Chapter 12 - The Bank Account Freeze
By Monday morning, Marcus Vance had secured an emergency federal injunction freezing all bank accounts controlled by Victoria Vance.
The twenty-million-dollar Vance Family Trust was placed under temporary court receivership, blocking any further corporate transfers.
I walked into the Harris County District Court alongside Marcus, wearing a sleek black suit and carrying a leather portfolio.
Victoria sat at the defense table in an orange inmate jumpsuit, her hair unwashed, her face pale and lined with severe anxiety.
Her high-priced team of corporate defense attorneys sat beside her, looking thoroughly exhausted and defeated by the overwhelming evidence.
Julian sat three rows behind the defense table, wearing a wrinkled suit, looking pale, hollow, and utterly broken.
He tried to make eye contact with me as I walked past his bench, but I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead on the judge's bench.
The judge slammed her gavel down, opening the preliminary hearing with stern, unyielding authority.
"In light of the toxicology reports and the audio recordings submitted by the prosecution," the judge declared,
"The court finds probable cause to hold the defendant, Victoria Vance, without bail pending grand jury indictment."
"Furthermore, all property deeds associated with the Katy development are hereby returned to the sole ownership of Elena Lin."
Victoria let out a loud, hysterical gasp, slamming her handcuffed hands against the mahogany defense table.
"That property belongs to my family!" Victoria shrieked before her attorney dragged her back into her seat.
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The judge looked down at Victoria with utter disgust.
"Remand the defendant to the county jail."
