Chapter 15 - The Door They Tried to Close
The full ballroom video spread after Maureen provided it to the investigators and cleared its public release with her own attorney. It showed Victoria raising her hand, me stopping the slap, and Isabella steadying her chair as it shifted.
People who had called me violent began quietly deleting their comments. Some apologized. Others claimed they had known the truth all along.
My catering agency offered me shifts again. I accepted one. Bills didn't stop arriving just because strangers changed their minds.
Vincent publicly acknowledged the foundation's failure to act on Dad's complaint. He announced an independent review of Harborline's contract, but he refused to declare the investigation finished before the evidence was examined.
"That's not a victory speech," Sophie told me.
"No," I said. "It's the beginning of one."
At the board office, Victoria's allies requested an emergency vote to remove Isabella as chair of the transportation committee. Their stated reason was concern about her judgment after the gala confrontation.
"She attacked the chairwoman and then called the victim confused," I said when Isabella told me.
Isabella gave me a tired smile. "Some people think getting old means they'll get to rewrite your story."
She opened her calendar. Friday's meeting would determine whether the nonprofit renewed Harborline's contract, suspended it, or appointed an outside operator.
"I can speak for myself," she said. "But I want you there to describe what you saw. Not what anyone paid you to say."
"I'll come," I promised.
The next morning the board secretary sent a list of witnesses. Near the bottom, under Harborline's representatives, was a name I recognized.
May you like
Curtis Vane.
The man who had been standing beside my father when the lift failed was planning to testify against him.
