Chapter 7 - The Interrogation of Society
The word murder hung in the smoke-filled air of the Greenwich Yacht Club like a poison cloud.
William Vance let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh, though the color had completely drained from his face.
"Attempted murder?!" William yelled, pointing a trembling finger at Director Reid. "You are insane! We haven't touched anyone! We have been at this club for three hours planning my daughter's wedding!"
"Your eldest daughter, Captain Maya Vance," Director Reid said smoothly, stepping into his personal space until her eyes were inches from his, "is a decorated federal operator who holds a Level-Eight Top Secret security clearance. Three hours ago, she arrived at Greenwich Community Hospital suffering from massive internal hemorrhage."
Director Reid pulled the yellow refusal form from her pocket and held it up in front of William’s face.
"You signed a refusal of emergency medical care while her heart rate was failing," Reid said, her tone dripping with venom. "You cited 'financial constraints' and 'wedding disruption' as your legal justification for leaving a federal asset to bleed to death on a hospital gurney."
The Mayor of Greenwich, who was slowly standing up from under his table, looked at William with wide, horrified eyes. "William... is this true? You left Maya in the ER?"
"She was faking it!" Jessica screamed from behind the table, her voice hysterical, her styled hair sticking to her wet forehead. "She was lying! She always does this! She dropped my crystal vases on purpose!"
Director Reid turned her head slowly, her gaze locking onto Jessica.
"Captain Vance was suffering from a split abdominal incision sustained during a covert operation three weeks ago in Eastern Europe," Reid said, her voice echoing off the timber walls. "An operation for which she was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. She was carrying sixty pounds of your wedding boxes up three flights of stairs because you ordered her to do so."
Director Reid stepped closer to Jessica.
"And when she collapsed, you told the triage nurse she was having a panic attack, explicitly instructing the medical staff to withhold care so it wouldn't disrupt your dress fitting."
The bridesmaids who were cowering under the neighboring tables turned to look at Jessica with unadulterated disgust. One of them pulled her hand away from Jessica’s robe as if touching fire.
"That's... that's not a crime!" Jessica stammered, backing away until her lower back struck the mahogany serving cart. "She's my sister! It's a family matter!"
"Captain Vance belongs to the United States Government," Director Reid countered coldly. "Under Title 18, Section 1114 of the United States Code, attempting to deny life-saving medical care to an active federal intelligence officer constitutes an act of high treason and attempted murder of a federal agent."
Director Reid raised her hand.
"Take them."
Four tactical operators stepped forward. They grabbed William Vance by his elbows, forced his arms behind his back, and clicked heavy steel handcuffs over his wrists.
"Get your hands off me!" William roared, struggling against the operators. "I have contacts in the Department of Justice! I will have your job by midnight!"
"Your contacts in the Department of Justice are currently being served with federal search warrants, Mr. Vance," one of the federal prosecutors said calmly, opening a briefcase. "As of twenty minutes ago, all personal and corporate assets associated with Vance Global Capital have been frozen under the Patriot Act."
"No!" Barbara shrieked as two operators pulled her cashmere cardigan down and cuffed her wrists behind her back. "My daughter’s wedding is tomorrow! You can't do this! Do you know how much money we spent on the marquee?!"
"The marquee is being impounded as evidence of a crime scene," Director Reid said flatly.
Jessica began to sob hysterically as an operator stepped up to her, pulling her silk-clad arms behind her back. "Julian! Julian, help me! Tell them to stop!"
Julian Pemberton, sitting under the head table, slowly took off his diamond engagement ring, set it on the cloth, and pulled his phone out to call his family lawyer—without looking at Jessica once.
May you like
"Take them to the transport," Director Reid commanded.
As the three members of the Vance family were dragged out through the shattered glass doors of the Yacht Club toward the idling Chinook helicopters, the seventy elite guests of Greenwich high society sat in complete, stunned silence, watching the family’s pristine public image burn to the ground in real time.
