The ballroom was silent. Two hundred faces turned toward me, curious, confused, hostile. I felt the weight of their attention, the pressure of their expectations. The comments floated above them all, faint and urgent.
THIS IS THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE TURNING POINT.
"Conrad Vane," I said, "has been using the Vane Foundation as a personal bank account for the past fifteen years. He has diverted millions of dollars in charitable donations into private investments, political contributions, and personal expenses. The scholarships, the public programs, the charitable work you all support, those are a front. The real purpose of this foundation is to enrich the Vane family."
A murmur rippled through the room. Conrad's face was a mask of controlled fury.
"This is absurd," he said. "Who are you?
