Chapter 12 - The Federal Intrusion
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Before Richard could summon the hotel security guards, the grand ballroom doors slammed open for a second time, hitting the brass wall stoppers with a thunderous boom.
Beatrice Vance strode into the room, her high heels clicking loudly against the marble. Flanking her were two uniformed state police officers, a stern-faced federal FBI agent in a dark suit, and Jasmine, the former clinic nurse, wearing a simple blue dress and looking fierce and unflinching.
Walking right behind them was a man whose presence made the entire room freeze: Lead Prosecutor David Miller—the very man who had convinced a jury to convict me two years ago. Today, he wasn't wearing his triumphant court smile. He wore the deeply humiliated, grim expression of a man who knew his career was about to be burned at the stake.
"Nobody leave this room," Beatrice’s commanding voice boomed across the ballroom, instantly halting the fleeing waiters. "This entire venue, along with every corporate asset owned by Richard Kensington, is now classified as an active federal crime scene."
Absolute chaos erupted. Society women shrieked, scrambling over gold chairs to get away from the main stage. Prominent business board members pulled out their phones, frantically calling their legal teams.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Richard yelled, his voice cracking as the FBI agent approached him. "I am a major contributor to the Governor’s campaign! You can't do this!"
"Mr. Kensington," the FBI agent said calmly, pulling a thick stack of papers from his coat pocket. "We have federal search warrants for your residence, your offices, and all private servers associated with Kensington Medical Logistics."
"On what grounds?!" Richard demanded, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Wire fraud, federal health grant embezzlement, obstruction of justice," Prosecutor Miller spoke up, his voice heavy with shame as he looked at Richard. "And grand perjury."
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A massive digital projector screen, originally set up behind the altar to show a romantic slideshow of Richard and Savannah, began to lower automatically from the ceiling.
"Allow us to show you the evidence, ladies and gentlemen," Beatrice announced, waving a hand toward the screen.
