Chapter 15 - The Mask Shatters
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"This is an outrage!" Senator Arthur Morrow roared, his political instincts kicking in wildly as he shoved his way onto the dais, pointing a trembling finger at Dominic and Marin. "Dominic, have you lost your mind?! That audio can be synthesized by any computer programmer in ten minutes! This nurse has clearly poisoned your mind to extort my daughter and sabotage our family merger!"
"Wait before you perjure yourself in front of four federal judges, Senator," Dominic said calmly, releasing Vivien’s wrist so she stumbled backward against the floral arch.
Dominic tapped a remote control on the lectern. Behind the dais, two massive velvet tapestries parted automatically, revealing a twenty-foot high-definition projection screen normally used for shareholder briefings.
Split across the massive screen were four crystal-clear documents:
First, the high-definition security footage from St. Francis Academy showing Nolan Pike’s silver sedan stalking nine-year-old Eli Hayes at the side gate.
Second, the Delaware bank wire receipt showing ten thousand dollars transferred from Crestline Harbor Holdings to Nolan Pike—co-signed by an encrypted authorization code belonging to Vivien Morrow’s private trust.
Third, Dr. Julian Mercer’s certified toxicology report detailing the lethal veterinary glycoside recovered from the teacup and crushed ampoule in Isabella’s bedroom wastebasket.
And fourth, the live video and audio transcript captured twenty minutes ago in the conservatory dressing room, where Vivien stood on camera in her silver Valentino gown threatening to send her operative back to Eli’s bus stop on Monday morning.
Near the marble pillar at the back of the ballroom, Julian Cross didn't wait to see the fifth slide. The New York syndicate boss quietly set his champagne flute onto a passing waiter’s tray and turned briskly toward the main foyer doors.
"Going somewhere, Mr. Cross?" a voice called out from the entryway.
The heavy oak double doors of the ballroom swung inward. Standing in the foyer were eight uniformed troopers from the Rhode Island State Police alongside Detective Lieutenant Reeves and two Deputy United States Marshals. Two troopers immediately stepped in front of Julian Cross, blocking his exit.
On the dais, Vivien looked from the troopers at the door to the toxicology chart glowing above her head. All pretense of the aristocratic debutante evaporated in an instant, replaced by venomous fury. She spun toward Marin, her fingernails clawed to rake across the caregiver’s face.
"You ruined everything, you pathetic little nobody!" Vivien screamed, lunging across the dais. "I’ll have your kid taken away! I’ll—"
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She never got within three feet of Marin. Dominic caught Vivien by both forearms mid-lunge, forcing her arms down to her sides while shielding Marin completely behind his broad shoulders.
"Touch her once," Dominic said, his voice so low and lethal that only Vivien heard it, "and the state police will be the least of your problems."
