CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY – A KANGAROO COURT

The courthouse was packed as Charlotte took her seat beside Mr. Davies and their lawyer. Across the aisle, she could see Mark and Vivian, looking calm and collected. The sight made her blood boil. As the judge entered and the court was called to session, Charlotte felt a mix of nervousness and determination. They had the truth on their side. Surely that would be enough. Their lawyer, Mrs. Thompson, presented their case first. She laid out the evidence methodically - the eyewitness accounts, the physical evidence from the night of the sting operation, the chemical analysis of the sabotage materials. "Your Honor," Mrs. Thompson said, her voice clear and confident, "the evidence clearly shows a pattern of deliberate sabotage against The Rusty Anchor, orchestrated by the management of The Golden Mug." Charlotte felt a surge of hope as she watched the judge nod thoughtfully. But then it was the defense's turn. The Golden Mug's lawyer, a slick-looking man in an expensive suit, stood up.