The doors of the ambulance slammed shut, and the vehicle sped away from the courthouse with its red lights flashing and sirens blaring through the city traffic. Inside, Chief Justice Sterling sat beside the stretcher, holding Cora’s cold hand tightly in his own.
Cora: Thomas... what if the baby... what if he has internal injuries from the fall?
Judge Sterling: The doctors at Saint Jude’s are the finest pediatric surgeons in the country, Cora. I called ahead and reserved the entire surgical wing. They are waiting for us at the bay right now.
Cora: I was so scared... when she pushed me... I thought I lost the last piece of Julian I had left...
Judge Sterling: You were so brave, my dear. You stood your ground against a wolf. Julian would be so proud of you.
Cora: I just wanted to protect his legacy... She was tearing down everything Julian built...
Judge Sterling: Vance Global is safe now. The board of directors is meeting at three o'clock today. I will personally step in as interim chairman until you are recovered and ready to take your seat as Chief Executive Officer.
Cora: Me...? CEO of Vance Global?
Judge Sterling: You designed the core technology, Cora. It was always your mind that powered that company. Julian was just the public face. It’s time you took your rightful place at the head of the table.
The ambulance screeched to a halt at the emergency bay of Saint Jude’s Hospital. The rear doors flew open, and a medical team of six doctors and nurses immediately took control of the gurney, rolling Cora rapidly down the sanitized hallway toward Operating Room 4.
Dr. Vance: Chief Justice Sterling, you'll need to wait in the surgical lounge. We are taking her straight into trauma assessment.
Judge Sterling: Save them both, Doctor. Money is no object. Resources are unlimited. Just save my daughter-in-law and my grandson.
Dr. Vance: We will do everything in human power, sir.
The double doors of the surgical wing swung shut, leaving Thomas Sterling standing alone in the quiet, sterile corridor. He smoothed down his grey suit lapels, took out his encrypted mobile phone, and dialed his personal assistant.
Assistant: Chief Justice? Is everything alright at the probate hearing?
Judge Sterling: Cancel all my court hearings for the next month. Contact District Attorney Marcus and tell him I want the grand jury convened by tomorrow morning for Amanda Vance's trial.
Assistant: Understood, sir. What charges are we filing?
Judge Sterling: Every single charge available under state and federal law. I want her assets frozen, her law license permanently revoked, and her accomplice network in Vance Global rounded up by nightfall.
Assistant: Right away, Chief Justice. And how is Mrs. Cora Sterling?
Judge Sterling: She is fighting for her life. And as long as I have breath in my body, no one will ever lay a finger on her or my grandchild again.