Chapter 11 - The Aftermath and the Knock on the Door
The sun had barely dipped below the horizon, casting long, bruised shadows across Maple Ridge Lane, when the flashing blue lights of the local police cruiser painted our living room walls.
I was sitting at the kitchen island with a legal pad and a red pen, trying to map out a budget for the next month on a single income, when the doorbell rang. It wasn't the sharp, aggressive pounding of federal agents this time, but a steady, deliberate rap.
When I opened the door, a tired-looking detective in a plain gray windbreaker stood on the porch, holding a sealed manila envelope.
“Mrs. Miller?” he asked, flashing his shield briefly. “Detective Hayes, local precinct. We’re assisting the federal task force with the fallout from the Apex Logistics sweep this afternoon.”
“Has something happened to Mark?” I asked, my voice flat, holding my ground in the doorway.
“No, Mr. Miller is securely detained at the federal holding facility downtown,” Hayes replied, stepping aside slightly. “This isn't about him. It’s about his associate—Elena Vance. Her vehicle was intercepted about an hour ago on Interstate 95 heading toward the state line. During the search, federal marshals recovered a secondary storage drive containing personal financial profiles, residential addresses, and keys.”
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Detective Hayes extended the manila envelope toward me.
“Your address was at the very top of her priority list, Mrs. Miller. The task force wants you and your daughter relocated to a temporary safe location tonight until we can confirm whether she had local accomplices.”
