Chapter 8 - The Legal Deposition
Three weeks later, we met in the high-rise conference room of the Cook County Family Court building.
The room was freezing. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling glass, illuminating the dramatic contrast between the two sides of the long oak table.
On my side sat Arthur Vance, two premier family law litigation partners, a forensic accountant, and myself. I wore a midnight-blue blazer, completely calm, sitting beside my legal team like a steel anchor.
On the other side sat Mark, Megan, Carol, and Frank.
They looked completely destroyed.
Without my financial backing, they had been forced to hire a low-tier court-appointed defense attorney who looked overwhelmed and underprepared. Mark’s designer suit was wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot and dark. Megan looked pale, her hair limp, her face devoid of the arrogant smirk she had worn for seven years. Carol was clutching a cheap paper coffee cup, her designer clothes replaced by faded rack-bought dresses.
They were living in a two-bedroom extended-stay motel near the airport, paid for by the tiny remaining balance in Frank’s liquid account.
Their attorney cleared his throat nervously. "Mrs. Peterson... or rather, Ms. Hayes. My clients are prepared to offer a full settlement. We are willing to drop all civil claims regarding the property eviction if you agree to restore Mr. Peterson’s business line, drop the criminal charges against Ms. Megan Peterson, and grant joint custody of Lily."
Arthur Vance laughed out loud. It was a cold, cruel sound that made the public defender flinch.
"Are you finished?" Arthur asked, leaning forward.
"We... we believe this is a reasonable compromise to avoid a lengthy trial..." the defender stammered.
"There will be no trial," Arthur said, opening a thick black folder. "Because there is nothing to try. Let us review the facts."
Arthur pulled out a stack of financial documents and slid them across the table.
"Item one," Arthur began. "Forensic accounting of Peterson Financial Consultants revealed that Mark Peterson illegally diverted $420,000 from the Vance & Hayes umbrella fund to pay for his sister’s boutique rent, his mother’s jewelry purchases, and his father’s personal credit cards over the past three years. That is grand larceny and corporate embezzlement. If this goes to trial, Mark faces five to eight years in state prison."
Mark’s face drained of all color. He looked at his lawyer in sheer terror.
"Item two," Arthur continued, sliding another document. "The medical report from Children’s Memorial Hospital clearly documents blunt force trauma and contusions on Lily’s face consistent with the video evidence. The State’s Attorney’s office has already reviewed the footage and approved formal misdemeanor child abuse charges against Megan Peterson. The warrant will be issued tomorrow morning."
Megan burst into hysterical sobs, burying her face in her hands. "Mommy, do something!" she wailed.
Carol slammed her hand on the table, tears leaking down her wrinkled cheeks. "Chloe, you monster! She’s your sister-in-law! How can you be so heartless?!"
I leaned forward, looking Carol directly in her eyes.
"When you sat at that table while my child bled," I said, every word dropping like a lead weight, "you told her to be quiet and eat her turkey. You told her she was rude for hurting your feelings."
I stood up slowly, picking up my handbag.
"My terms are non-negotiable," I said. "Mark signs full, sole legal and physical custody of Lily over to me today. He waives all rights to visitation until he completes two years of supervised family therapy. He surrenders all claims to joint property, repays the $420,000 in diverted funds over a court-ordered schedule, and signs the divorce decree immediately."
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"And if I don't?" Mark whispered, his voice trembling.
"If you don't," Arthur answered for me, "the police are waiting outside this room to arrest you for embezzlement, and your sister for child abuse. You have five minutes to sign."
