Chapter 4 - The Federal Intervention
Before Daniel could open his car door to run into the surrounding woods, the low, thundering roar of heavy rotor blades shook the treetops above Old Mill Road.
Two massive, matte-black Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters dropped out of the storm clouds, their powerful searchlights blinding the entire clearing around my house. White beams of light illuminated the long driveway, turning the falling rain into sheets of glowing silver.
Tires screeched as three unmarked black Ford Excursions plowed through the county police barricade at the end of the road, stopping in a tactical v-formation around Daniel’s disabled SUV.
A dozen men dressed in dark grey tactical uniforms without agency patches spilled out of the vehicles, raising suppressed carbines.
"Federal extraction team!" a voice boomed over a megamphome from the lead helicopter. "All local personnel lay down your weapons and get on the ground immediately! This scene is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense!"
The remaining local deputies, disoriented from the flashbang and completely outgunned, threw their hands in the air and dropped to their knees in the mud.
Director Arthur Vance stepped out of the lead Excursion, holding a black umbrella over his tailored charcoal suit. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his expression was as cold as marble.
He walked past the kneeling deputies, stepping onto my porch, looking at the unconscious Sheriff Walker lying near my doorway, and then at me.
"You haven't lost your touch, Evelyn," Vance said dryly, adjusting his glasses. "Though you really made a mess of your foyer."
"It can be cleaned, Arthur," I said, lowering my weapon and engaging the safety. "Did you bring the federal warrants?"
"I brought the Assistant Attorney General of the United States and a team of federal prosecutors," Vance replied, gesturing toward the rear Excursion. "When I saw the encryption level on the files you transmitted, I called the Chief Justice directly. This isn't just a local corruption case anymore, Evelyn. This goes all the way to the Governor's office."
Two federal agents dragged Daniel out of his vehicle, forcing his arms behind his back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists.
Daniel was hysterical, his suit ruined by mud, screaming at Vance. "You can't do this! I am a state officer! I have immunity in this jurisdiction!"
Vance walked down the steps, stopping inches from Daniel's face. "Your immunity was revoked twenty minutes ago when the President signed an emergency federal task force authorization, Mr. Duca. You are being charged with federal racketeering, human trafficking, treason, and the premeditated murder of Sarah Carter-Duca."
Daniel's knees buckled. He looked toward the porch, his eyes meeting mine.
"Evelyn... please..." Daniel whimpered, his arrogance entirely evaporated. "Think of Ethan. He needs a father."
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I walked down the steps slowly, stopping right in front of the man who had stolen my daughter from this world.
"Ethan has a family, Daniel," I said, my voice quiet, steady, and filled with absolute finality. "A family that protects him. You are nothing to him now."
