The judge’s answer is a very firm, “No.” And then he spends several minutes chastising Daisy for the interruption, threatening her with contempt of court.
Lucille proceeds to make me look like the worst person in the history of people. Motorcycles, tattoos, loud music, raging parties, and, of course, that “eyesore of a mansion on Mountain Avenue.” She moves on to Daisy after that. And I’m not very worried about it—I mean… it’s Daisy. But then Lucille is just making shit up. Seven or eight fake examples of how Daisy is an unfit mother. Except she points to a group of people in the back of the courtroom who will testify if necessary that, yes, indeed, they have all personally witnessed Daisy Lundin being a horrible mother.
Finally, she ends her testimony with the declaration, “Vivian Lundin is in imminent danger if she is not removed from the custody of her mother and prevented from ever seeing her vicious father again.”
Our next-door neighbor is called up next. He hates us. So of course he says every horrible thing about me.
Then several unsatisfied Sick Boyz customers make an appearance. Three more ex-girlfriends take the stand. And the whole ‘Vic Vaughn is vicious’ campaign is rounded out with my face on a magazine cover with that exact headline splashed across the front.
The prosecutor slaps it down on the table and declares his case made.
“I don’t think this is going well,” Daisy mutters.
“Just relax,” Alec soothes her. “We haven’t had our say yet.”
“Mr. Steele?” the judge says.
Alec stands up. “Yes, your honor. I’m ready.”
“Sit down, Mr. Steele. I would like to hear from Mr. Vaughn first. Would you care to take the stand?”
I know everything about this is wrong. I also know I should not take the stand. I should object to pretty much everything that has just happened, but that feels a lot like cowering.
And after that Lucille Lancaster shitshow, I feel the need to set the record straight.
So I say, “Fuck yeah, I would.”
And this does not earn me points. But who cares at this point? These people are out to fuck me over. This is all about Lucille and her new man, the mayor, I just know it. So if I’m going down, number one, I’m taking people with me. And number two, I’m gonna save Daisy and Vivian while I’m at it.
I’m still cuffed. Which is unfortunate optics as I make my way up to the testimony chair and do the little ‘whole truth’ thing. But I just pretend like I don’t care.
The prosecutor starts in immediately, peppering me with question after question. “How is it that you mistook Vivian Lundin for your niece?”
This is an easy one, thanks to Ronnie. I point at her kids. “Do you see them? If Vivian Lundin was sitting in this courtroom between those girls, you would not recognize her either.”
And that’s when Ronnie winks at me. Because Vivian is sitting in this courtroom. Right between the Little Mermaid and Snow White. I don’t even think Daisy knows she’s here because they are sitting behind her.
I don’t say anything. Just let the prosecutor rant on and on about how I am not only a bad father, but a bad uncle as well.
I expect him to keep going about that day, and maybe that was gonna be his next question, but then the judge interrupts. “I have a question for you,” he says.
I wait for it.
“What are you doing up there in the mountains?”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“This is family court. That’s another charge.”
“Are you refusing to answer?”
“Yes. For many reasons.”
“Care to explain? And let me caution you here,” he says. “If you refuse, I will be forced to consider your refusal to cooperate when I make my decision about where Vivian will be sleeping tonight.”
I think that was a threat. “Is that a threat?”
“Is that a refusal?”
“OK.” I nod. “Fine. Ask me that question again and I’ll give you my answer.”
“What are you doing up in the mountains, Mr. Vaughn?”
“I’m afraid you’re not authorized to know that information.”
“What?”
“It’s a matter of national security.”
“Are you messing with me, Mr. Vaughn?”
“Oh, no, sir. I’m dead fucking serious. This is need-to-know information. And I’m afraid it’s above your pay grade.”
And just as I say that two things happen at once.
The doors bang open and a team of uniformed men walk in, line up on either side of the aisle, and then salute as a general strides past them and approaches the bench.
And someone’s phone rings and then Lucille’s very loud voice says, “What do you mean they’re outside?”
The judge bangs his gavel and yells for order.
But the general is having none of it. He barks, “What the actual fuck are you doing, Castian?”
“What?” the judge says.
“I asked you a question, Judge. What the actual fuck do you think you’re doing with my asset in your courtroom without my permission?”