Chapter 13 - The Final Trial and the Unraveling Lie
The federal sentencing trial took place in downtown Chicago seven months after that fateful November night.
I sat in the front row of the gallery, holding Chloe’s small hand. She was dressed in a pretty yellow summer dress, her brown hair styled in neat braids, a vibrant pink ribbon tied at the end. She was healthy, her cheeks rosy, her eyes bright and filled with life.
Julian Vance was brought in first. He refused to look at the gallery, keeping his head bowed in shame.
Judge Thomas delivered his sentence without mercy:
"Julian Vance, for your heinous, cowardly, and monstrous betrayal of the sacred duty of fatherhood, you are hereby sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, to be served at the United States Penitentiary, Florence High."
Julian wept openly as he was shackled and led away to spend the rest of his natural life in a concrete cell.
Then came Victoria Helena Brandt.
Even in prison orange, Victoria tried to maintain her haughty, arrogant sneer, glaring at Chloe and me with cold hatred.
Judge Thomas looked at Victoria with utter revulsion:
"Victoria Helena Brandt, you are an unrepentant, cold-blooded predator who has weaponized deceit, fraud, and murder across two continents. You are a danger to every human being on this earth."
Judge Thomas sentenced Victoria to three consecutive life sentences plus sixty-five years, with an explicit order that she never be granted protective custody transfers or privileges.
As Victoria was dragged away by the federal marshals, Chloe looked up at me, squeezed my hand, and whispered:
May you like
"Grandma, the bad dream is finally over, isn't it?"
"Yes, my darling," I smiled, kissing her forehead. "The bad dream is gone forever."
