Chapter 38 - The Audit Defense
The failed raid on Haven Ledger was a tactical disaster for Senator Hastings, but he quickly pivoted to a public smear campaign. If he couldn't seize the evidence, he would destroy the credibility of the foundation holding it.
His PR machine went into overdrive. News outlets began running segments questioning the legitimacy of The Phoenix Initiative. Paid talking heads accused me of being a disgruntled, vindictive woman who manufactured fake financial crimes to extort wealthy, respectable men. They brought up my past, spinning my survival of domestic abuse into a narrative of mental instability.
"They are trying to control the narrative," Sophia noted angrily, turning off the television in the conference room. "They are framing you as a hysterical vigilante."
"Let them," I said calmly, sipping my tea. "A lie can run a sprint, but the truth runs a marathon. They are expending all their political capital attacking my character. They are completely ignoring the math."
"The Senate Ethics Committee has officially announced a hearing regarding the bribery allegations," Arthur announced, walking into the room. "But Hastings' allies chair the committee. It’s a kangaroo court. They intend to subpoena you, Anna, not to hear your evidence, but to publicly humiliate you and dismiss the ledger as a forgery."
"When is the hearing?" I asked.
"Thursday morning in Washington," Arthur replied. "It will be broadcast live on every major news network. It’s going to be a bloodbath."
I looked down at the silvery scars on my right hand. I remembered the heat of the stove, the feeling of absolute powerlessness, and the cruel laughter of the men who thought they owned me. I had survived the fire once. I would gladly walk into it again.
"Prepare the flight," I commanded, standing up. "And Chloe, access the secure cloud server. I want a physical, printed copy of the entire ledger, blown up to poster size. I want every bank transfer, every signature, and every bribe printed in high definition."
"You are going to fight them on national television?" Chloe asked, a fierce grin spreading across her face.
May you like
"I am an auditor," I said, looking her dead in the eye. "When someone questions my ledger, I don't argue with them. I just show them the receipts."
We packed our briefcases. We were going to Washington, and we were bringing the storm with us.
