The Board Members at Table Seven
Chapter 13 - The Board Members at Table Seven
The investigation did not end with Mason and Victor.
At the gala, twelve board members sat at Table Seven.
They had approved payments under dead children’s identities.
Several claimed they never read the detailed schedules.
One had raised concerns privately but voted yes after Vivian Crowe threatened to expose his tax problems.
Another received consulting fees.
Two believed the payment codes protected children’s privacy.
Responsibility differed.
The court treated it differently.
Those who knowingly profited faced charges and restitution.
Those who ignored obvious warnings lost governance roles and completed public testimony.
Employees who preserved evidence received legal protection.
The process refused one convenient story where everyone at the table was equally monstrous or equally deceived.
Evelyn attended the final board review.
She recognized people who had toasted her wedding and called Catherine a visionary.
They had praised the family while approving systems that erased children.
One director asked Evelyn for forgiveness.
She answered:
“The trust can evaluate your restitution. I am not another committee you need to satisfy.”
Haven adopted a rule requiring board members to review random underlying records, not only executive summaries.
Every meeting included testimony from people affected by the decisions.
Efficiency could no longer mean distance from consequences.
Table Seven was moved into the public archive.
No dramatic sign called it the villains’ table.
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A small label stated:
THESE CHAIRS HELD PEOPLE WHO HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
