Chapter 8 - The Paper Trail
Three days later.
The quiet, sunlit private room on the fourth floor of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital smelled of fresh lilies and antibacterial soap.
Marcus Vance sat propped up in bed, clean-shaved, wearing hospital scrubs. The IV lines delivering fluids and detoxifying agents were slowly purging the forced sedatives from his system. Beside him, Sarah sat in a comfortable armchair, her bruised face healing, holding a cup of warm tea.
In the corner, Lena was sitting on a plush rug, playing a game of tug-of-war with Rex using a new rope toy I had bought at the local pet store.
The door opened, and Sergeant Thomas stepped inside, accompanied by a woman in a formal dark suit holding a thick leather briefcase—Special Agent Miller from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
"Daniel," Thomas nodded to me. "Marcus. Mrs. Miller."
Agent Miller set her briefcase on the bed table and opened it, pulling out several thick folders filled with banking ledgers and legal documents.
"Staff Sergeant Vance," Agent Miller said respectfully, acknowledging Marcus. "I wanted to brief you personally on what our investigation has uncovered over the last seventy-two hours."
Marcus nodded slowly, his eyes sharp and alert for the first time in six years. "Where is my brother?"
"Garth Vance and his two associates are currently in federal custody without bail," Agent Miller reported. "They are facing federal charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, fraud, illegal weapons possession, and attempted murder."
She pulled out a certified banking statement.
"For six years, Garth has been cashing your VA disability checks, your combat pension, and a survivor benefit payout using forged power-of-attorney documents," she continued. "The total amount stolen exceeds four hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
Sarah gasped, clutching her tea cup.
"The FBI has frozen all of Garth's assets, including two properties in Idaho and a shell account in the Cayman Islands," Agent Miller added, a faint smile touching her lips. "We have already initiated full restitution proceedings. Every single dollar will be returned to Staff Sergeant Vance and his family."
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Marcus looked over at his wife and daughter, his eyes filling with quiet, profound emotion. "I don't care about the money, Agent. I just want my family back."
"You have them back, Marcus," I said softly, stepping forward to rest my hand on my old squad leader's shoulder. "For good."
