Chapter 4 - The House of Cards
By noon, the city of Toledo was in an uproar.
The story was no longer a local high school dispute. It had been picked up by The Associated Press, NBC News, and The Washington Post.
Headline across national news outlets: “WE’RE MINORS”: OHIO BILLIONAIRE AND SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ARRESTED IN FEDERAL CORRUPTION AND BULLYING COVER-UP.
Outside the Vale estate in Perrysburg, three satellite news vans were parked along the curb, their high-definition cameras aimed directly at the iron front gates.
Inside the mansion, chaos reigned.
Charles Vale stood in his grand marble foyer, screaming into his cell phone at his lead defense attorney.
“I don't care what it costs, David!” Vale roared, pacing back and forth across the Persian rug. “Get a federal judge to set bail! I want an injunction against the news networks airing that video!”
“Charles, listen to me!” his attorney’s voice shouted back over the speakerphone. “The IRS just froze all domestic accounts belonging to CV Assets LLC! They’ve issued a freeze order on your personal accounts under the RICO Act! The bank just canceled your corporate credit lines!”
“What?” Vale gasped, stopping dead in his tracks. “They can’t freeze my personal accounts!”
“They can if those accounts received illegal proceeds from public school contracts, Charles!” the attorney yelled back. “And the District Attorney just revoked Madison’s juvenile status protection. Because of the evidence showing premeditated extortion and bribery cover-ups, they are filing felony assault and conspiracy charges against her!”
In the living room, Madison Vale sat on the velvet sofa, clutching her phone, tears streaming down her perfectly made-up face.
Her social media accounts—which had over 50,000 followers the night before—were completely flooded with hundreds of thousands of comments. Every brand deal she had signed with teenage fashion lines had been canceled within two hours. Her personal address had been leaked online, and thousands of people were calling for her arrest.
“Dad!” Madison sobbed, running into the foyer. “Dad, do something! People are saying I’m going to jail! They’re calling me a monster!”
Charles Vale looked at his daughter. For the first time in her life, he didn't look at her with pride or indulgence. He looked at her with raw, boiling resentment.
“Shut up, Madison!” Charles bellowed, throwing his phone against the marble wall, where it shattered into a dozen pieces. “This is your fault! You couldn't just leave that stupid girl alone! You had to record it! You had to brag about the boat on camera!”
Madison flinched as if she had been struck, stepping back in utter terror. “Dad... you said we were safe! You said the law couldn't touch us because we’re kids!”
“The law doesn't care about kids when the FBI is seizing my entire fortune!” Vale screamed, clutching his chest as a sudden, sharp pain flared beneath his ribs.
Suddenly, the heavy iron front gates of the estate were forced open.
Four Toledo Police cruisers and two dark federal sedans sped up the long brick driveway, their blue and red lights flashing against the white columns of the mansion.
District Attorney Sarah Jenkins stepped out of the lead vehicle, holding a rolled-up arrest warrant. Beside her walked two juvenile court officers.
Charles Vale hurried to the front doors, opening them with trembling hands. “Sarah! Sarah, please, we’ve known each other for ten years! I donated to your campaign!”
DA Jenkins looked at him with an expression of absolute, disgust.
“Don't speak to me, Charles,” Jenkins said coldly. “The campaign funds you gave me have already been transferred to an impound escrow account.”
She turned to the two police officers beside her.
“Execute the warrants,” Jenkins ordered sharply.
The officers stepped past Charles into the foyer. One officer walked up to Charles Vale, pulling his arms behind his back and clicking heavy steel cuffs over his wrists.
“Charles Vale, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, bribery of a public official, and obstruction of justice,” the officer read.
The second officer stepped toward Madison, pulling out a pair of smaller juvenile restraints.
Madison shrieked, backing away toward the stairs. “No! Get away from me! Dad, tell them to stop! You can’t touch me, I’m a minor!”
“Madison Vale,” the officer said firmly, grabbing her wrist and snapping the steel cuff shut. “You are under arrest for felony assault, harassment, and criminal extortion.”
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“Dad! Dad!” Madison screamed, sobbing hysterically as she was dragged down the marble steps of her home, past the wall of news cameras flashing frantically at the edge of the driveway.
Charles Vale could only watch in silent, broken horror as his daughter was pushed into the back of a police cruiser—the very same girl who twenty-four hours ago had smiled and declared herself invincible.
