Chapter 8 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for four hours and twelve minutes.
At 3:15 PM on a humid Friday afternoon, the bailiff summoned all parties back into Courtroom 4A.
Peter sat beside Victor, his heart pounding against his ribs like a sledgehammer. Behind them, Detective Rodriguez and Investigator Sarah Vance sat in the first row of the gallery, their faces composed but tense.
Reena sat at the defense table, her chin tilted upward, holding fast to her cold armor until the very end.
Judge Montgomery looked at the jury foreperson, a retired mechanical engineer sitting in the front row.
"Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?" Judge Montgomery asked.
"We have, Your Honor," the foreperson replied, handing a sheet of paper to the bailiff, who carried it up to the bench.
Judge Montgomery scanned the document, her face unreadable. She handed it back to the clerk.
"The defendant will please rise," the clerk announced.
Reena stood up slowly, flanked by Marcus Thorne.
"On Count One, First-Degree Premeditated Murder in the death of Aaron Calder," the clerk read aloud, "we the jury find the defendant, Reena Vance Calder... Guilty."
A collective gasp echoed through the courtroom gallery.
Reena’s knees buckled slightly, her hands catching the edge of the table as if the air had suddenly been sucked from her lungs.
"On Count Two, Aggravated Child Abuse resulting in great bodily harm," the clerk continued, "we the jury find the defendant... Guilty."
"On Count Three, Unlawful Imprisonment of a Minor... Guilty."
"On Count Four, Corporate Wire Fraud and Forgery... Guilty."
Peter let out a breath he felt he had been holding for three long years. He bowed his head, placing his palms flat on the table as tears of overwhelming relief spilled past his eyelashes.
Judge Montgomery looked down at Reena, whose face had turned an ash-grey color.
"Reena Vance Calder," Judge Montgomery declared, her voice echoing with absolute finality. "For the crime of First-Degree Murder, you are sentenced to Life Imprisonment in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections, without the possibility of parole. For the remaining counts, you are sentenced to an additional forty years, to run consecutively."
Judge Montgomery struck her heavy wooden gavel down onto the bench.
BANG.
"Court is adjourned."
Two guards stepped forward, grabbing Reena by the shoulders. As she was turned around to be escorted through the rear door toward the holding cell, she looked at Peter one last time.
May you like
Her lips parted, but no words came out. The calculated, manipulative woman who had terrorized Aaron and his children was gone, replaced by a ghost sentenced to spend the rest of her natural life behind concrete walls.
Peter watched the heavy steel door close behind her, shutting out her shadow forever.
