Chapter 11 - THE MEDIA LEAK
By Monday morning,
the scandal had broken into the local Boston news cycle.
The headline on the front page of the Boston Herald read: *ACADEMIC SCANDAL AND EMBEZZLEMENT: STERLING ESTATE IMPLICATED IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FRAUD.
*
Below the bold headline was a pixelated version of the very photograph Victoria had sent me days earlier.
The story detailed Daniel’s arrest,
Victoria’s federal charges,
and the fraudulent charity scheme run through the family foundation.
Northeastern University issued an immediate press release suspending Daniel without pay pending an internal ethics investigation.
My phone began buzzing incessantly with notifications,
text messages,
and interview requests from financial journalists.
I turned the phone off and tossed it onto the kitchen counter.
Arthur walked in,
holding a fresh cup of coffee and reading the digital tablet edition of the paper.
“Well,
the cat is officially out of the bag,
” Arthur remarked,
taking a sip.
“University officials are calling emergency board meetings as we speak.
”
“Daniel’s academic career is completely incinerated.
”
“Good,
” I replied without a hint of remorse.
“Actions have consequences,
Arthur.
”
“You cannot build a life on deceit and expect the floor never to collapse.
”
Richard walked into the kitchen,
looking exceptionally pleased with himself.
“Just got off the phone with the federal prosecutor,
” Richard announced.
“Victoria’s defense attorney tried to cut a plea deal for house arrest.
”
“And?” Chloe asked eagerly.
“The prosecutor laughed him out of the room,
” Richard grinned.
“With the Swiss bank accounts,
the Miami condo,
and the fake charity receipts,
they are looking at a mandatory minimum of eight to ten years in federal prison.
”
“And Daniel?” I asked quietly.
“Cooperating fully in a desperate attempt to reduce his own sentence,
” Richard replied.
“He’s blaming everything on Victoria,
claiming she coerced him into financial forgery.
”
“A truly pathetic end for a pathetic man,
” Arthur shook his head in disgust.
May you like
“He threw away a brilliant wife and a loving family for a woman who would sell him out to the highest bidder the second the money ran out.
”
