Chapter 6 - The Darkest Hour
Desperate and facing decades in federal prison, Ryan made one final, foolish attempt to regain control. Using a smuggled contraband phone while held at the regional detention center, he contacted an associate to hire private investigators to intimidate Emily into dropping her criminal testimony.
Late that evening, as rain again lashed against the windows, the perimeter alarm of my property chimed.
I immediately monitored the security screens. Two figures dressed in dark clothing were attempting to cut the power lines to the house.
Years of investigative work had made me paranoid, but paranoia is merely another word for preparation. The house was equipped with a back-up generator and reinforced security doors.
I calmly walked to the master bedroom, ensured Emily and Sophia were locked inside the safe room, and retrieved my licensed firearm from the side desk.
I met the intruders in the back patio area before they could even cross the threshold. When the floodlights snapped on automatically, illuminating the backyard in blinding white light, the two men found themselves staring down the barrel of my gun, with three police cruisers turning into the driveway, sirens wailing.
The men surrendered instantly.
May you like
The physical evidence found on their phones directly linked the hit order back to Ryan’s smuggled cell phone in prison. What would have been a financial fraud charge was now compounded by obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, and conspiracy to commit violent harassment.
Ryan Vance had officially dug his own legal grave.
