Chapter 14 - The Vote at Midnight

The courthouse hearing was scheduled for Friday morning. By Thursday evening, Grant Whitmore had called an emergency trustees' meeting inside the same ballroom where Nora had been insulted.

"He's trying to vote before the judge can act," Adrian explained. "If the board approves a transfer to Meridian, they can tie the estate up in litigation for years."

Nora read the agenda. The scholarship fund, the land, and the building would all be sold under the harmless title of strategic restructuring. Her stomach twisted.

"How many votes does he need?"

"Four of six. He believes he has five."

Celeste arrived at Lena's office carrying a suitcase and wearing ordinary jeans. Without her emerald gown, Nora almost didn't recognize her.

"Grant froze my accounts," Celeste said. "He canceled my driver. He told the staff I was unstable."

"You want sympathy?" Nora asked.

"No. I want to stop him."

She placed a flash drive on the table. It contained board emails showing Grant promised contracts and cash to three trustees in exchange for their votes.

"Why bring us this now?" Lena asked.

"Because one of those trustees called me this morning. She said Grant was planning to make Nora disappear after the meeting."

Nora's throat tightened, but she kept reading. "Can we get a court order tonight?"

"Maybe," Adrian said. "We still need a witness who can authenticate these messages."

Celeste opened her phone and played a voicemail from Grant. His voice was controlled, almost gentle: "If you betray me, remember what happened to Evelyn. And remember who signed the paperwork."

Celeste stared at the floor. "I signed the transfer that put Evelyn under an alias. I didn't know they would keep her locked away. I should have checked. I should have done something."

"Yes," Nora said. "You should have."

At 11:55 p.m., the board assembled beneath the chandeliers. Grant took the podium and announced the vote. One trustee raised her hand to object.

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Before she could speak, the ballroom lights went out.

And a woman's voice screamed from the balcony.