Zero's Law: Lord Of The Karma System

Chapter 1: Objection, Your Honour

The air inside the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada was thick with tension. The trial had already made headlines across Las Vegas... a notorious hotels and nightclub owner accused of sexual assault, intimidation, and violence.

At the prosecution’s table, Attorney Zero Lindsey rose. He adjusted his tie, and faced the jury.

"My client...," he said, gesturing toward a weary woman in her fifties, "...is here on behalf of her daughter, Cara Floyd. Cara worked at the defendant’s club, Vibe Lounge. Today, she lies in a hospital bed after being molested and beaten... by her boss, Marcus Fisher, and the men he entertained".

All eyes shifted to Marcus Fisher, who sat calmly at the defense table in an immaculate navy suit. His expression was unreadable. He was flanked by his defense team. His lead attorney, Veronica Haynes, made a note on her pad but otherwise showed no reaction.

Zero lifted a hand toward the jurors. "You will hear testimony from women who dared to speak against him. You will see evidence, messages, and photographs. And when you do, I believe you will arrive at the only reasonable conclusion... guilt."

He let the silence linger, then gave a curt nod and returned to his seat.

"Thank you, Mr. Lindsey," the judge said. "Defense?"

Veronica rose with poise and walked to the center of the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen," she began smoothly, "in an age where headlines spread faster than facts, accusations alone can ruin a man. I ask you to look past the noise and to rely on facts, not sympathy. The truth here is not what the prosecution claims... it is far more complex."

The judge nodded. "Prosecution, call your first witness."

Zero rose. "The State calls Amber Ruiz to the stand."

A young woman with tired eyes stepped forward. She looked no older than twenty-five. After swearing in, she settled into the witness chair, gaze fixed on the floor.

Zero approached with care. "Miss Ruiz, how long did you work at Vibe Lounge?"

"Eighteen months," she whispered.

"And your position?"

"Bartender. I… started part-time, then full-time."

"During that time, did you have personal contact with Mr. Fisher?"

"Yes. He was my boss."

The courtroom stilled. Zero’s tone hardened. "Miss Ruiz, can you describe what happened on the night of September 14th?"

Amber hesitated. "After closing, he… came into the back office, to talk about my future performance.

"And then?"

"He… gave me some pointers about my work. That was it."

Zero blinked. "That was it?"

She nodded, hands twisting in her lap.

That wasn’t the story she’d given him. "Miss Ruiz," he said carefully, "Isn’t it true that Marcus Fisher touched you against your will and threatened you to keep silent?"

Her hands gripped the armrests. "No. He did not."

Zero leaned forward. "But yesterday, you told me..."

"Objection, Your Honour!" Veronica shot up. "Counsel is impeaching his own witness without proper foundation."

"Sustained," the judge said firmly. "Mr. Lindsey, move on."

Zero clenched his jaw. "No further questions."

Veronica declined to cross, and Amber was dismissed.

Zero stood straighter, forcing composure. "The State calls Tara Mendez."

A tall woman in her thirties strode forward. She was poised, but her hands trembled as she took the oath.

"Ms. Mendez," Zero began, "state your occupation."

"I am a dancer. I worked at Vibe Lounge for three years."

"Did you interact directly with Mr. Fisher?"

"Yes."

"Did he ever ask you to remain after hours?"

She hesitated. "Yes. In the VIP suite."

Zero’s voice lowered. "What happened in the VIP suite?"

"Guests paid for private entertainment. I earned bonuses. That was all."

Zero’s voice dropped. "Was that truly all, Ms. Mendez?"

Her gaze flicked to Marcus, then back. "Yes."

"Ms. Mendez..." he stepped closer "...are you being threatened? This court can protect you."

Her eyes darted to Marcus. Her breath hitched. Then she steadied herself. "No. I’m not threatened."

"You can tell this court the truth."

"I already have."

Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled on the rail.

Zero’s chest tightened. "No further questions."

Again, the defense declined to cross, and Tara was dismissed.

Zero turned back to the jury, his voice trembling with frustration. "These women came to me with courage. They gave detailed statements. But when faced with the man who hurt them, their voices faltered. Ask yourselves why. Ask yourselves what would make someone reverse testimony overnight."

The gallery stirred.

"Mr. Lindsey," Veronica said coldly, rising, "are you accusing my client of intimidation without evidence?"

"Your client intimidated those women into changing their statements. I know it, and you damn well also know it." Zero fired back.

Veronica turned to the judge. "Your Honour, the prosecution is speculating wildly."

"Mr. Lindsey," the judge warned, "confine yourself to the evidence."

Zero gave a humorless laugh. "Then let’s go to the evidence." He reached into his file box and lifted a flash drive. "This flash drive contains the original statements these women gave me. Recorded... word for word. I submit it for the record."

Veronica shot up. "Objection! Those recordings were made without consent. They are inadmissible under Nevada law."

The judge frowned. "Mr. Lindsey, did you obtain those recordings lawfully?"

Zero hesitated. "…No, Your Honour. But..."

"Then they will not be admitted."

Zero’s chest tightened. He wasn’t ready to let go. "At minimum, I ask the court to review Exhibit 22. Photographic evidence of Cara Floyd’s condition after the assault. Enlarged for clarity."

The judge leaned forward, weighing. Then, with a sigh, he said... "Alright, let's have it."

Zero brought out a big envelope from his file box, and submitted it to the bailiff for examination. The bailiff unsealed the evidence envelope and held up the enlarged photos.

The room gasped.

It was not photos of a battered young woman.

It was pornography. Graphic. A woman on her knees, lips wrapped around a man’s arousal, his hand gripping her hair.

Zero’s blood ran cold. He didn’t recognize the man’s face, but the woman... her features, her hair, the curve of her jaw... he knew them as intimately as his own reflection.

It was his wife.

The bailiff carried the three enlarged photographs to the judge, then to the jury. They looked at them, before passing them back to the bailiff.

All this while, Zero just stood in shock. The courtroom erupted in noise, as 'ahhs', 'ohs', and questions were being thrown.

The judge’s gavel cracked. "Order in the court!"

Zero couldn’t breathe. He grabbed the exhibit from the bailiff, staring at it, then back at Marcus Fisher... who leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

"What the hell is this?!" Zero yelled.

"Mr. Lindsey," the judge barked, "control yourself..."

"You planted this!" Zero roared, lunging toward the defense table. Security restrained him before he could reach Marcus.

"One more outburst and I will hold you in contempt," the judge snapped.

Marcus adjusted his cufflinks, his smirk deepening.

Even Veronica looked stunned... this, she had not planned.

The judge shook his head. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, due to the collapse of the State’s case, the exclusion of its evidence, and prosecutorial misconduct in open court... this matter cannot proceed. The defendant is..."

The gavel slammed. "... acquitted."

The room exploded in noise.

Zero stood frozen, the word echoing in his mind.

'Acquitted'.

Security finally loosened their grip on him. His wrists burned where they had held him back.

Marcus Fisher rose slowly from the defense table, smoothing the front of his immaculate navy suit. He didn’t rush, and didn't gloat.

He smiled victoriously, and exchanged a brief word with his attorney. Then, instead of heading straight for the exit, he changed direction and walked toward Zero.

Not close enough to cause a scene. Just close enough that no microphone could catch what he said.

"You are a very talented attorney, Mr. Lindsey," Marcus murmured, adjusting his cufflink. "Very Passionate and persistent... But you should have checked your exhibits more carefully."

Zero’s fists trembled.

Marcus’s eyes flicked to the photographs still clutched in Zero’s trembling hand. And a faint smile appeared on his face.

"I am sure that you have a lot of questions for your wife..." he continued softly. "But those questions will have to wait till tomorrow, because I plan on keeping her busy tonight."

Zero’s jaw tightened. "This is an act of provocation. And according to the law..."

"Provocation? No, I am just telling you what will happen. You can come to the The Silver Crown, penthouse suite by eight pm to confirm it yourself."

Zero’s blood froze.

Marcus stepped back before security could react, his face transforming into a polite, camera ready smile.

Then he exited the courtroom, as his able bodyguards shielded him from the reporters who swarmed him to take pictures and ask questions.