Chapter 8 - The Aftermath
The federal raid on Sal Vance's network was the biggest organized crime sweep the county had seen in twenty years.
By morning, Sal Vance, Dustin, Coach Miller, and eleven associates were in federal custody facing charges ranging from racketeering and narcotics distribution to extortion and witness intimidation. Because of the sheer volume of evidence provided by Frank and Ditch, bail was denied across the board.
Two days later, I was back in my workshop behind our house, planing a piece of red oak for a dining table project.
The heavy wooden door opened, and Marcy walked in.
The swelling on her face had gone down, though the yellowish bruise on her jawline was still visible. She wore one of my old, oversized flannel shirts, her hands tucked deep into the pockets.
She stood near the workbench, watching the wood shavings fall to the floor.
"Dad?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, sweetheart?" I set the plane down and wiped my hands on my apron.
"Coach Miller's gym closed down yesterday," she said. "The news said... they said the owner is going away for a very long time."
"He is," I said.
Marcy looked down at her boots, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I was so scared, Dad. When he told me what his uncle could do... I really believed nobody could stop them."
I walked around the workbench, pulling her into a warm, careful hug, mindful of her healing ribs. She rested her head against my chest, her shoulders shaking as she finally let go of the months of fear she had been carrying.
"Nobody touches my family, Marcy," I told her, kissing the top of her head. "Nobody."
Sarah came out to the workshop a few minutes later, carrying three mugs of hot chocolate. She set them on the edge of the workbench, looking between me and Marcy with a soft, tearful smile.
May you like
"The federal prosecutor called," Sarah said gently. "He said Dustin's lawyer is trying to negotiate a plea deal. Part of the agreement includes a permanent, multi-state restraining order and ten years without parole."
"Good," I said, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. "That gives him ten years to practice his martial arts in a cell."
