Chapter 19 - THE COUNTERFEIT SECOND RIBBON
Caroline died the following morning.
Nathan released a statement mourning a private citizen harassed during her final hours. He did not identify her as his mother. He accused Victoria and Elena of manufacturing testimony to influence the board.
Then he produced a pale ribbon.
Nathan claimed Caroline had kept Emily’s half since the fire. Laboratory testing confirmed the fabric, silver thread, and dye dated to the mid-1990s. When paired with Victoria’s ribbon, however, the archive did not open.
Nathan argued that Rebecca’s system was imaginary.
Dr. Shah found the flaw. His ribbon contained authentic period materials but the stitch direction was wrong. Someone had reconstructed it from photographs without understanding that the coil had to mirror Victoria’s half.
The counterfeit still served Nathan. News coverage reduced the evidence to “competing ribbons” and made the family mystery appear theatrical.
He took a more serious action through the board. Citing potential fraud, the foundation suspended funding to Harbor House and six advocacy groups cooperating with Elena’s audit. Denise called it retaliation. Nathan called it fiduciary caution.
Victoria offered personal funds to cover the gap. Denise refused unrestricted money.
“You cannot repair a power problem by becoming the new person holding all the power,” she said.
They negotiated a bridge fund controlled by the shelters, not Victoria. She contributed without naming rights.
Nathan’s attorneys next sought an injunction preventing any unidentified claimant from approaching the luncheon with electronic material. The judge rejected the broad request but allowed ordinary security screening.
Charles warned that Nathan would use security to isolate Tommy before cameras captured the ribbon.
Victoria looked at the event map. The luncheon occupied a plaza beside a major intersection. The public sidewalk remained beyond foundation control.
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Across the street stood a traffic signal.
Green meant cross to someone safe.
