Whitman's hand shook as she reached for her water glass. "I... I need to consult with counsel, Your Honor."
Victoria Hale stood. "I request a brief recess."
"Denied," Judge Williams' voice was firm. "Answer the question, Miss Whitman."
"I was aware," Whitman whispered. "Mr. Bancroft ordered it personally."
The admission hit like a thunderbolt. Bancroft himself stood, his face contorted with rage, but his lawyer pulled him back down.
Simone continued building her case, witness by witness. The carefully constructed fraud began to unravel: she presented evidence of falsified insurance policies, doctored security footage, and systematic harassment of her family and their supporters.
"The defense calls Michael Peterson."
The former Bancroft employee walked to the stand, his face still showing bruises from the attack, but his voice was steady as he was sworn in.
"Mr. Peterson," Simone began, "please tell the court about the insurance policies taken out on the warehouse."
"Objection!" Hale tried one last time.
"This witness's credibility has been established through documented evidence," Judge Williams ruled. "Proceed, Mr. Peterson."
Peterson detailed the elaborate fraud scheme, explaining how Bancroft had used shell companies to overinsure the warehouse. He presented records showing the building had been systematically stripped of valuable equipment before the fire.
"And why target the Johnson family?" Simone asked.
"Mr. Bancroft was explicit," Peterson testified. "He said they needed to be made an example of. Their refusal to sell was inspiring other homeowners to resist the development project. He said, 'Nobody says no to Richard Bancroft.'"
As Peterson continued his testimony, Simone noticed Bancroft leaving his seat, whispering something to Victoria Hale before striding toward the exit.