Chapter 8 - The Courtroom on Broad StreetMonday, 9:00 a.m.
The Davidson County Probate Court on Broad Street was a magnificent hall of polished marble, high ceilings, and carved oak pews.
Judge Sarah Montgomery sat at the high bench, her sharp grey eyes scanning the courtroom. To her right sat Arthur Sterling and his team of six corporate attorneys, impeccably dressed in dark suits. Sitting beside Sterling was Marcus Drew himself—a tall, fifty-year-old billionaire with a cold, calculated expression and a million-dollar haircut.
On the left side of the aisle sat Pete Marsh, Jade, Lily, and myself.
“We are here in the matter of the Estate of Robert Calloway,” Judge Montgomery announced, her gavel tapping lightly. “Counselor Sterling, present your claim.”
Sterling stood up smoothly, adjusting his jacket. “Your Honor, my client, Marcus Drew, holds a valid, notarized promissory note for forty thousand dollars against the estate, executed eight months prior to Mr. Calloway’s passing. We request immediate liquidation of estate assets to satisfy this debt.”
“Any objection from the defense?” Judge Montgomery asked, looking at Pete.
Pete Marsh stood up, clutching his worn leather folder. “We object strenuously, Your Honor. The document presented by Mr. Sterling is a fraudulent forgery.”
A soft whisper rippled through the spectators in the gallery. Marcus Drew’s expression didn’t change, though his eyes narrowed slightly.
Sterling chuckled condescendingly. “Your Honor, wild accusations of forgery are a common tactic used by grieving families seeking to avoid legitimate obligations.”
“Is that so?” Pete said calmly. He plugged a USB drive into the podium monitor. “Your Honor, I submit Defense Exhibit A—a sworn video deposition and certified affidavit from Mrs. Evelyn Vance, the official notary whose seal appears on the claimant’s document.”
The court screens flickered to life. Evelyn Vance’s face appeared, her raspy, clear voice filling the courtroom as she stated under oath that her stamp had been stolen two years prior and that she had been physically incapable of notarizing documents due to her stroke.
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Marcus Drew’s lead attorney, Sterling, went pale. He quickly shuffled his papers, looking frantically at Marcus.
Judge Montgomery leaned forward, her face dark with anger. “Mr. Sterling... care to explain why your ‘valid’ notarized contract bears the seal of a retired woman who surrendered her commission eighteen months ago?”
