Chapter 12 - The Trial Begins
Six months later, Victor Hale entered federal court.
The prosecution presented bank records, surveillance footage, Pike's testimony, Rachel's evidence, Caleb's cooperation, and Violet's flash drive.
Victor's defense tried to paint Rachel as the mastermind.
Then Rachel testified.
For seven hours.
She told the jury how Victor isolated people.
How he collected secrets.
How he convinced victims nobody would believe them.
How he used fear as currency.
Then Violet took the stand.
I sat behind the prosecution table.
Her hands trembled.
She spoke anyway.
She described Caleb arriving.
Rachel behind him.
Victor entering.
The demand for the drive.
Her refusal.
Ethan arriving.
The attack.
The darkness afterward.
Victor wouldn't look at her.
Until the prosecutor asked one final question.
“Why did you hide the flash drive?”
Violet looked directly at Victor.
“Because people like him survive when everybody else stays scared.”
Victor finally raised his eyes.
Violet didn't look away.
“And I was tired of being scared.”
The courtroom became completely silent.
That evening, clips of Violet leaving court appeared across national news.
Reporters called her courageous.
Violet hated it.
“I'm not a hero.”
“No?”
“No. I was terrified.”
I smiled.
“That's usually where courage starts.”
The jury deliberated.
One hour.
Then two.
Then six.
No verdict.
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The next morning, we received news nobody expected.
One juror had disappeared.
