Chapter 4 - The Sheriff's Arrival
The blue and red flashing lights of local police cruisers illuminated the neighborhood street, painting the walls of our house in frantic colors. Deputy Holden had obviously run outside and called for backup.
Sheriff Thomas Boyd, a large, red-faced man who had covered for Marcus’s "anger issues" for years, stomped up the driveway, flanked by four local deputies with their hands on their holsters.
“What in the hell is going on here?!” Boyd roared, pushing his way through the shattered front door.
Agent Miller and his team instantly formed a human wall in the hallway, blocking the local police from advancing any further.
“Federal perimeter, Sheriff,” Miller said, holding up a hand. “Take a step back.”
“Like hell I will!” Boyd spat, his face turning purple. “This is my county! You’ve got one of my deputies tied up on the floor in there! I demand you release him immediately, or I’ll arrest every single one of you for kidnapping!”
I walked out of the study, buttoning my coat, and stood next to Agent Miller. Sheriff Boyd looked at me, a sneer forming on his face.
“Evelyn? Is this your doing? You bring these private security goons in here to harass your stepfather?” Boyd demanded.
“They aren't private security, Thomas,” I said calmly. “They are federal agents. And Marcus isn't being harassed. He is being detained for assaulting a federal officer, interrupting a classified military transmission, and domestic abuse.”
“Domestic abuse?” Boyd laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. “Carl and your mother had a little argument. That’s none of your business. Now tell these feds to back off, or I’m putting you all in cuffs.”
I pulled a sleek, encrypted tablet from my pocket and tapped the screen. “Sheriff Boyd. Over the last seven years, my mother has visited the local ER four times with unexplained fractures. Each time, the hospital flagged it as suspected abuse. Each time, your department intercepted the report and buried it to protect your deputy.”
Boyd’s face went completely white. “You... you don't have access to those files.”
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“I have access to everything, Thomas,” I replied, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I have your emails, your deleted text messages, and your bank records showing you misappropriated department funds to pay for Marcus’s legal settlements. You didn't just protect an abuser. You aided and abetted him.”
I nodded to Agent Miller. “Arrest the Sheriff for obstruction of justice and public corruption.”
