Chapter 10 - The Fall of the House of Harrison
While Ethan began his grueling first week of work at the Fort Stewart logistics depot, the legal hammer of the United States government came down on Richard and Beatrice Harrison with catastrophic force.
At 2:00 PM on Thursday, three unmarked federal sedans and four marked Chatham County Sheriff vehicles pulled up to the grand clubhouse of the Sweetwater Landing Country Club.
Beatrice Harrison was in the middle of hosting her weekly "Founders’ Ladies Tea" on the grand outdoor veranda, surrounded by thirty of Savannah’s wealthiest socialites. She was wearing a new pastel Chanel suit—purchased with a credit card drawn on one of Richard’s fraudulent business accounts—loudly gossiping about how her "unstable daughter-in-law" had staged a dramatic exit from her home.
The double French doors of the veranda swung open.
Special Agent David Vance from the FBI Financial Crimes Division, accompanied by two armed federal marshals and Sheriff Thomas Wright, stepped onto the terrace.
The entire veranda went completely silent. The clinking of porcelain teacups ceased.
"Beatrice Harrison?" Agent Vance announced, his voice carrying across the manicured putting greens.
Beatrice set her teacup down, her face turning bright red with indignation. "What is the meaning of this? This is a private club! You cannot interrupt my event!"
Agent Vance walked up to her table, pulled a federal warrant from his jacket, and laid it directly across her silver pastry platter.
"Beatrice Harrison, you are under arrest pursuant to a federal grand jury indictment for three counts of interstate wire fraud, identity theft, and grand larceny exceeding one hundred and twenty thousand dollars," Agent Vance stated clearly.
A collective, horrified gasp echoed across the thirty women seated on the veranda.
"What?!" Beatrice shrieked, jumping up from her chair. "Identity theft? That’s absurd! I am the wife of the Zoning Chairman!"
"Your husband, Richard Harrison, was arrested forty-five minutes ago at his county office," Agent Vance replied without a trace of emotion. "He has been formally charged with federal bribery, conspiracy to commit environmental fraud, and money laundering in connection with the Coastal Wetlands Trust."
Agent Vance turned to the two federal marshals. "Secure the suspect."
The female marshal stepped forward, grabbed Beatrice’s wrists, and clicked a pair of cold steel handcuffs around her manicured hands.
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Beatrice screamed, thrashing wildly. "Do you know how much money I donate to this city?! Chloe! Call our attorneys! Call Tyler’s father!"
"Tyler Vance’s father was arrested at noon, Mrs. Harrison," Sheriff Wright added dryly. "His real estate company’s assets have been completely frozen by the federal court. And from what I understand, young Tyler just called off the wedding with your daughter thirty minutes ago."
Beatrice’s eyes bulged in pure, unadulterated horror.
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As the federal marshals dragged her through the grand dining room of the country club in front of every friend, rival, and acquaintance she had spent twenty years trying to impress, her screams of rage dissolved into pathetic, choking sobs.
The reign of Beatrice Harrison was officially over.
