Chapter 11 - The Confessions Recorded in Cold Blood
Two days later, inside the secure media amphitheater of the United States District Court, a historic press conference was underway.
United States Attorney General William Vance—flanked by the Director of the FBI, the Secretary of the Army, and forty federal prosecutors—stood before sixty television cameras and two hundred journalists from across the globe.
Behind the Attorney General, a massive digital projection screen displayed the official unsealed federal indictments:
UNITED STATES V. KENSINGTON, STERLING, HOLBROOK, ET AL.
TOTAL DEFENDANTS: 34
TOTAL CHARGES: 112 FELONY COUNTS
RECOVERED ASSETS: $412,000,000
The Attorney General adjusted his spectacles and addressed the world:
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Today, the Department of Justice is announcing the total dismantling of one of the most corrupt, entrenched criminal enterprises in our nation’s modern history. For decades, the Kensington, Sterling, and Holbrook families operated under the delusion that their wealth and political influence placed them beyond the reach of the law."
The Attorney General tapped his podium, and the monitors switched to high-definition video feeds of the sworn video confessions recorded by Chad Kensington, Brantley Sterling, and Wyatt Holbrook.
On the screen, the three former elite heirs—stripped of their designer clothes, wearing standard orange prison jumpsuits—tearfully admitted to the unprovoked, premeditated attack on Chloe Vance.
"I am pleading guilty to all charges," Chad Kensington’s voice echoed across the national broadcast. "We attacked Chloe because she discovered our academic cheating ring. We believed our families would make the investigation disappear. We were wrong. We take full legal responsibility for our horrific crimes."
The Attorney General stepped back to the microphone, his expression stern and resolute.
"In addition to the assault charges, federal grand juries have returned sweeping racketeering, bribery, and treason indictments against Arthur Kensington, former Senator Evelyn Sterling, and Victor Holbrook. Every municipal contract, defense appropriation, and commercial lease acquired through these corrupt networks has been immediately revoked by the federal government."
A senior investigative reporter raised her hand. "Mr. Attorney General, how was this evidence gathered so quickly? Rumors are circulating that an elite, highly specialized tactical intelligence unit was involved in the operation. Can you confirm the involvement of Task Force Vanguard?"
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The Attorney General looked directly into the primary television camera lens. For a fraction of a second, a faint, knowing smile crossed his face.
"The evidence in this case was provided by patriotic citizens who refused to let the innocent be trampled by the arrogant," the Attorney General stated firmly. "As for Task Force Vanguard... the Department of Defense has no official comment on organizations that do not exist. But let this be a warning to anyone in this country who believes their money puts them above the law: no matter how high your fortress is, justice will find you."
