Chapter 8 - The Fall of the Rising Phoenix
By Friday morning, the tables had turned so completely that the local news media was camped outside the Rising Phoenix Dojo twenty-four hours a day.
The federal investigation into Detective Marcus Vance had opened a massive can of worms. Federal agents raided the dojo, discovering that Todd Vance had been running an illegal money-laundering scheme through the gym, using fake student memberships to clean dirty money for local crime syndicates.
Every single asset owned by Todd Vance was seized by the federal government.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, I walked back into the Rising Phoenix Dojo one last time.
This time, I wasn't carrying a mop or wearing a faded cleaning uniform. I was wearing a sharp, custom-tailored dark navy suit, walking side-by-side with my legal team and General Sterling.
The gym was empty, save for Todd Vance, who was sitting on the edge of the blue mat, staring blankly at the floorboards. He was wearing a soft neck brace, his left arm bound in a heavy white sling.
He looked up as my heels clicked across the hardwood floor.
The arrogant, terrifying monster who had mocked my labor two weeks ago was completely gone. In his place sat a broken, ruined man who faced ten to fifteen years in federal prison.
"Sarah," Todd whispered, his voice trembling as he looked at me. "Please... talk to your lawyers. Tell them to drop the civil suit. They're taking my house. They're taking the gym."
I stopped at the edge of the mat, looking down at him with quiet dignity.
"You told me that some people command respect, and some people clean floors, Todd," I said softly, my voice echoing off the empty mirrors.
He lowered his head, tears of shame leaking from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Sarah."
"Apologize to my daughter," I said.
Todd looked over at Abby, who stood beside General Sterling, her hands resting calmly in her pockets.
"I'm sorry, Abigail," Todd choked out, bowing his head until it touched the blue mat. "I was wrong. I was a coward."
Abby looked at him for a long moment, then nodded once. "Apology accepted, Mr. Vance. I hope you learn what real strength means while you're serving your time."
General Sterling stepped forward, pulling a gold-rimmed document from his folder. "Under the federal asset forfeiture act, this facility has been acquired by the Thomas Bennett Foundation for Youth Leadership. Effective immediately, Sarah Bennett is the new Chief Executive Officer of this facility."
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Todd blinked in utter shock. "You... you own my gym?"
"No," I corrected him with a proud, radiant smile. "I own a place that will teach children how to protect themselves from people like you."
