Chapter 5 - The Handcuffs Click
The courtroom doors opened once again, and two county sheriffs marched down the center aisle with pairs of chrome handcuffs glinting on their utility belts.
"Vanessa Cole," the lead deputy announced, stepping behind her chair. "You are under arrest for endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance."
Vanessa shrieked as the cold metal snapped around her wrists. "Nolan! Do something! You said you owned the county judges! You swore your brother was golf buddies with the mayor!"
Nolan didn't say a word. He didn't even look at her.
He kept his eyes glued to the defense table, his breathing shallow and rapid, completely abandoning the woman he had paraded into court less than an hour ago.
"Get her out of my courtroom," Judge Walsh ordered.
The deputies hauled Vanessa out through the swinging doors, her high heels dragging along the carpet as her desperate screams echoed down the marble hallway outside.
Then, the second deputy turned his attention to Nolan.
"Nolan Dawson, stand up and place your hands behind your back."
Nolan didn't move. He sat frozen, staring blankly at the dark wood grain of the table.
"Stand up, Mr. Dawson," the officer repeated, gripping Nolan’s shoulder firmly and pulling him up onto his feet.
As the cuffs ratcheted tightly around his wrists, Nolan finally looked over at me. His arrogance was completely gone, replaced by the pathetic, hollow terror of a cornered coward.
"Claire," he choked out, his voice cracking like dry wood. "Please. Think about Owen. He needs his father. You can't let them take me to jail."
I stood up slowly, supporting my pregnant belly with both hands. I walked toward the center railing until I was standing only three feet away from him.
"You didn't care about Owen when you let her poison his milk to cover your bruises, Nolan," I said, my voice steady, clear, and razor-sharp. "You didn't care about our daughter when you tried to throw us out on the street with zero dollars."
"I was under pressure! The business was failing!"
"No," I replied, looking straight into his dead eyes. "You failed as a human being. The rest is just paperwork."
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Judge Walsh banged her gavel once more. "Bail is denied pending grand jury presentment. Take him into custody."
Nolan Dawson was marched out through the side holding door, his head hanging low as the heavy steel lock clicked into place behind him.
