Chapter 5 - No Bail for Monsters
Monday morning brought a fierce, unforgiving storm to Chicago.
The rain lashed aggressively against the windows of the Cook County Courthouse.
I sat in the front row of the gallery.
Sophie was resting safely at home with my trusted best friend.
The courtroom doors opened.
Preston was led in by two heavy-set bailiffs.
He was no longer wearing a custom Italian tuxedo.
He was wearing a bright orange county jail jumpsuit.
His hair was a messy, unwashed disaster.
His wrists and ankles were chained together.
He looked exactly like the criminal he truly was.
My parents sat on the other side of the courtroom.
They had hired the most expensive defense attorney in the city.
The judge, an older woman with a stern gaze, slammed her gavel.
"Case number 884-Vance."
"Aggravated battery of a child."
The high-priced defense attorney stood up immediately.
"Your Honor, my client is a pillar of the community."
"He has zero criminal history."
"He holds a prestigious corporate position."
"We request a reasonable bail so he can prepare his defense from home."
The prosecuting attorney slowly stood up.
She pressed a button on her laptop.
A massive screen on the courtroom wall flickered to life.
"Your Honor, the state requests that bail be denied entirely."
"We present Exhibit A."
The CCTV footage began to play in total silence.
Every single person in the courtroom watched Preston plant the phone.
They watched him corner a helpless child.
They watched him bring a massive block of wood crashing down on her head.
A collective gasp echoed through the gallery.
Even the defense attorney looked slightly sick to his stomach.
The judge stared at the screen, her jaw tightly clenched.
She turned her furious gaze toward Preston.
"Mr. Vance, I have presided over this court for twenty years."
"That is some of the most cowardly violence I have ever witnessed."
"You struck an eight-year-old child over a fabricated slight to your ego."
"You are a profound danger to society."
The judge struck her gavel with incredible force.
"Bail is denied."
"The defendant will remain in county lockup until trial."
Preston began to hyperventilate.
"No!" he screamed, turning toward our parents.
"Dad, do something!"
"Mom, please!"
But my parents could do nothing.
Their money, their status, their endless excuses were completely useless here.
As the bailiffs dragged Preston away, he locked eyes with me.
I didn't flinch.
May you like
I didn't look away.
I simply smiled.
