Chapter 13 - The Federal Handshake
Dawn broke over the snow-choked highway in a pale, bruised wash of gray and lavender. By eight o'clock, the secure satellite phone Dominic carried began to chirp with a series of sharp, rhythmic tones.
He answered on the second ring, listening intently as a deep, authoritative voice spoke on the other end. I stood by the window, watching a lone snowplow crawl past on the highway, its amber beacon flashing against the white drifts.
"Understood," Dominic said crisply into the receiver. "Send the uncompromised team to the coordinates. We'll meet them at the county library parking lot in forty minutes."
He clicked the phone off and looked up at me with a rare, genuine smile that eased the tight tension lines around his eyes. "That was Director Vance—the federal regional director, not the corrupt judge's brother. Ray's upload went through. They have the complete financial ledger of the Vale Foundation embezzlement, and federal marshals have already moved on Judge Miller's chambers."
"It's over?" I asked, a sudden wave of overwhelming relief washing over me so intensely my knees felt weak.
"Almost," Dominic said, standing up and stepping close to me. "The federal team wants us to make a public appearance at the annual county charity gala tonight. Mr. Reed and his remaining associates are scheduled to attend as guest sponsors. If we corner them in public under federal protection, there's nowhere left for them to hide."
An hour later, a sleek black federal transport vehicle pulled up discreetly behind the motel. A woman in a tailored wool coat stepped out, carrying a garment bag that she handed directly to me.
May you like
"Director's orders," the agent said with a polite nod. "We need you looking the part, Ms. Parker. Tonight, the Vale Foundation takes its name back."
Inside the vehicle, as we drove toward the brightly lit grand ballroom of the county hotel, I zipped up a deep emerald silk dress that felt a million miles away from my old diner uniform. Lily and Grace sat on either side of me, giggling as they admired their matching velvet winter coats. Dominic sat across from us, watching me with an expression of quiet awe that made my heart race faster than any highway chase.
