Chapter 4 - The Judge’s Revelation
The courtroom went dead, absolute silent. You could hear the faint hum of the overhead ventilation system and the distant ticking of the wall clock.
My father cleared his throat nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Your Honor, I’m not sure what files the court has, but our financial receipts and tax affidavits clearly prove—"
"Mr. Carter, be quiet," Judge Simmons interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through the room like a razor blade. "I am not looking at your tax receipts right now. I am looking at the original deed registration and the primary ironclad covenant filed directly with the county recorder’s office back in November 2011."
Judge Simmons pulled out a heavy, yellowed piece of parchment bearing my grandfather’s shaky, distinctive handwriting and a formal notary stamp.
"According to this official deed addendum," Judge Simmons continued, reading aloud as he scanned the legal text, "the late Arthur James Carter explicitly stipulated that the homestead property was deeded directly and unconditionally to his granddaughter, Evelyn Carter, upon her eighteenth birthday. Furthermore, paragraph four states that any attempt by Robert or Margaret Carter to interfere with, claim, or encumber said property shall immediately render any financial reimbursement claims null and void."
Mom let out a sharp gasp, her face instantly turning chalk white.
"And that isn't even the most interesting part of this case file," Judge Simmons added, his eyes narrowing as he looked straight at my pale, sweating father. "Mr. Carter, in your signed affidavit submitted under penalty of perjury to this court last month, you swore under oath that you have personally paid every single property tax bill on this parcel since 2013."
"Y-yes, Your Honor, that is correct," Dad stammered, his confident courtroom posture completely crumbling as his voice hitched.
"That is fascinating," Judge Simmons said smoothly, sliding a second set of printed documents across his desk toward his clerk. "Because the Portsmouth County Treasurer's office submitted a direct electronic audit to my chambers yesterday morning. Every single online tax payment made on parcel 104 for the past twelve years—down to the exact penny—was processed through an automated routing number originating from a military credit union account belonging exclusively to Commander Evelyn Carter."
The moment my father heard those words, every single trace of color vanished entirely from his face. He looked like he had just been struck by lightning.
Mom grabbed onto his sleeve, her eyes wide with mounting panic. "Robert... what is he talking about?" she hissed in a frantic whisper that carried across the silent room.
Judge Simmons didn't stop there. He leaned forward over the wooden bench, resting his forearms on the surface, his gaze fixed like a hawk on my cowering parents.
"Not only did your daughter never abandon the property," Judge Simmons continued, his voice dripping with controlled fury, "but according to the certified bank statements attached to her defense filing, she has been quietly sending automated funds to cover the maintenance, while you, Mr. Carter, haven't paid a single dime in property taxes in over a decade. In fact, you attempted to initiate a fraudulent adverse possession claim to steal her land behind her back."
Dad opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His lips parted, his tongue darted out to wet his dry lips, and he looked desperately around the courtroom as if he expected someone to rescue him from the nightmare he had built.
The gallery behind us began to murmur. A local reporter sitting in the back row furiously scribbled notes onto a yellow legal pad.
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Judge Simmons slowly closed the manila folder, resting his hands flat on the desk.
"Mr. and Mrs. Carter," the judge said coldly, "you brought a frivolous, fraudulent lawsuit into my court, lied under oath in a signed affidavit, and tried to defraud a decorated military veteran who was serving her country overseas. Case 4238B is hereby dismissed with extreme prejudice. Furthermore, I am forwarding these transcripts directly to the district attorney’s office to evaluate charges of perjury and attempted property fraud."
