Part 8: The Media War
The next morning, the "accident" on the mountain was the lead story, but not in the way the Prescotts intended. We had leaked the dashcam footage to the most reputable news outlets in the country—not the local ones they controlled, but the national ones.
The headlines were blistering: “Attempted Assassination of Decorated Army Colonel; Is the Prescott Dynasty Behind the Crime?”
The public reaction was immediate and volcanic. The, "untouchable" image of the Prescotts shattered in a matter of hours. Their stocks didn't just drop; they plummeted. The Governor, who had once been a close ally of the family, suddenly found "unforeseen scheduling conflicts" that prevented him from appearing with them.
I sat in the safehouse, watching the news cycle churn. Emily sat beside me, finally looking like she could breathe again.
"They're falling apart, Mom," she said, watching a clip of Margaret Prescott being cornered by reporters.
"They’re only falling apart if we follow through," I replied. "The court of public opinion is a fickle beast. We need to solidify this in a court of law. I’m taking the evidence to the Attorney General today."
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"What about the danger?"
"The danger is there whether I hide or not," I said, standing up. "I've spent my life protecting others. It’s time I finish the job for myself."
