Chapter 157
A reporter in the crowd spotted Gideon and nudged a colleague. “Is that Gideon Malachi from CBP?”
“Impossible. Why would someone from CBP know a suspect?”
“I’m telling you, I saw an interview with Gideon a few years back. That definitely looks like him.”
Gideon stepped forward, his voice steady and commanding. “Good evening, everyone. I am the head of CBP.”
A hush fell over the room. He held up a file. “This contains the full report on the Brevard smuggling case from three years ago—an investigation in which Miss Hayes played a crucial role. For years, she has worked to bring Brevard to justice, but he is elusive, cunning, and always one step ahead. Although we have yet to apprehend him, I want to make one thing clear: Miss Hayes has no involvement in this case. I ask the media to refrain from spreading false accusations.”
His graying hair hinted at his years of service, but the sharpness of his gaze and the unwavering authority in his voice left no room for doubt. Every word carried undeniable weight, silencing the room.
Just outside the door, Natalie’s eyes widened in shock. “CBP…” Vivienne was working with CBP? And Gideon Malachi himself had come to defend her? That was unthinkable.
Walter wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his pulse hammering in his ears. He might be stationed at a police department, but Gideon Malachi’s reputation preceded him. The man was a legend—CBP’s longest-serving chief, famous for cracking one of the biggest smuggling cases in history. In a single year, he had dismantled dozens of major smuggling operations, earning national recognition.
But now, the real question loomed: who was Vivienne Hayes to have both Cameron and Gideon personally vouch for her? If clearing her name was the only goal, sending someone else with the files would have sufficed. But Gideon had come in person, making it clear she held a special place in his regard.
Reporters flipped through the case files, their initial skepticism fading into uneasy silence. If Vivienne were truly guilty, Gideon would never have defended her so publicly. To challenge his words would be tantamount to openly opposing CBP itself.
“It looks like she really was falsely accused.”
“Maybe those two suspects dragged her into this on purpose—revenge for what happened three years ago.”
Just as public opinion was about to shift in Vivienne’s favor, a shadow of malice flickered in Natalie’s gaze. She had deliberately tipped off the reporters, ensuring Vivienne’s reputation would suffer. She wasn’t about to let Gideon’s sudden appearance ruin her efforts.
Natalie’s eyes lingered on Vivienne before she turned away, swiftly texting a message as she left.
Inside the room, a reporter’s phone vibrated. She glanced down, a knowing smile spreading across her lips. Then, she raised her voice. “This only proves she wasn’t involved in the smuggling case three years ago,” she pointed out sharply. “It doesn’t clear her of suspicion in this case. If she’s truly innocent, how do you explain the illicit funds discovered at the scene? Why would the suspects insist she was the mastermind?”
Her words struck a nerve, setting off a wave of murmurs before the questions turned pointed.
“Even if she had no part in the smuggling case, what about today’s incident? As the owner of Timeless Treasures, wouldn’t she have had the perfect opportunity to exploit her position for illegal profits?”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If she has nothing to hide, she should be able to provide solid evidence, right?”
“Just because she helped solve a case three years ago, does that mean she gets a free pass now?”
“The law is meant to be fair and transparent. If she’s receiving special treatment for past cooperation, wouldn’t that undermine public trust?”
Natalie observed the conversation turning against Vivienne again, the corners of her lips curling with satisfaction. So what if Vivienne had helped crack a major case? Public opinion was still a force she couldn’t control. She wanted to see who would step in to protect Vivienne.
Sliding on her sunglasses, Natalie returned to her car, accessed the live stream, and smirked. With a few more taps on her phone, she deployed internet trolls to further twist the narrative—pushing the idea that law enforcement was deliberately covering up Vivienne’s crimes.