Judge Ferdinand Pitt never expected to see his estranged father in his courtroom—especially not in handcuffs, accused of murder. But when the victim turns out to be his son’s volatile boss, the case takes a devastating turn. As evidence shifts suspicion from father to son, Ferd is forced to investigate the crime himself, risking his career and violating every ethical boundary he’s sworn to uphold. With his rival attorney circling, his marriage unraveling, and his mother’s health failing, Ferd must navigate a maze of lies, secrets, and buried resentments to uncover the truth. But in a family fractured by abandonment and silence, justice may come at the cost of everything he has left. Beneath the Gavel is a gripping mystery about loyalty, legacy, and the impossible choices we make when the law hits home.