71 Shadows of the Past: The Broken Badge, the Hidden Ledger, and the Dawn We Fought For

Heavy footsteps echoed across the damp concrete behind us as Vance and two tactical operatives emerged from the shadows of the loading dock, moving with practiced, silent efficiency.

"Secure him," Gabriel ordered coldly, stepping back and wiping a streak of rain from his cheek.

Vance stepped forward, grabbing Derek by the collar of his jacket and hauling him roughly to his feet, slamming plastic zip-ties around his wrists with a sharp zip.

"Let me go! You don't know who you're messing with!" Derek screamed, thrashing wildly as Vance shoved him toward the back of the unmarked tactical unit that had just pulled up beside the cruiser. "I'm a sworn officer of the law! This is kidnapping! This is—"

"This is your career ending, Officer Lawson," Vance muttered, shoving Derek into the back seat and slamming the heavy door shut.

I stood watching through the pouring rain as the red and blue emergency lights of federal transport vehicles—not local precinct cops Derek could bribe or manipulate, but federal marshals mobilized by the Ashford conglomerate—flashed to life at the entrance of the rail yard, sealing off every exit.

Gabriel walked back over to me, shedding his soaked suit jacket and draping it gently around my shoulders. The heavy wool fabric was still warm from his body, smelling faintly of cedar and rain.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his gray eyes searching my face for any sign of panic.

I pulled the jacket tighter around myself, letting out a long, shuddering breath that felt like releasing a anchor I had been dragging for three years.