#Chapter 163: Insanity

Arthur “We need to talk.” Without preamble, I take Veronica by the arm and lead her to the empty hallway behind the press room. The reporters are gone now, dispersed to write their undoubtedly scathing articles about Iris’s performance today. The thought makes my jaw clench. Iris doesn’t deserve this. And after what Ezra just told me before the press conference, I don’t think she’s quite as innocent as she’s looking on. Veronica’s eyebrows shoot up when I thrust the paperwork under her nose. “Can you explain this?” I ask. She looks at me for a moment, then delicately takes the paper and studies it for several long moments. When she’s finished, she smiles coolly and hands it back to me. “I have no idea what this is.” I snatch the paper back and narrow my eyes as I point at the numbers. “It says here your ‘operating costs’ for the Ordan Public School Fund went up fifteen percent this year. And you’re writing off expenses like artisanal coffee beans an