CHAPTER 500: WHAT A FAMILY! (1)

If anyone had thought that James Wendover’s trail was the fastest, Chief Leon proved them wrong with how fast the Mush family went to the same this time.

It took mere days for Brianna’s case to be rounded up, and to be sent to the court. In her case, the evidence and case files were well prepared and were just waiting for her presence.

Obviously, witnesses were re-interviewed and material evidence was re-affirmed.

To Leon’s puzzlement, Brianna did not throw a tantrum nor even ask for her parents even once. The girl’s reputation well exceeded her. Almost every relevant person in the right circles knew of Brianna, but this hollow person in front of them did not align with the image of the case that had been created.

Newspaper reports of Brainna’s trial were similar and all went along the lines of:

"In a twist that has left an entire island reeling, Brianna Mush, the only daughter of the Mush Wineries and Export businesses and also once hailed as one of the tragic survivors of a famous island raid that was notably known for kidnapping and drugs, has now been unmasked as one of the hidden forces behind its operations.

She can be referred to as the Princess of Don Vino, but that is not the most surprising aspect of all of this. One may think that she is just the daughter and had no hand in the dealings that went on, but if you are one of those thinking such, you might need to take a step back, because there is more to this Wine & Drugs princess than meets the eye.

Just months ago, Brianna, 23, was declared missing by her parents and a large effort and search was launched on her behalf, but she seemed to have disappeared off the island... and unsurprisingly, that is what had happened, though no one, including her parents thought to look off the island... the irony of this will not be lost to the reader, I believe.

This young woman, who had been raised with a platinum spoon in her mouth, had somehow been trafficked off our island into a drug ring, which recent reports is telling us was owned by her mother. She was maltreated in ways that will never be comprehensible, given the records from the police.

This should have led us to the point of tears and a path to justice on her behalf. To further jog your memory, she was the same young woman who had emerged in tattered clothes and marks of shackled wrists, rescued during our police’s daring raid that exposed one of the largest cannabis production and human trafficking networks in our scattered islands.

Images of her frail figure- sunken eyes, scarred back, and trembling hands - became the symbol of survival and injustice. She was the face of the voiceless.... But only for a few hours before buckets of cold water was dumped on us.

Our capable investigators let us know that she was a person of interest, and not in a good way. The evidence released to the media as the investigation deepened was chilling.

According to some classified data from our police, backed by forensic financial trails, intercepted communications, and embedded whistleblowers, all pointed to one stunning conclusion:

’Brianna Mush was a terrifying person who her parents were grooming to inherit their second business. She was as ruthless as the word itself.

Her rap sheet is as extensive as that of any other street thug, if not more so. To give you a peek for a upcoming trail:

She allegedly placed a hit on one of her friends....

Authorities still have no idea how she ended up being trafficked or why her parents did not realize that she was on their main establishment. It was as if she were hidden in plain sight!"

"She was weaponized," one of the investigators noted.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Maybe against her parents? Some clients or partners maybe? You never know with these drug Lords."

"The scars are real, though."

"Of course they would be! Are you stupid or something?!"

"Hey!"

"Knock it off, you two!"

Evans snapped, glaring at the two who were to escort Brianna to her trial.

He looked at the gaunt, pale girl, feeling no pity of any sort. No one felt that way after reading Brianna’s file. She had a vile mind!

Records even showed that she had led one drug-related transaction successfully for her family before she had disappeared off the face of the island. This was one part of the investigation that they had not been able to unravel.

When asked how she had gotten to that island, Brainna would recoil as if the question itself had teeth that was attacking her.

Obviously, none of them knew that Ian’s hand was in. So, for the detectives, this was puzzling. They all knew that it would take someone with more power to pull this off, but they could not think of anyone with enough guts to do this against Don Vino, unless they did not know that Abi Mush carried that identity.

The detectives would watch on as Brianna’s eyes stretched unnaturally wide, unfocused, seeing something no one else could. A tremor would overtake her limbs, not the shiver of fear, but the violent quake of a body trying to reject a memory too monstrous to contain.

"Who could have done this?" They asked themselves, but among all, only Evans and Leon had a hunch.

Knowing the history behind Brianna’s main charge of attempted murder of her friend Shelby Thornston, the two detectives could think of no other person who had the capabilities to enact such a cruel retaliation. But they were now camp Ian and had no intention of pursuing such an investigation line. Besides, there was no evidence, so why would they even try?

Brianna would continue and gasp like someone drowning on dry land, her skin paling to a sickly grey as sweat broke across her forehead. Her mouth moved, but only disjointed fragments came out—nonsense words, half-cries, syllables that cracked mid-sound.

It was clear something had been carved into her mind, a lesson so hard-wired that she would never forget. It was like something so horrific it had fused with her very flesh. The police tried to reach her, but it was like trying to reason with someone already buried alive. No details ever came—just the look of someone who had seen something that should not exist.

... and these reactions happened without fail when three entities were mentioned, just that some of the police force did not make the connection. When the questions were being asked, there was also a brief flash of news on Ian and Shelby.

After reviewing her case, no one felt sympathetic for the young woman who was broken both physically and emotionally.

As her very short trial went on, the other case also came to a close – the case of people disappearing off the island. As her very short trial went on, the other case also came to a close—the case of people disappearing off the island.

Over the course of two days, the detective had managed to account for every single person reported missing.

Families who had given up hope as they had waited for answers that never came, now jubilated openly. Though the rescued were forever scared, the good thing was that they were safe.

A comprehensive transition-back-to-society plan was drawn up for them with a team of psychologists to help with this.

There was a lot of cheer for Leon and his new task force, but his old chief was not faring any better. He was re-examining all of his life’s choices, though late.

In the courtroom, Brainna sat hunched and silent, eyes never lifting from the floor. It was as if she were trying to fold herself into nothingness, to escape the pull of something still lingering just beyond the veil.

And even after the gavel fell and the trial ended, no one felt any sympathy for her. No one but one, in the crowd, sat, Marvin, looking on at the girl he had thought was vulnerable. To say that her identity had not shocked him would be an understatement, but it was her criminal record that jolted him the most.

Still, Marvin, still considered this girl, his friend.

Brianna raised her eyes to the crowd, meeting Marvin’s eyes. He smiled at her, but it was as if Brianna was only in the courtroom in body, but her mind and spirit were far away. ...and they were indeed. She was reminiscing on some of her mother’s words,

"Never run from power, darling. Walk toward it. Take what’s yours before someone else does."

Abi’s voice, cold, certain and unshakable, told the young her.

That advice, among others, had shaped her whole life. It had sounded like strength when she first heard it. A kind of survival. Her mother had survived many things, betrayals, blood-stained whispers in the night, and she had taught her only daughter to do the same.

More flowed into her mind: ’As a future CEO, you are above everyone! You should take what you want!’

Was that good advice? Brianna had thought it the best advice some time back, but hearing the judge say, "...life imprisonment ....", she closed her eyes and two wet lines flowed down her cheeks, shocking all those who really knew this spoilt brat.

"Some upbringing she received!" Someone shouted from the crowd.

"What a messed-up family!"

___

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