Chapter 19: The Tape
228 words
The intern's confession cracked the foundation of Thorne's defense, but Kendra wasn't done demolition. She wanted the rubble pulverized.
"Your Honor," Kendra said, ignoring the chaos erupting at the defense table. "Mr. Evans also provided a digital file from his phone. Entered into evidence as Exhibit G."
The courtroom monitors flickered to life. The video was grainy, shaky, filmed surreptitiously from a pocket. It showed an operating room. Elena lay unconscious on the table, her face open and bleeding.
Thorne stepped into the frame holding a tumbler of amber liquid. Scotch.
On screen, Thorne poked Elena’sexposed cheek with ungloved fingers. "Look at this," the digital Thorne sneered, slurring his words. "She thinks forty grand will make her twenty again. Pathetic cow. Stitch it tight, Ty. Let's see how well she ages with tension lines."
A collective gasp sucked the oxygen out of the room. The jury looked sick. One juror turned away, unable to watch the callousness.
Thorne’s face turned a violent shade of purple.
"That is a lie!" Thorne shot out of his chair, knocking it backward with a deafening clatter. He pointed wildly at the screens. "That is AI! That is a deepfake! I am a God of aesthetics, I would never—"
"Sit down, Dr. Thorne!" the bailiff shouted, moving to restrain him.
Thorne was unraveling, his narcissistic mask dissolving into pure, unadulterated rage.
End of Chapter 19
