Chapter 12 - The Smear and the ShieldBy 1:00 PM, Arthur’s counter-offensive struck with devastating speed.
Instead of signing the resignation, Arthur used his extensive network of PR agencies and local media contacts to launch a preemptive strike.
Local news channels and high-society blogs broke a breaking story: Julian Vance Suffers Mental Breakdown Following Wedding; Unscrupulous Extortion Ring Exploits Family Legacy.
A televised press conference was broadcast from the steps of the municipal courthouse. Arthur stood before a dozen news cameras, looking visibly heartbroken, surrounded by his high-powered legal team.
"My son, Julian, has recently been subjected to immense stress," Arthur told the reporters, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye. "Unfortunately, an organized criminal network, utilizing a deeply disturbed woman with a history of severe delusion, has attempted to extort fifty million dollars from our firm. We have filed formal criminal charges of attempted extortion and elder fraud against Evelyn Mercer and her accomplices."
At the same time, two police cruisers arrived at Leo Miller’s office with an arrest warrant for Evelyn, charging her with criminal conspiracy and blackmail.
"He’s trying to discredit her before the evidence can be formally introduced in court," Leo said, looking out the window of his safehouse in Ballard where Evelyn was staying. "If she gets processed into county jail under Arthur’s jurisdiction, he’ll have her declared mentally incompetent within forty-eight hours."
"We aren't going to let her touch a jail cell," Julian said, standing over a table covered in financial ledgers.
Clara looked up from her laptop. "Julian, the local news is running heavy smears against you. Your law firm just suspended your partner status pending an internal investigation."
"Let them," Julian said, his jaw set like iron. "Arthur thinks this is a fight for public perception. He doesn't realize we aren't playing his game anymore. We're taking this straight to the State Attorney General's Special Investigations Unit."
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Julian pulled out his phone and dialed a private number—a classmate from Harvard Law who was currently serving as the Chief Deputy Prosecutor for the State of Washington.
"David?" Julian said into the phone. "I have a thirty-year ongoing case of corporate conspiracy, kidnapping, and state-level banking fraud ready for your desk."
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