum of ten years before becoming eligible for parole consideration.”

Diane let out a loud, piercing wail, her knees giving out completely. The two bailiffs had to catch her under her arms to keep her from hitting the floor.

“Furthermore,” Harrison continued over her wailing, “I grant the victim’s motion for a permanent, lifetime restraining order. Any communication, direct or through third parties, will result in immediate criminal contempt charges. Take her away.”

“Ethan! Ethan, please!” Diane screamed as the bailiffs dragged her backward through the security door, her leg irons clattering loudly against the threshold. “I am your mother! Ethan! Tell them! Ethan!”

The heavy reinforced steel door slammed shut, cutting off her screams in an instant.

The judge turned his attention to Vanessa, handing down a seven-year state sentence, ordered to run consecutively with the federal wire fraud indictment waiting for her in the district court next door. Within five minutes, Vanessa too was led away, leaving the courtroom in profound, ringing silence.

Judge Harrison looked down at Ethan and me, his stern face softening into an expression of quiet sympathy.

“This court is adjourned,” he said softly.

Ethan let out a long, slow breath that felt like it had been trapped inside his lungs for thirty years. He turned to me, his eyes shining with unshed tears, and pulled me into an embrace so tight, so full of relief, that the entire room seemed to disappear around us.

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