Chapter 9 - The Aftermath
By midnight, the municipal chambers were completely empty, save for two state investigators who were currently seizing the server hard drives from the clerk’s office.
Superintendent Arthur Pendelton had been escorted out of the building through the loading dock by state police officers, his face hidden behind a gray wool coat. Mayor Vance had announced his immediate, indefinite leave of absence within twenty minutes of the evidence drop, and an emergency interim board had already been convened to void the fraudulent zoning contracts.
Outside the building, the crisp autumn air felt clean and refreshing.
Lily skipped along the concrete sidewalk beside me, her light-up pink sneakers flashing red and blue against the pavement with every bounce. She was holding a large pretzel we had bought from a street vendor down the block.
"Dad," Lily looked up, her mouth half full of soft pretzel. "Are we going back to my school tomorrow?"
I smiled, reaching down to squeeze her small, warm hand. "Only if you want to, bug. Principal Henderson resigned about two hours ago, and they appointed a brand-new interim principal—a really nice kindergarten teacher named Mrs. Gable who loves art projects and doesn't yell."
Lily’s eyes lit up. "Does she have a cat?"
"I heard she has two cats," I laughed.
Rob walked beside us, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, a satisfied smile playing across his face. "Well, Daniel, I’d say that’s mission accomplished. The district is clean, the developers are running for the hills, and the local paper is already running front-page headlines about the downfall of the municipal machine."
"Thanks, Rob," I said, looking over at my old friend. "I couldn't have pulled off the digital forensics without your team."
"Don't mention it," Rob grinned. "A good mechanic always keeps his commander’s gear in working order. Besides, nobody messes with my niece."
He checked his watch. "Speaking of which, my flight back to Washington leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow. I need to get back to the Pentagon before the budget committees start chewing on my supply chains."
"Drive safe, Colonel," I said, shaking his hand firmly in the amber glow of the streetlamp.
May you like
"Always do, Sergeant," Rob winked, giving Lily a gentle pat on the head. "See you at Thanksgiving, kiddo."
As Rob’s car disappeared down the corner of Maple Avenue, I looked down at Lily, who was happily humming a little song as she skipped along. The shadow that had hung over our lives for months was entirely gone. The world was quiet, safe, and full of possibility.
