Krasnov frowned. He had not been told about any letter. Gleb stiffened. Regina stopped smiling. A hush settled over the courtroom. The judge took the envelope and opened it carefully.
She began to read. The silence in the room grew so thick it felt almost physical. I watched her face change: professional interest, then surprise, then something very close to admiration.
When she reached the end, she took off her glasses, looked around the room, and laughed. Not a polite little chuckle. A real laugh, warm and unguarded. “This,” she said, wiping her eyes, “is the best thing I’ve read in twenty years on the bench.”
“A useful reminder not to underestimate quiet housewives.” Gleb shot to his feet, losing his polish in an instant. “What is it? What’s in that damn letter?” he demanded.
The judge cleared her throat, put her glasses back on, and began to read aloud. “Letter from Zoe Andreevna Severtseva. I quote: ‘Your Honor, for the past two months I have been an official cooperating witness with the state investigative division. Attached is a certified copy of my cooperation agreement with prosecutors.’”
“‘My husband, Gleb Igorevich Severtsev, is under investigation for laundering funds obtained through illegal activity via Severtsev Development and affiliated entities. The total amount of laundered funds exceeds five million dollars.’” The air in the room seemed to vanish.
“That’s impossible,” Gleb snapped, his voice cracking. “She doesn’t understand anything about business—you just heard that yourselves!” “Continuing,” the judge said calmly, and I could tell she was enjoying every second.
“‘Investigators have established that G.I. Severtsev systematically received large cash payments from a criminal network tied to illegal extraction operations and black-market trade. These funds were laundered through a complex series of real estate transactions. Investigators have also uncovered evidence that he stole from his own criminal partners.’”
“‘Those stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including expensive gifts for his mistress, Regina Viktorovna Dorokhova.’” Regina went white. Her hand flew to the necklace at her throat. “Further,” the judge continued, with unmistakable satisfaction, “the letter states”…
