Chapter 13 - Exposing Gideon Vale in Court
The preliminary criminal hearings for Gideon Vale took place in the grand provincial courthouse downtown, drawing a massive media crowd of financial reporters and culinary industry insiders. I took the witness stand on the second day, dressed in a sharp professional blazer, presenting the digital forensics, encrypted email trails, and audio transcripts proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Gideon had ordered my murder alongside the destruction of my restaurant.
When Gideon’s defense attorney attempted to cross-examine me by suggesting I was a disgruntled former romantic partner seeking vengeance, I looked straight at the judge and delivered the unvarnished truth: "I was an independent chef who built a restaurant with twelve years of sweat and sacrifice. Gideon Vale didn't just burn down a building; he tried to burn down a human being to protect his stolen ledgers."
The courtroom fell into absolute silence. The evidence was overwhelming, unassailable, and permanent.
