Whatever else the box did to Alaric Ravenscroft that afternoon, that was the part Cosima carried out of the room: not the vindication, but the belated, aching proof that one other person had always known she was telling the truth.

Caspian stepped forward and laid two more documents on the table beside the open box: a formal criminal complaint, and an order freezing every asset in Alaric Ravenscroft’s name.

“The State Attorney General’s office was briefed before this meeting began,” he said, evenly.

“Federal auditors are, as of this morning, already inside your accounts.

This board is not being asked to vote on your daughter’s sanity.

It’s being asked to notice that it no longer works for you.”