Chapter 9 - Uncovering the Identity Theft
Harrison stepped in front of my mother, his face dark with rage, trying to salvage his dignity before his peers. "Elena, this is not the time or place for a scene. We can discuss your misunderstandings in my private office—"
"We have nothing to discuss, Mr. Vance," Major Vance stepped forward, holding a thick manila envelope sealed with the red tape of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "We are not here to argue. We are here to serve formal notice of subpoena for corporate financial records dating back seven years."
Harrison’s eyes darted to the envelope, his jaw tightening. "What is the meaning of this? You have no jurisdiction over my private real estate dealings!"
"We do when you use a sitting military officer’s social security number and security clearance status to secure high-risk commercial loans," I said clearly, ensuring the board members standing five feet away heard every single syllable.
A collective gasp echoed from the socialites. Harrison stepped back as if he had been physically struck.
"For ten years, while I was deployed in Bagram, Kandahar, and Baghdad, you used my pristine credit profile and my federal security clearance as a guarantor on three separate commercial development loans," I continued, my eyes boring into his terrified gaze. "You assumed that because I was overseas, fighting wars you couldn't point to on a map, I would never check the corporate filings of your subsidiary holdings."
"That... that is an administrative error!" Harrison stammered, sweat breaking out across his forehead despite the cool air conditioning of the ballroom. "My accountants handled those filings! I had signature authority as your father!"
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"You had no authority," I replied. "You committed federal identity theft against a general officer of the United States Armed Forces. The DCIS and the FBI froze your subsidiary bank accounts at 1700 hours today. Your lenders have been notified of the fraud. You are bankrupt, Father. And come Monday morning, you will be indicted."
Without waiting for his response, I turned on my heel, my cape swirling slightly around my legs, and walked out of the ballroom with my head held high, leaving the Vance family dynasty in absolute, irrecoverable ruins behind me.
