Chapter 4 - The Men in Suits
Before Sarah could formulate a plan to raid the lumber mill, her radio buzzed. It was the dispatcher, and his voice was trembling. "Sarah, you need to get back here right now. The Feds are here. And they want the kids."
Sarah’s tires screeched as she pulled back into the station's parking lot. Two black SUVs with dark tinted windows were parked diagonally across the entrance. Inside the lobby, three men in expensive suits were flashing badges at the desk sergeant.
"We are taking federal jurisdiction over this case," the lead agent, a tall man with dead eyes named Vance, was saying. "Hand over the boy and the infant."
Sarah walked in, water dripping from her uniform. "On what grounds? This is an active kidnapping and trafficking investigation in my county."
Vance turned to her, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Deputy Jenkins. You're out of your depth. This is a multi-state operation. We have a secure facility for the children."
Sarah looked at their badges. They looked real. But something was deeply wrong. They had arrived too fast. State police hadn't even been officially notified, and the FBI was suddenly here at 2:30 AM in a torrential storm?
"I'll need to verify those credentials with my captain," Sarah said, keeping her hand resting casually on her belt, near her weapon.
"That won't be necessary," Vance said, stepping forward, his hand slipping inside his jacket.
May you like
Sarah's instincts screamed. She looked at the dispatcher, giving a microscopic nod. The dispatcher hit the panic button under the desk, killing the lobby lights and triggering the deafening fire alarm. In the chaos, Sarah sprinted into the holding room, grabbed Leo's hand, scooped Maya from the makeshift crib, and kicked open the side exit door.
"They aren't Feds, Leo," Sarah whispered as they ran into the freezing rain toward her personal vehicle. "They're the buyers."
