Hummingbird
Copyright© 2026 by Krista*
Chapter 2
Red Bluff & Sacramento, California. 16 years later.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?”
“We have, Your Honor.”
Ysabella sat and watched the bailiff take the papers from the woman heading the jury, and bring them over to the presiding judge. This was, easily, the biggest case of her legal career. A case that could define her entire future.
The years between the day she had shown up at Magdalena and now had been a journey of laughter, tears, self-discovery and choices. Upon graduation, she had enrolled in Sacramento State, with a legal career in mind. “I was almost sold into slavery. What better way to help people, but through the Law?” After finishing at Sacramento State, she stayed in the city and studied at McGeorge School of Law, graduating in the top 10% of her class. Tests that included the LSAT and BAR were passed and when Ysabella made her availability known, she was quickly picked up by a firm that had several offices throughout the state.
At first, the work she was asked to do was mostly to review legal documentations for things like corporate or personal estates. An LLC or two, and the really amusing pre-nuptual agreement. Eventually, she was working on small cases that required minimal attorney oversight. But the managing partners in the firm quickly saw that she was determined to make sure all the details had been scrutinized and results perfect. The briefs she had a hand in, all came back positive.
It was on a drizzly March morning that she received an email for a meeting that afternoon. She would be meeting in a conference room with several senior members of the firm. There was nothing in the body of the email about the reason for the meeting. Upon entering the room, she saw three people seated at the conference table. Hazel Turner, a Senior VP, Joseph Zimmerman, Senior Manager, and her immediate supervisor, Howard Arden.
“Good afternoon, everyone. You wanted to see me?”
Greetings were exchanged and Arden continued. “One of our partner offices recently began working on a case that is going to be big. Not just ‘big’ as involving settlements, but as in possible statewide, or even nationwide consequences.” Quiet faces looked at Ysabella.
“That sounds quite interesting, sir. But I don’t understand why I’m here with you today.”
Arden slid a folder across the table. “Please remember, Miss d’Santos, that we do extensive background checks on potential associates before a hiring offer is made.” She nodded. “Something in your files was remembered by someone working on this case.” Again, she nodded, unable to make any connections. “We believe that you would be an asset to the team up there, even as a consultant. We would pay a per diam for hotel and food. Take a few minutes in one of the vacant offices. Close the door for privacy. Review the information and tell us your thoughts.”
A few minutes later, she opened the folder. With each new page, her eyes widened in horror.
Anthony Palermo was not a nice man. His arrogance was legendary and his ruthless business tactics well known. If he wanted something, he got it. No matter what that something (or in a few situations, someONE) might be. Consequences be damned. And nobody stood in his way. If someone tried? They soon regretted it.
For nearly three decades he had built up a real estate development empire that catered to the powerful people in California who could pay millions of dollars for properties that were not just homes, but palatial estates. Properties that were several acres in size with multiple structures that included tremendous residences as well as vehicle and other storage facilities.
If his latest plan reached fruition, he would see his net worth top $14 billion. The property he was looking to take control of was perfect for new development and sales to the wealthy who were looking for a place to escape to, and play ‘gentleman rancher’ or the like. Looking out the window of his office in Milpitas, he decided that it wasn’t going to be difficult. He had the money, he had the connections. And he was certain that he could easily close that orphanage to reach his goals.
Red Bluff was, in his eyes, ripe for the pickings. Rural but close enough to major cities for conveniences. Right off the interstate, and had a history of ranches that would appeal to people who wanted to impress each other with the stories of the latest horse with the proper bloodlines that justified the costs. He figured that he would go in, offer the orphanage some cash and they would roll over.
That was not what happened.
Injunctions, hearings, environmental impact requirements and other delays caused him to grow more and more frustrated. The legal firm representing the orphanage was well prepared and had a way of thwarting every attempt he made to reach his goal. He had even quietly researched trying to start eminent domain procedures, but the state turned him down flat.
And the largest troublemaker in all of this was that damned lawyer. From what he was told, she had started as an adviser to the firm working against him, but soon became a lead on the case because of special circumstances he was not fully aware of.
He was pondering options on what to do about her.
In any other situation, he would have wanted to get to know her and perhaps spend time with her. At the age of 61, he was twice divorced and wasn’t going to endure a third marriage. But keeping a woman as a companion for a while until he grew tired of her was something he often did. Tall at 5’8” and slender, her long black hair cascaded past her shoulders with a dark complexion of a woman who was of mixed heritage. He had thoughts of what it might be like to take her to his bed and dominate her.
But right now, she was an adversary.
The intercom on his desk sounded. “Mr. Palermo, you asked me to remind you that court would be back in session this afternoon at 1:30 for closing arguments.”
He grunted acknowledgment and grabbed a briefcase to go meet his legal team.
“All rise! We are here once again concerning the case between Mystland Developers and The Brice Foundation, concerning the properties in Red Bluff, California, also known as the Magdalena School. The Honorable Judge Thomas Christopher presiding. Be seated.”
The judge looked over at the people in front of him. “Counsel, are you ready to proceed?”
“We are, Your Honor,” came the replies.
“Counsel for Mystland will speak first.”
With a smug smile, Anthony Palermo watched as his lead counsel stood and began to state all the positives that would come about once the development was approved and allowed to start. Taxes and other economic revenue would benefit the county. Higher property values would have a positive impact on the over all community and quality of life to the citizens in the area. Job creation would surge, not only due to construction, but because of surrounding areas being developed to support the new communities. It was, in his presentation, a ‘win-win’ for everyone involved.
As for the school at the center of the case? It was certain that some sort of accommodation could be made to relocate the students and faculty to another location where the land was not as valuable.
Counsel for Mystland finished and the judge ordered a 20 minute break.
Ysabella stood at the front of the room. When she first was added to the legal team for the case, she was welcomed because of her knowledge of Magdalena and the history of the school. The fact she had even attended was a bonus. Soon, counsel was asking for her input on a more and more frequent basis until one evening at her hotel room, she received a call from Howard Arden.
“Miss d’Santos, I have to tell you that I’m hearing exceptional things about you and your impact on this case. We are going to do something unusual and move you from the position of advisor to co-counsel.”
She was stunned and stammered her thanks. “I will do my very best, sir. Thank you.”
Now, the months of preparation were all wrapping up to this final argument. She knew in her soul that she simply HAD to convince the jury that Magdalena needed to stay open, or countless other students would suffer. Standing quietly for a moment, she gathered her thoughts.
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