Chapter 15 - The Trial BeginsSix months later, the federal trial of United States v. Richard Mercer and Vanessa Mercer commenced at the federal courthouse downtown. It was the most publicized financial crime trial of the decade.
The courtroom was packed to capacity with journalists, former employees, and curious spectators.
Richard and Vanessa sat at the defense table beside court-appointed public defenders—their high-priced private attorneys having withdrawn from the case three months prior due to unpaid retainers.
I sat in the second row of the gallery, flanked by Adrian and Arthur Vance.
When the prosecution called its first witness, the room went dead silent.
“The government calls Dr. Claire Sterling.”
I stood up, adjusting my tailored dark-green suit jacket. I walked past the defense table. My father refused to look up from his notepad, his hands trembling violently. Vanessa glared at me with a look of pure, unadulterated venom.
I took the witness stand, placed my hand on the Bible, and swore to tell the truth.
The federal prosecutor, a sharp prosecutor named Mr. Marcus, approached the podium. “Dr. Sterling, please state your former position at Mercer Manufacturing.”
“I was Senior Systems Analyst,” I said clearly, my voice echoing through the silent courtroom.
“And did you create the predictive logistics model known as Project Sentinel?”
“I did,” I replied. “Between 2021 and 2023. I authored the core code, mapped the database architecture, and established the error-threshold parameters.”
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“And who took public credit for this system?”
“Vanessa Mercer,” I said, looking directly at my sister. “On the instruction of CEO Richard Mercer.”
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