Chapter 12
|
The retaliation began less than forty-eight hours after Sarah arrived. Emily was in the main conference room reviewing the preliminary findings of Sarah’s financial documents when Robert walked in, his face deeply lined with concern. As a former foundation board member and Clearview's most senior legal advisor, Robert was not a man who panicked easily, but the papers in his hand indicated a severe escalation.
"Thorne isn't wasting any time," Robert announced, dropping a thick legal dossier onto the conference table. "He hasn't filed a missing persons report. He knows exactly where she is. Instead, he’s hitting us where it hurts the most."
"What did he do?" Emily asked, standing up and pulling the dossier toward her.
"He just initiated a massive, aggressive audit of Clearview’s state funding and non-profit tax status through the legislative oversight committee," Robert explained grimly. "He is claiming that our organization is operating as an 'unlicensed holding facility' and actively interfering in domestic legal disputes. He is threatening to revoke our operational licenses in all three cities by the end of the month."
Nathan, who had been on a phone call in the corner of the room, hung up and joined them at the table.
"It gets worse," Nathan added, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I just got off the phone with our primary banking partner. Thorne has used his political leverage to freeze the emergency relocation funds we use to house survivors. He is trying to financially starve the foundation until we are forced to hand Sarah back to him."
Emily looked at the legal documents, feeling the familiar, suffocating weight of institutional control pressing down on her. Harrison Thorne was using the exact same playbook Charles Whitmore and Daniel had used years ago: utilizing legitimate systems of power to enforce illegitimate, cruel demands.
"He thinks if he squeezes us hard enough, we will break," Emily said, her voice completely devoid of fear. "He thinks we are a standard charity that will bow to political pressure to save our funding."
"Emily, if he revokes our licenses, we will have to shut down the safe houses," Robert warned gently. "Hundreds of women and children could be displaced. Thorne is gambling that you won't risk the entire foundation for one woman."
"Clearview exists because we do not compromise on the safety of a single survivor," Emily stated firmly, her eyes locking with Nathan's. "If we hand Sarah over, this entire foundation means absolutely nothing. It becomes just another institution that protects abusers."
May you like
"So, what is our counter-move?" Nathan asked, fully ready to follow her lead.
"We don't fight him in the political arena, because he controls it," Emily decided. "We fight him in the light. We need to expose the fraudulent debt he anchored to Sarah before he can shut us down. Get Rachel in here. We are going to war."
