Chapter 6 - The Seizure
The front door of the Mercer mansion didn't stand a chance.
Two U.S. Marshals stepped forward, presented a federal search warrant signed by a Chief District Judge, and pushed the heavy mahogany doors wide open.
I walked into the grand foyer, my polished low-quarters clicking firmly against the Italian marble floor. Behind me, Colonel Vance and six federal agents carrying evidence boxes marched in with absolute, military precision.
Victoria stood at the top of the grand staircase, her hand clutching the brass railing so tightly her knuckles were white. Gabriel shrank back behind her, looking like a cornered animal.
"Charles!" Victoria yelled, her voice trembling between rage and terror. "What is this madness?! You can't bring soldiers into my home! This is illegal!"
Colonel Vance stepped forward, opening a leather folder. "Mrs. Mercer, I am Colonel Marcus Vance, Staff Judge Advocate. Under Title 10 of the United States Code and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41, this property is currently subject to a federal execution warrant."
"For what?!" Gabriel screamed from the stairs. "I didn't commit a federal crime!"
"Mr. Mercer," Colonel Vance said, looking up at him with icy disdain. "You are being placed under arrest for federal witness tampering, illegal possession of controlled substances, aggravated spousal abuse under the Violence Against Women Act on federal military personnel property, and felony extortion."
"Military property?!" Victoria screeched. "This estate is private property!"
"Your son used a credit card registered to his father's defense contracting firm—which operates under federal military contracts—to purchase the narcotics used to incapacitate Chloe Bennett," Vance countered coldly. "Furthermore, General Bennett’s daughter is officially classified as a military dependent under federal protection."
Four federal marshals marched up the staircase.
Gabriel tried to turn and run toward the master bedroom, but two marshals grabbed his arms, swept his legs out, and pinned him against the marble landing. The metallic CLACK of handcuffs echoed through the grand foyer.
"Mom! Help me! Call Julian! Call the Governor!" Gabriel shrieked as he was dragged down the stairs, his face red and covered in tears.
Victoria rushed down the steps, reaching out for her son. "Let him go! You can't do this! Do you know who my family is?!"
I stepped directly into her path.
Victoria stopped dead in her tracks. She looked up at the three silver stars shining on my shoulders, then up at my face. The helpless, quiet old retiree she had mocked in the jail cell two days ago was gone. Standing before her was a Commander of the United States Armed Forces.
"Look at me, Victoria," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but carrying a weight that made her knees shake.
She trembled, unable to hold my gaze. "Charles... please... we can settle this... we can give Chloe whatever she wants... the divorce, the money..."
"My daughter doesn't want your money, Victoria," I said, stepping closer until I was looking down into her pale, terrified face. "She wants her life back. And I am here to make sure you never touch a single hair on her head again."
"Search the house," I ordered the marshals. "Take every computer, every phone, every safe, and every medical record. Leave nothing behind."
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"Yes, General!" the lead marshal barked, signaling his team to spread throughout the mansion.
Victoria collapsed onto the bottom step of her grand staircase, burying her face in her manicured hands, weeping bitterly as her world crumbled around her.
