THE DEVIL'S DEBT

“It’s useless, don’t do this It’s hubris to try He’s ruthless, you knew this I told you, didn’t I? He’s abusive, elusive The truth is, he lies I know you don’t want to let go” - THE DEVIL DOESN’T BARGAIN Avery POV Chapter 1 – Question of Morality As I stood at the center of the courtroom, I could feel the reality of my responsibility crushing on me. As the new high court judge assigned to this controversial case, my determination and resolve had been long ignited. From the public, I knew I was not only the last gleam of hope for the victims in this case, but also the whole Pegatron City at large. A whirring buzz of murmurs masked my conversation with the middle-aged prosecutor in the case, Daniel Rivers. “This is a very imperative case. You can’t let them slide by with their usual tactics, they are really sleek.” I said, my voice hushed but audible “I agree” Daniel replied as he opened a large file from his bag. His brows furrowed as he assessed the contents of the file. “ This company has been a menace for too long. Their existence itself is a gob to the rule of law, they must be shut down.” “They have evaded the clutches of the law for far too long, they have to be held accountable. I trust that your arguments are strong enough for them…I want you to make them stutter, before I give them the death blow.” I said Our conversation was cut short by the arrival of Pendrake’s legal representatives, as they strode confidently into the courtroom. My stomach shifted uncomfortably as they swaggered, their heads held up high with unmistakable pride. They were accustomed to winning and I knew that, and their sense of entitlement didn’t help much. I glanced at the door hoping to see the business mogul, Edric Pendrake, but he wasn’t anywhere in sight. I walked to my seat and called the court to order. Glancing at my watch then at the door, I felt frustration begin to simmer under my skin. “Where is Mr. Edric Pendrake?” I asked The lawyers only shrugged to my annoyance. I darted my glance at the ticking wall clock, ten minutes past the commencement of the court session. The CEO was supposed to give a public statement today but he hadn’t showed up. It reminded me of the previous summons he had ignored from other judges, which added to my skepticism if he would actually show up. I cleared my throat then put on my glasses. “ We’ll begin the session without Mr. Pendrake’s presence. The prosecution may begin” I announced in a calm voice, carefully hiding my frustration. Daniel Rivers stood up and walked to the empty space before the judge’s bench. “Your honor, the case before us is one of the most tragic ones in our beloved city. It involves a string of homicides and murders directly linked to weapons manufactured by Pendrake Industries. These deaths cannot be ignored when the causative perpetrator continues enabling the criminal elements. The accused company has caused immense destruction and they represent a significant threat to public security. They should be shut down indefinitely.” One of the defense attorneys stood up, his objection already clear but I interjected before he could get a word out. “You will have your time.” I instructed “You may proceed Mr. Rivers.” “Thank you, your honor.” Daniel said “For years, the operations of Pendrake Industries have led to the loss of lives either directly or indirectly. They have remained negligent of their harmful actions, and its high time they are held accountable. Just last week, a shooting at the children’s park claimed the lives of eight innocent teenagers. The weapons used? An automatic firearm manufactured by Pendrake Industries.” “ That is just a mere speculation, your honor.” A tall lawyer from the defense team abruptly stood up and shouted. He adjusted his coat and turned to Rivers “You can’t possibly link the product to the actions of a criminal.” “Speculation?” Daniel Rivers shot back, his calm getting lost in an instant “the evidence is too real to ignore.” He retrieved a few pictures from an envelope and handed them to me “This is the picture of the weapon retrieved in the scene. The registration number directly links it to Pendrake industries.” “Mr. Rivers, to be clear, what you ae really saying is that Pendrake Industries should be held responsible for the choices of people who abuse their rights?” another attorney stood up and asked with a smirk “that’s ridiculous, and if it’s what you are really implying, then you might as well shut down every other company that manufactures anything potentially dangerous. Like these medical companies, people die due to faulty drugs or by overdosing, why don’t you go after them too?” “It’s not the same thing” Mr. Rivers shot back, tempers flaring “Order in the court” I raised my hands “your objection has been noted “Your honor, the negligence of Pendrake Industries is clear” Daniel continued after a few seconds “they prioritize profit over human safety. Last year, they had been fined two hundred and eight times over safety regulations and ethics. At this point, this is not just any other company or business, it’s a danger to human life.” “You have the podium, defense” I said to Pendrake’s defense “ Thank you, your honor.” The lead defense attorney stood up and said in a confident tone “Let me just put it out here that fines are not any evidence of guilt. They are merely a consequence of doing business in a regulated society. Your honor, you can agree that punishing Pendrake Industries for the actions of others is unlawful and sets a dangerous precedent.” “I would use the term ‘necessary’ and not dangerous” Daniel argued “the more we allow companies like Pendrake Industries to continue operating without any consequences to their harmful action, we are sending a message out there that profits matter more than lives. Surely, that’s not the world we want to live in” At that exact moment, the door swung open, revealing the disreputable CEO, Edric Pendrake. He was dark, but in a charming way. Though he was unbelievingly young for his public status, he walked with an aura of danger wrapped around him like a cloak. He looked at me then smirked, sending a chill down my spine, my mind sent into a haywire. After he had taken his seat, “Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” he said, his voice calm and composed “I had an urgent meeting that also required my presence.” “Your absence has been noted, Mr. Pendrake, and the court will hold you in contempt. You will subsequently be fined for that” I replied, my tone steady and authoritative. I had no intention of being nice to this guy, and I was hell bent on making him pay for every action that was deemed a crime Edric Pendrake lightly chuckled then crossed his legs “that’s fair” I ignored the frustration that was threatening to take a hold of me and sighed. “You are required to address the court regarding your company’s actions.” The man directly gazed at me with an immense intensity that almost made my heart skip a beat. I didn’t know if it was because of fear, anger or something else that I didn’t want to entertain. “Of course, your honor. That’s why I am here” he said Daniel wasted no time in grilling the man “Mr. Pendrake, can you explain why your company continues to manufacture and sell weapons when so many innocent lives have been lost because of them?” Edric Pendrake leaned back on his chair and turned his gaze to Daniel Rivers “We are a business. And you understand how a business works, if we cease our operations, thousands will go unemployed. You don’t want that, do you?” he paused as he read Daniel’s expression “additionally, we manufacture our products for the military, law enforcement and other private security agencies. We are not responsible for the products once they leave our facility.” “Not responsible?” Daniel Rivers exclaimed “you are telling the court and the general public that you don’t have any obligation to ensure that your products don’t end up in the hands of criminals?” “Every responsible company conducts background checks and follows the set law,” Edric replied “We do our due diligence. What happens afterward is beyond our control.” “You admit that your company has a long history of ignoring safety regulations?” Daniel pressed, his frustration clear. “That statement is clearly misleading, and widely irrelevant” Edric countered, the knowledge of his company baffling me “But to answer your question, regulations are complex and ever-changing. We comply with all applicable laws, and our products are rigorously tested. Looks like you failed to do enough research before mounting these baseless accusations” “Order” I said Edric’s gaze locked onto mine, challenging and curious. I reminded myself that my role was to weigh the evidence presented, and to maintain an unwavering sense of impartiality, even though I wanted them to be accountable for their hands in the crimes.