Back home, her parents were already awake. Marcus took one look at her face and knew something was wrong. "What happened?"
Simone spread the documents across the kitchen table, explaining her early-morning meeting.
Sarah's hands flew to her mouth as she read the memos. "Baby, this is too dangerous," she whispered. "These people... they'll do anything to keep this quiet."
"We have to use it," Simone insisted. "This proves everything: the insurance fraud, the false accusations, all of it."
Marcus studied the papers with growing anger. "They planned this for months. Watched us, waited for the right moment, all because we wouldn't sell our home."
A crash from outside made them all jump. Simone ran to the window, pulling back the curtain to see their car's windows shattered, the word LEAVE spray-painted across the hood.
"Get away from the window!" Marcus pulled her back as Sarah called the police.
Officers arrived quickly, but their investigation felt perfunctory: one glanced at the graffiti and suggested it was "probably just kids causing trouble"; another mentioned how "these things happen in changing neighborhoods."
Simone watched them leave, her mind racing. "They're trying to scare us into dropping the case."
"They're succeeding," Sarah said quietly. "Maybe we should consider—"
"No." Simone's voice was firm. "This is exactly what Bancroft wants. Fear is his weapon. We can't let him win."
She spent the morning preparing to present the new evidence, knowing Bancroft's team would fight to keep it out. The courthouse felt different as she approached: more ominous. Every passing face could be watching, reporting back to Bancroft.
Victoria Hale was waiting outside Courtroom 302, her smile sharp as a knife. "Miss Johnson, I heard about your car. Such a shame. These neighborhoods can be so unpredictable."
Simone met her gaze steadily. "Save the threats, Miss Hale. We both know who's behind it."
"Threats? I'm simply expressing concern." Hale stepped closer, dropping her voice. "Although speaking of concern, I'd be very careful about presenting any questionable evidence today. Fabricated documents are a serious offense."