Chapter 9 - The Dawn Raid
The gray light of dawn was just beginning to bleed through the kitchen windows when a sharp knock rattled the front door.
I jumped, spinning around from the counter where I was desperately trying to sterilize a bottle of water. I grabbed the heavy wooden rolling pin from the kitchen block, creeping toward the entryway with my heart in my throat.
“Elena? It’s Detective Miller. Marcus sent me,” a deep, calm voice called out through the reinforced wood.
I let out a ragged breath, dropping the rolling pin onto the console table. I unlocked the deadbolt and pulled the door open.
Standing on the porch was a stocky, silver-haired man in a tan trench coat, holding a steaming paper cup of coffee and looking like a man who hadn't slept in a week. His eyes took in my bruised face and the sling on my shoulder in a single, practiced sweep, but he didn't offer any pity—just professional, steady competence.
“Morning, Mrs. Carter. You ready to go?” Detective Miller asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. “Marcus is waiting at his office. We’ve got a 9:00 AM emergency docket with Judge Halloway.”
“They were here last night,” I blurted out, my voice trembling as the adrenaline caught up with me. “Someone broke in after midnight. They searched the kitchen and stole our marriage license and tax papers.”
Miller’s expression hardened instantly. He walked over to the kitchen counter, squatting down to examine the open drawers where the documents had been stored.
“Professional sweep,” Miller muttered, standing up and pulling a small notebook from his pocket. “Caleb’s defense team is trying to scrub the joint asset trail before we can file the forensic motion. They’re panicking because they know those tax documents prove the money came from corporate embezzlement, not just his personal savings.”
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“Can we still stop them?” I asked, clutching Noah tightly in his carrier against my hip.
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do right now,” Miller said, flashing a confident, reassuring grin. “Grab your diaper bag. Let’s go put your husband out of business.”
