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No plea bargain is struck. The jury is picked, and Lucinda asks a few random ones whether they have accepted bribes and sees who looks nervous: no one, as it turns out, so she strikes people who are too young to have children and one fellow who looks like he hates the entire world for her picks. Paul strikes a grandmotherly type and someone who admits when asked that they don't think much of rich people.
"All rise," comes the command as Judge Roberts walks in.
self_composed
self_composed
[Pft.]
"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, your honor. We find the defendant guilty on all counts."
"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, your honor. We find the defendant guilty on all counts."
edgeofyourseat
Alice lets out a breath, visibly relieved.
There is still, however, the matter of the sentence.
There is still, however, the matter of the sentence.
self_composed
The judge terminates all of Mr. Hammond's remaining parental rights, and gives him fifteen years in prison. Also, he awards three million dollars in damages to Alice.
edgeofyourseat
[Well, that's nice,] he says to Bella, idly wondering if she would like him to pay her way through college.
self_composed
[That would be very kind of you, and under the circumstances not particularly suspicious,] Bella replies happily.
edgeofyourseat
[Yeah.]
So, does everybody clear out now? Because for once Alice has a very solid picture of his desired immediate future: he would like to be in Bella's room, sitting on the floor beside her bed, being petted.
So, does everybody clear out now? Because for once Alice has a very solid picture of his desired immediate future: he would like to be in Bella's room, sitting on the floor beside her bed, being petted.
self_composed
"Dad, let's go home. Can we bring Alice?" Bella says.
"Don't see why not," Charlie replies.
The courtroom is emptying, slowly, and Bella files out with Alice as soon as Lucinda's done shaking his hand.
After a drive in the cruiser (Bella's car is still in the shop; they have to order parts) Alice's vision comes to pass.
"Don't see why not," Charlie replies.
The courtroom is emptying, slowly, and Bella files out with Alice as soon as Lucinda's done shaking his hand.
After a drive in the cruiser (Bella's car is still in the shop; they have to order parts) Alice's vision comes to pass.
self_composed
[Congratulations,] Bella says, encountering a tangle in Alice's hair and picking at it absently. [What's next for you, d'you think?]
edgeofyourseat
[Might move back into the house,] he theorizes idly. [Some of the time, anyway.] His lair is spotless and beautiful and he intends to keep it that way, and he also loves spending time there; but, on the other hand, now he can hang out with Hilary doing domestic things whenever he wants. Awesome.
self_composed
[I would be pretty surprised if Theo kept his job, at least presuming your mom knows how to drive.]
edgeofyourseat
[Well, if it doesn't happen, complain to Mom, not me. Unless you want me to start paying her, since I am now three millionaires.]
self_composed
Bella snickers. [Millionairehood doesn't stack that way. You are one millionaire who could spend two million dollars without ceasing to be one. You're gonna need to set up a bank account and get a - well, maybe not a credit card, unless you want to commit to living somewhere where you'll reliably receive mail for the foreseeable future. A debit card.]
edgeofyourseat
Alice immediately starts internally debating whether he would rather pentagon himself normal adult financial skills or dump the whole mess, three million dollars included, on Bella. It's a close race.
self_composed
Bella decides not to have any input on this decision.
She's finished picking the tangle loose and goes back to ordinary petting. Pet pet pet.
She's finished picking the tangle loose and goes back to ordinary petting. Pet pet pet.
edgeofyourseat
It's not like he actually needs three million dollars for anything. On the other hand, it's conceivable that someday he might. On the other other hand, his mom is still going to be mega rich, and maybe now she'll let him touch real money... but then he's back at square one with the needing a bank account. Screw it. He burns a pentagon.
edgeofyourseat
He is momentarily distracted by petting. Mm, petting.
[Not yet,] he says. [But now I know how bank accounts work, so that's handy.]
[Not yet,] he says. [But now I know how bank accounts work, so that's handy.]