Chapter 5 - The Trial of the Fools
Three months later.
The Philadelphia Federal Courthouse was packed to capacity for the hearing of Vanguard Global Enterprises v. Brendan Morrison and Diane Morrison.
I sat in the front row of the plaintiff’s bench, dressed in a tailored navy maternity dress, my pregnancy now at nine months. Beside me sat Arthur Pendelton and a legal team of twelve senior corporate attorneys.
Across the room at the defense table sat Brendan and Diane.
They looked unrecognizable. Brendan had lost twenty pounds, his eyes were sunken, and his suit was cheap and ill-fitting. Diane was dressed in a plain grey blouse, her golden hair unwashed, sitting quietly with her hands folded in her lap like a beaten dog.
Their court-appointed attorney stood up before the federal judge.
"Your Honor," the public defender pleaded, "my clients acknowledge their extreme poor judgment in personal matters. However, we contend that the seizure of the Morrison family trust and the immediate forfeiture of personal assets constitutes an excessive penalty—"
Arthur Pendelton stood up, adjusting his glasses.
"Your Honor," Arthur said calmly, turning on the large courtroom display screen. "We present into evidence Exhibit A: five years of forensic accounting records from Morrison Logistics."
The screen lit up with bright red spreadsheets.
"During his tenure as CEO," Arthur explained, "Mr. Brendan Morrison illegally diverted $14.2 million in Vanguard corporate development funds into offshore personal accounts in the Cayman Islands to fund his luxury lifestyle, buy sports cars for Ms. Jessica Hayes, and cover his mother’s personal gambling debts at Atlantic City casinos."
The gallery erupted into gasps.
Brendan buried his face in his hands on the table, weeping quietly.
"Furthermore," Arthur continued, "we present Exhibit B: text messages from Mrs. Diane Morrison to the victim, demanding monthly cash payments under threat of public defamation."
The judge looked down over his spectacles at Diane and Brendan, his face hard with disgust.
"Mr. Morrison," the judge said, his voice echoing through the silent courtroom. "You were given every opportunity in life—a booming enterprise, a loyal wife, and immense wealth. You chose to respond with fraud, greed, and appalling cruelty toward the mother of your unborn child."
The judge banged his gavel with a loud, final CRACK.
"I order the immediate liquidation of all personal assets belonging to Brendan Morrison and Diane Morrison to satisfy the $14.2 million corporate restitution. Furthermore, I refer the criminal findings of embezzlement to the United States District Attorney for immediate indictment."
Diane let out a choked sob, collapsing back into her chair.
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Brendan looked across the courtroom at me, his eyes filled with endless, hollow regret. "Cassidy... please... I'm going to prison... please forgive me..."
I didn't answer him. I stood up, supported by Arthur, walked out of the courtroom, and left them both to the dark destiny they had carved for themselves.
