“Your Honor, my client has been locked out of personal and professional accounts by his wife in an act of emotional retaliation. Mr. Langley has been a senior executive of Langley Medical Logistics for nearly eight years. He has a right to access funds necessary for his living expenses and legal defense.”
Judge Ross peered over the top of her glasses. “Was Mr. Langley attempting international travel when these accounts were frozen?”
Nolan paused. “He had planned a short business trip.”
Diane stood with deliberate calm. “With his mistress, Your Honor. One-way tickets to Zurich. Purchased under aliases. Carrying one hundred and eighty thousand dollars in cash and certified checks drawn from company accounts he was not authorized to access.”
A subtle movement passed through the courtroom. Even the court clerk raised his head.
Nolan’s jaw hardened. “Those allegations are under investigation.”
“They are documented,” Diane replied.
She displayed the first piece of evidence on the screen.
One transfer record.
Then another.
Then a series of emails exchanged by Victor and Olivia’s brother, Grant Marsh, explaining how money should be moved through a consulting firm with no staff, no physical location, and no genuine clients.
Victor kept his eyes fixed ahead.
I focused on his hands. His right thumb repeatedly brushed his wedding band, which remained on his finger. Perhaps he believed it made him appear more sympathetic. Perhaps habit had outlasted his guilt.
Diane then projected the airport message he had sent me.
“Goodbye, useless woman! I’ve stripped you of all your assets!”
The sentence appeared in stark black lettering across the screen.
Sometimes a room suddenly feels colder even though the temperature has not changed. This was one of those moments.
Judge Ross examined the message two times.
“Mr. Nolan,” she said, “does your client dispute sending this?”
Nolan turned toward Victor.
Victor stared down at the table.
“No, Your Honor,” Nolan said.
