Chapter 17 - Forty Thousand Witnesses
The stadium erupted.
People stood.
Phones rose into the air.
Reporters near the sidelines started recording the screen.
The video continued.
Vale.
Keene.
Voss.
Mercer.
Donor payments.
Threats.
Cover-ups.
Names.
Dates.
Avery watched everything through the control-room window.
The same stadium that had humiliated her was now watching the truth.
The door behind them slammed again.
Brooke pushed a cabinet against it.
“Keep playing it.”
Hannah uploaded the files to several news outlets.
Then security cut power to the control room.
The screens went dark.
For one second, Avery thought they had lost.
Then the crowd began chanting.
“TURN IT BACK ON.”
Thousands joined.
“TURN IT BACK ON.”
The chant grew louder.
Security officers entered the corridor.
But they weren't coming for Avery.
State investigators had arrived with them.
Someone had forwarded the footage before Voss could stop it.
The door opened.
Keene stood outside.
His face had lost all color.
Behind him were two investigators.
Keene looked at Avery with pure hatred.
“You have no idea what you've done.”
Avery met his eyes.
“Yes, I do.”
An investigator stepped forward.
“Martin Keene, we need you to come with us.”
Keene tried to speak.
Nobody listened.
Then Voss appeared at the end of the corridor.
She walked slowly.
Still wearing the black gown.
Still carrying herself like the most powerful person in the building.
Reporters surrounded her.
She looked directly at Avery.
“This isn't over.”
Avery shook her head.
“For you, it is.”
Voss smiled.
“You think one video destroys twenty years of power?”
“No.”
Avery glanced toward the stadium.
“But forty thousand witnesses might.”
Voss's expression finally broke.
Investigators escorted her away.
Outside, the crowd continued chanting.
Avery stepped onto the field.
She expected boos.
Instead, the stadium fell silent.
The giant screen showed her face again.
May you like
Just like before.
Only this time, Avery did not lower her head.
