Chapter 19 - SILENCE OVER THE CANOPY
By 10:00 p.m., the rain had stopped, leaving the night air crisp, clear, and freezing.
Four black federal law enforcement vans pulled into the Sector 4 depot, their blue lights flashing silently against the wet surfaces of the rail cars. Federal agents in heavy jackets stepped out, placing Carmen Robles and Javier Robles into heavy handcuffs before leading them toward the transport vehicles.
Carmen didn't look back as she was pushed into the rear of the van. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, completely broken by the absolute speed and precision with which her empire had been erased.
At the edge of the perimeter fence, Master Sergeant Daniel Hayes stepped out of a dark pickup truck, holding a thermal thermos of hot coffee. He walked over to where Colonel Alexander Brooks and Maya stood watching the federal vehicles pull away.
"The perimeter is clear, Colonel," Hayes said, pouring hot coffee into two plastic cups and handing one to Alexander. "Federal marshals have secured the Robles headquarters downtown. The paper trail is completely sealed."
Alexander took a slow sip of the hot liquid, steam rising into the cold night air. "Thank you, Daniel. I owe you for setting up the range line this afternoon."
"You don't owe me anything, Colonel," Hayes said, turning his weathered face toward Maya with a quiet nod of deep respect. "Operator Bennett did all the heavy lifting. I just stamped a piece of paper."
Maya smiled faintly, resting her hand on her father's arm. "What happens now, Dad?"
May you like
Alexander looked up at the stars visible through the clearing clouds above the river.
"Now," Alexander said softly, "we go back to your mother’s house. We fix the front door lock, and we eat dinner as a family for the first time in ten years."
