I held up the directive Thomas had given me, her signature sprawled across the bottom. "Here it is in writing: your order to a private contractor to search a minor, signed and dated. This isn't enforcement. This is abuse of power."
The room erupted in murmurs, louder this time, no longer whispers. Claudia's face flushed red, but her voice rose above the noise: "I am the president of this board! The bylaws give me full discretion!"
That was the cue. I stepped aside, revealing the glow of the projector behind me. The seal of the juvenile court appeared on the wall, crisp and undeniable.
Then, Judge Halverson's face filled the screen live, his voice carrying across the hall with authority that no one in the room could mistake.
"Claudia Mallory," the judge said, each word deliberate. "You have no legal authority to issue or enforce searches of residents, especially not of minors. Your actions, both written and spoken tonight, constitute unlawful orders and place you and this board at potential criminal liability."
The room froze. Every neighbor who had feared her now stared at the screen wide-eyed. Thomas stood near the back, his jaw set, his presence silent confirmation of everything the judge declared.
Claudia's gavel shook in her hand as she struck the table again. "This is outrageous! You have no jurisdiction over this meeting!"
Halverson didn't flinch. "The law has jurisdiction everywhere, Madam President, and I am warning you now: cease these directives immediately or face formal charges."
A heavy silence dropped over the hall. The neighbors turned their eyes back to Claudia, waiting. For the first time, her smirk was gone. Her mouth opened, then closed. Her confidence cracked.