Chapter 8 - The Shell Game Unravels
Richard Vance swallowed hard, trying to regain his footing.
His high-priced attorney, Leonard Cole, stepped between Richard and the Governor.
“Governor Carter, with all due respect, whatever high school dispute occurred here is a civil matter,” Cole stated.
“Assault allegations among minors belong in family court, not an executive intervention.”
Governor Carter didn't even glance at the lawyer.
She snapped her fingers.
An agent handed her a heavy manila folder bound by yellow evidence tape.
Eleanor opened it, pulling out a stack of bank ledger sheets and signed deed transfers.
“Let’s talk about family court, Mr. Cole,” Eleanor said, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp clinical cadence.
“Three months ago, Vanguard Land Group transferred 4.2 million dollars into an offshore entity named ‘Crestview Educational Initiatives.’”
“Two weeks later, Harold Thorne signed over forty acres of protected state woodland behind Oakridge Academy to Vanguard for one dollar.”
“One single dollar.”
The entire cafeteria—every teacher, every student, every coach—gasped in unison.
Harold Thorne looked like he was about to vomit on his leather shoes.
“And when Emily discovered the forged signatures on the school’s municipal zoning map in her honors urban planning class,” Eleanor continued,
“Harold didn’t expel her because he couldn't find a legal reason.”
“Instead, he instructed your daughter, Richard, to make Emily’s life unlivable so she would drop out.”
Brianna looked up at her father, horror dawning in her eyes.
“Dad... you told me she was trying to steal my spot at Harvard...” Brianna whimpered.
“You told me she was a cheater who needed to be put in her place!”
Richard’s eyes darted frantically around the room, finding only the silent, stony glares of his own peers.
The elite parents who served on the board had gathered at the back of the cafeteria.
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They weren't stepping forward to defend him.
They were taking out their phones, calling their brokers, and dumping Vanguard stock before the market closed.
