Chapter 9 - The Gavel of Child Protection
Six months later, Courtroom 4B of the State Circuit Court was packed to maximum capacity for the sentencing of Vivienne Sterling and Margaret Sterling.
Sitting in the front row of the gallery were Daniel and five-year-old Sophie.
Sophie looked radiant, healthy, and beautiful in a soft ivory wool dress and a bright pink headband, her cheeks rosy with vibrant vitality, her hazel eyes sparkling with pure joy as she clutched a brand-new plush velvet bunny her father had bought for her.
Vivienne and Margaret sat at the defense table in bright orange state prison jumpsuits, their hands and feet bound in heavy iron transport chains. Their former arrogance and high-society vanity had been utterly pulverized by six months in solitary detention; their hair was disheveled, their faces gaunt and hollow.
Chief Judge Eleanor Sterling (no relation) took the bench with severe, uncompromising moral authority.
“Vivienne Sterling, Margaret Sterling,” Judge Sterling declared, her voice echoing through the silent stone chamber like rolling thunder. “You engaged in a calculated, depraved, and monstrous campaign of prolonged physical and medical torture against a defenseless five-year-old child, using her life-saving medicine as an instrument of extortion and cruelty.”
Judge Sterling brought down her heavy wooden gavel with a resounding crack that shook the courtroom.
“Vivienne Sterling is hereby sentenced to twenty-two years at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women without the possibility of early parole.”
Vivienne collapsed forward onto the table, letting out a broken, hopeless wail as state marshals secured her transport chains.
“Margaret Sterling is sentenced to fifteen years at the Central Virginia Correctional Facility, followed by full financial forfeiture of all seized assets to satisfy criminal restitution.”
Judge Sterling struck the gavel a second time.
“The marriage of Daniel Vance and Vivienne Sterling is declared permanently dissolved ab initio, with sole, exclusive, unchallengeable legal and physical custody of Sophie Vance awarded to the father.”
As the marshals hauled the two weeping convicts through the heavy iron holding door forever, Sophie looked up at her father with clear, untroubled eyes.
“Daddy?”
Daniel knelt down on the stone floor, scooping his precious little girl into his arms. “Yes, my brave angel?”
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“Can we go home and plant flowers in the garden now?”
Daniel smiled from the depths of his soul, kissing her forehead. “Yes, Sophie. All the flowers in the world.”
