“You’re not wrong, but this one isn’t a cult, just too many rich names with big targets that decided not to risk their precious children and have real security,” I offered, doing a solid for the community. “But yes, it does lead to some of the clichés like not being socialized with the little people as much as they should be.” I snorted. “There are way too many about a hundred years behind the rest of the world.”
“That sounds a bit much,” the sexist guy hedged.
I shrugged. “One of those influential guys who are on the board, or university advisors—alums or whatever—offered to let me be his mistress and take over my vast inheritance since I didn’t have a male family member to speak for me and shield me as I would need to survive here and in life.”
A fly farting could be heard in the room as they stared at me as if waiting for me to tell them I was joking.
“Unfortunately, she is not kidding or exaggerating the situation,” Geiger told them, jumping in. “But yes, we are aware of the situation. You can hardly be shocked that old money means conservative values and too many outdated notions, compared to mainstream society. This country was founded by Puritans. Many of the founding families still cling to those values. This cannot surprise the FBI.”
“No, not in the slightest,” the SAiC grumbled, making a few notes. “I suppose the day it doesn’t annoy me though, is the day I should retire.”
Fair enough.
“So these men pushed a teacher to try and get me to sign over my holdings?” I asked, wondering exactly how McGrath had phrased it all. I wanted to see what useful information I could get from this meeting. “How stupid does he think I am?” I smirked at the sexist guy. Even he couldn’t think a guy my age would be treated the same?
Clearly not, from the way he found the wall suddenly interesting.
“Apparently, he agreed to seduce you and you would hand control over to him and he would give it all to them,” the SAiC explained.
“Gross,” I gagged. “And this is his reasoning for why he liked child pornography?”
“No, this was his trying to give us information to make deals to reduce his sentencing, as his powerful friends apparently won’t come save him,” one of the others guys drawled. “Though really, he simply implicated himself in trying to commit fraud in taking all you have, even for other parties.”
We talked for a while longer, their questions not really digging much, but more trying to make sense of McGrath’s crazy or seeing if they should bother probing. It wasn’t until towards the end that they really hit on anything big.
“Why do you think McGrath or these men have such a fixation on you compared to any of the other students, faculty, or alums, Ms. Vale?” the SAiC asked, studying me closely, watching to see if there was about to be a crack in my armor.
But I was more than ready, years of this sort of pressure and acting at my disposal.
I smiled at him. “Because, to people with money and power, I’m an easy target. I might have inherited a fortune but to them, I’m trash who doesn’t deserve it, and it shouldn’t be with me, but someone worthy like them. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon up my ass, so they think me stupid prey, and we know people with influence don’t follow the rules. That’s all this is. It’s the same story I’m sure you’ve seen lots.”
He slowly nodded, closing his notebook. “I’m glad I came and talked to you today. I was worried.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. “And now you’re not?”
He snorted as he stood, smirking at me. “Ms. Vale, you may be young, female, and from the wrong side of the tracks, but anyone who spends more than a few minutes with you and thinks you prey or an easy target is an idiot. I’ve been doing this job for over twenty years and I know a damn predator when I’m in the room with one. You’re one of the good guys, I can tell, but you are not a kitten. You’re a damn tiger.”
“And that’s why you’re the SAiC,” I praised, standing as well and heading for the door. “If you have any more questions for me, you have my attorney’s number now.”
“I think we got all we need.”
“Then have a lovely day, gentlemen.”
I shook each of their hands and that was the end of dealing with the FBI and this shit with McGrath.
Or at least for now. Who knew what a desperate man might try next?
20
With everything Marisol had uncovered, I didn’t think anything could shock me anymore, and I truly knew the depth of the council members corruption and evil. That was true, but she did find out pieces to one puzzle that were enough to make me risk a lot… Because Mel would have if I didn’t.
I simply thanked the gods I received the information, and not Mel. It came in a week and a half after the incident with the FBI and she was distracted with something else that night. I poured over what Marisol had uncovered, copied it to our backup servers, and took it off the main drive Mel was going to share with her cousins to go over. This wasn’t something she could handle at the moment.
I would, after I made a move before she could, because I couldn’t lose her.
I simply didn’t know what that move should be.
It took me several more days to come to my decision and get it set up. I brought Zack and Ray with me for backup, but they didn’t know what I was doing, simply that no one knew I was
