Chapter 22 - The Capital CorridorThe private jet touched down at McNary Field in Salem just as the afternoon shadows began to lengthen across the Willamette Valley.
Daniel was waiting on the tarmac, holding a heavy titanium briefcase containing the authenticated historical land patents dating back to the territory’s founding. As the jet stairs lowered, Claire descended quickly, her trench coat billowing in the brisk autumn wind.
"You got the deeds?" Claire asked without breaking stride as they headed toward a waiting state police escort vehicle.
"Every single sheet of parchment," Daniel confirmed, holding up the briefcase. "And I brought the forensic audit reports proving Evelyn Vance and Arthur Sterling coordinated the fraudulent injunction from federal custody."
Inside the backseat of the cruiser, the driver accelerated smoothly toward the Oregon State Capitol building—a magnificent neoclassical structure crowned by the iconic golden Oregon Pioneer statue gleaming against the darkening sky.
In the governor’s executive suite on the second floor, Chief of Staff Marcus Vance—no relation to Evelyn, but a staunch advocate for public infrastructure preservation—was pacing across the Persian rug.
"Ms. Whitmore, Mr. Harrison," Marcus greeted them urgently as the double doors opened. "You’ve cut this down to the wire. The attorney general’s office is reviewing the injunction, but the maritime trust lawyers are arguing that our office has no jurisdiction over federal interstate commerce agreements."
"They don't have jurisdiction over state municipal safety codes," Claire countered instantly, stepping up to the conference table and snapping open her leather portfolio. She laid out three certified documents across the polished wood.
"Look at Exhibit C," Claire instructed, pointing directly to a highlighted clause. "The Singapore Trust’s corporate charter was officially revoked by the Monetary Authority of Singapore twelve days ago for international money laundering infractions. Any legal action filed by their proxy in U.S. courts is legally null and void ab initio."
The chief of staff stared at the seal on the document, his eyes widening. "You tracked down their foreign charter revocation in twelve hours?"
"When you have the best forensic accounting team in the world, nothing stays hidden for long," Daniel added smoothly, dropping the federal audit files on top. "Furthermore, Evelyn Vance’s collusion with Arthur Sterling from federal prison constitutes a direct violation of her legal practice standing. If your office signs the emergency public utility endorsement right now, we attach the federal conspiracy warrant to the state filing, neutralizing their injunction permanently."
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Marcus Vance looked from Claire to Daniel, then down at the papers. He picked up a heavy Montblanc pen, a slow, appreciative smile crossing his face.
"You Whitmore and Harrison families sure know how to make an entrance," Marcus murmured. He uncapped the pen and pressed the nib firmly against the paper, signing his signature with a bold, sweeping stroke. "The Eliana Vance Coastal Reserve is state-protected public land as of this second. Send the bailiffs to Salem courthouse to clear the injunction."
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