“Attorney Vance,” Judge Alvarez added, pointing his pen at the defense podium.

“You are relieved as counsel of record in this court, and I’m issuing an immediate referral to the state bar disciplinary board to investigate attempted bribery.”

The bailiffs stepped behind Chloe and pulled her hands firmly behind her back as the metal cuffs clicked shut around her wrists.

Brenda backed away from the table, screaming obscenities until a second officer caught her arms and locked the steel cuffs around her wrists inside Courtroom 3B.

Two bailiffs led Brenda and Chloe out through the heavy oak doors toward the holding cells downstairs.