Chapter 19 - THE SAFE DEPOSIT VAULT
Victoria’s lead attorney attempted to grab her arm to pull her toward the exit, but the heavy double doors flew open again.
Detective Reyes walked in, followed by two armed state troopers.
"Victoria Vance-Holloway," Reyes announced, his voice carrying the absolute weight of the law. "Pursuant to a warrant issued by the Supreme Court of this state, you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, corporate fraud, and witness tampering."
Victoria stood frozen, her eyes darting toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, as if looking for an escape fifty floors above the street. When the troopers approached and placed the cold steel handcuffs around her manicured wrists, she didn't look at them. She looked at me.
"You think you’ve won, Meredith?" Victoria hissed as they dragged her toward the door. "You think locking me up changes what this family is? Lydia will rot in prison, but she will never stop hating you. And you will spend the rest of your pathetic life looking at that scar in the mirror, knowing you tore down your own blood to save a patch of worthless dirt!"
"I didn't tear down my family, Victoria," I said quietly, watching her retreat down the hallway. "You tore it down fifteen years ago. I'm just clearing away the ashes."
When the doors clicked shut, the room remained dead silent. Judge Miller slowly stood up, looking at the assembled trustees.
"The chair recognizes the emergency motion," Miller said, his hands visibly shaking as he lifted the gavel. "Under Section Twelve, Victoria Vance-Holloway’s proxy shares are nullified. Meredith Vance-Voss is declared the sole surviving executor of the Vance estate."
He brought the silver gavel down with a sharp, definitive crack.
Julian exhaled a long breath beside me, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "It’s over, Meredith. The injunction is dead. The conservation easement stands permanently."
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"Not quite over," Naomi said, looking at a secure text notification that had just popped up on her phone. "Reyes just found a second safety deposit box listed under Victoria’s maiden name at the downtown central repository. The court order authorizes an immediate opening. He wants us there."
***