Chapter 9: The Gilded Media Spin
By Monday morning, the Vance family made a desperate attempt to manipulate the court of public opinion.
A prominent Charleston society blogger—funded by Margaret Vance—published an article claiming that Nora Nolan was a ""disgruntled former employee who orchestrated a high-tech frame job against a philanthropic family on their wedding day.""
The article featured an unflattering photograph of Daisy crying, labeling her an ""unsupervised child used as a pawn.""
Nora did not issue an angry public statement.
Instead, at 11:00 AM, the United States Attorney’s Office held an official press briefing at the federal courthouse in Charleston.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Higgins stood at the podium, flanked by senior FBI investigators.
""This morning, federal grand jury indictments were unsealed against Austin Vance and four associates,"" Higgins announced to the assembled media. ""The charges include wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, insurance fraud, and interstate transport of stolen property exceeding $5 million.""
Higgins displayed a high-definition still frame from the ballroom CCTV footage, showing Austin’s face as he removed the diamond brooch.
""The evidence in this case was preserved through the flawless, certified digital forensics of Aegis Solutions,"" Higgins stated. ""A six-year-old child was subjected to malicious public abuse to cover an executive crime. The Department of Justice will seek maximum statutory enhancements for witness intimidation and emotional endangerment.""
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Within thirty minutes, the society blog was deleted.
The high-society allies who had stood with the Vance family vanished like smoke in a hurricane.
