Chapter 5 - The Deposition
The grand deposition room on the twentieth floor of the county courthouse was freezing cold.
My parents sat on one side of the long glass table, surrounded by three high-priced defense attorneys. Carla sat beside them, wearing a dark navy corporate suit, looking pale and gaunt. She was out on bail, wearing a black GPS ankle monitor around her left leg.
I sat opposite them with Marcus. Lily was at home with a trusted nurse, safe from the toxic atmosphere.
"We are here today," the court reporter announced, "for the cross-examination deposition regarding the civil matter of Sterling v. Naomi Sterling, and the related criminal charges."
My mother’s lead attorney stood up, trying to look intimidating. "We are prepared to offer a full settlement. My clients will withdraw their petition for grandparent visitation, provided Naomi signs a non-disclosure agreement and requests the District Attorney to drop the felony charges against Carla."
Marcus chuckled softly—a dry, terrifying sound that made the defense attorneys look uneasy.
"You don't dictate terms here, counsel," Marcus said calmly. He pulled out a thick stack of bank records and laid them in the middle of the glass table.
My father’s eyes locked onto the bank logos. He went completely rigid.
"Let the record show," Marcus stated clearly for the camera recording the deposition, "that on June 12th of last year, Frank and Evelyn Sterling illegally liquidated account #4802, transferring $850,000 of trust funds belonging exclusively to my client, Naomi Sterling, into their younger daughter Carla’s personal account."
"That’s... that’s an internal family financial arrangement!" my father stuttered, his face turning an unhealthy shade of purple. "We intended to pay it back!"
"That is grand larceny, wire fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty," Marcus corrected smoothly. "We filed a formal federal complaint with the financial crimes division this morning."
My mother slammed her hands on the table, tears streaking through her heavy makeup. "Naomi! How can you do this to your own mother and father?! We gave you life!"
"You gave me a life of being second-best," I answered, my voice steady, cold, and unwavering. "You let Carla bully me for thirty years. You let her strike my child with a steel weapon. And then you tried to take my daughter away from me to cover your own financial crimes."
Carla suddenly burst into hysterics, putting her head in her hands. "I don't want to go to prison! Mom, you said they couldn't trace the money! You promised me!"
"Shut up, Carla!" my father yelled, turning on his favorite daughter for the first time in his life.
"It's too late, Frank," Marcus said, sliding a second document across the table. "This is our final offer. Carla pleads guilty to second-degree felony assault with a four-year sentence. Frank and Evelyn sign over the deed to their mountain property and their liquid assets to fully reimburse Naomi's stolen trust fund, plus legal fees. And both of you sign a permanent, irrevocable restraining order forfeiting any and all future parental and grandparent claims."
My mother stared at the papers, her hands shaking violently. "And if we refuse?"
Marcus leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "Then tomorrow morning, the federal prosecutor unseals the bank fraud indictments. You will all three go to prison, and you will lose everything you own in the civil bankruptcy court."
May you like
The room went dead silent. The only sound was the hum of the air conditioner and my mother’s ragged breathing.
Slowly, my father reached for a pen.
