Chapter 10 - The Deposition
Two weeks later, the preliminary civil deposition was convened in the tenth-floor conference room of Caleb’s downtown law firm.
The room was sleek, modern, and intimidating, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city river. A court reporter sat at the head of the long glass table, fingers hovering over her stenotype machine.
I sat on the plaintiff's side of the table, wearing a dark navy blazer tailored to fit comfortably over my abduction sling. My physical therapy had begun four days earlier; every millimeter of movement was agonizing, but my posture was straight and unyielding. Caleb sat to my right, an array of neatly tabbed evidentiary binders laid out in front of him.
Across the table sat Lena, flanked by her criminal defense lawyer, Marcus Vance—a sharp, expensive litigator whom Evelyn had hired with the last remnants of her personal jewelry collection.
Lena was dressed in a conservative high-necked black dress, attempting to project modesty and contrition. But when our eyes met, the mask slipped for a split second, revealing the pure, unadulterated venom beneath.
"We are on the record," the court reporter announced.
Caleb leaned forward, clasping his hands together on the glass table. "For the record, this is the deposition of Lena Vale in the matter of *Tessa Vale v. Lena Vale*, Case Number 24-CV-8891, concerning allegations of intentional battery, gross negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress."
Marcus Vance cleared his throat. "Mr. Vance, my client has already expressed that this entire event was a tragic, spontaneous mishap. A celebratory prank gone wrong. There was no malice aforethought."
"Is that your testimony under oath, Miss Vale?" Caleb asked, fixing his piercing gaze on Lena.
Lena sniffled, dabbing at her dry eyes with a monogrammed handkerchief. "It was just a wedding tradition... everyone pushes someone in the pool. I didn't think about her shoulder. I was swept up in the excitement of my wedding day. I love my sister. I would never intentionally harm her."
Caleb didn't flinch. He reached into his briefcase and produced a sleek silver thumb drive, plugging it into the large monitor mounted on the conference wall.
"Let’s examine that claim, Miss Vale," Caleb said smoothly.
He clicked a file. On the screen, a series of high-resolution text messages appeared, date-stamped three hours before the wedding ceremony began.
It was a group chat between Lena and two of her bridesmaids:
*Lena: "Tessa showed up wearing that hideous sling like she wants everyone to pity her instead of looking at my dress."*
*Bridesmaid 2: "Just ignore her, babe."*
*Lena: "No. She’s been ruining my life since the day she was born. Watch what I do at the reception. I’m going to shove her right into the deep end. Let’s see how much attention she gets when she’s soaked like a wet rat."*
*Bridesmaid 1: "Lena, be careful, her shoulder is broken."*
*Lena: "I don't care. She needs to be taught a lesson."*
The silence in the conference room became absolute.
Lena’s jaw dropped. The color drained from her face until she looked like chalk.
Marcus Vance closed his eyes, visibly cursing the day he took the retainer. "Where... where did you obtain these private communications?" he sputtered.
"Subpoenaed directly from the cloud carrier under emergency discovery rules in the criminal docket," Caleb answered with clinical precision. "Miss Vale, do you recognize these messages?"
Lena looked wildly around the room, clutching the edge of the table. "That... that was private! That was just girl talk! I was venting!"
"You stated: *'I’m going to shove her right into the deep end... she needs to be taught a lesson,'*" Caleb recited calmly. "That is not a prank, Miss Vale. That is premeditated, malicious battery against a vulnerable individual."
Caleb turned another page in his binder and slid a copy across the table.
"Furthermore, Detective Lin has updated the criminal charges this morning. In light of this premeditation, the District Attorney has upgraded your indictment to Aggravated Felony Assault in the Second Degree."
Lena let out a strangled gasp, knocking over her glass of water. "Felony? No! Felonies mean prison! Mom said I would just get community service!"
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"Your mother lied to you, Lena," I spoke up, my voice steady, cutting through the room with absolute clarity. "Just like she lied to me. But the difference is, I’m finally done paying for your crimes."
***
