Chapter 10: The State Investigators
The state police sedan pulled to a halt beside Arthur’s cruiser, its amber grille lights flashing silently in the mist. The passenger door opened first, followed by the driver’s side. Two investigators in plainclothes stepped out, both wearing dark trench coats and carrying heavy leather portfolios. The lead investigator, a tall woman with sharp features and iron-gray hair pinned back neatly, flashed a gold badge as she approached the porch steps.
"Agent Vance, State Bureau of Investigation," she announced, her voice carrying an authoritative, no-nonsense tone. She glanced at Arthur, taking in his police uniform, his unbuttoned holster, and then shifted her gaze to Clara, who was still chained to the pine pillar.
Agent Vance stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she processed the scene. "Sheriff," she said slowly, looking back at Arthur. "Care to explain why there’s a civilian chained to a porch pillar outside your residence at two in the morning?"
Arthur slowly lifted his hand away from his service weapon, raising both palms slightly to show he posed no threat. "It’s a complicated situation, Agent Vance. She’s my daughter."
"That doesn't answer the question," Vance said sharply, signaling her partner to secure the perimeter. Her partner, a younger man named Davis, immediately circled the house to ensure no one else was hiding in the shadows. "People don't chain their children to pillars unless they're hiding something catastrophic. And given that our office received an anonymous data dump containing encrypted seizure logs from your precinct four hours ago, I'm inclined to think this goes well beyond a domestic dispute."
Clara lifted her head, her voice cracking slightly as she spoke directly to the investigator. "I downloaded the files, Agent. My father didn't help me, but his captain, Hayes, has been running an evidence-clearing ring out of the precinct for five years. They locked me here to keep me quiet."
Agent Vance looked from Clara to Arthur, her expression unreadable. She walked slowly up the stairs, ignoring Arthur’s protective posture, and knelt down in front of Clara. She inspected the heavy brass padlock and the thick iron links biting into the girl's wrists.
"Is this true, Arthur?" Vance asked without turning around. "Did you lock your own daughter outside to protect a corrupt chain of command?"
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Arthur swallowed hard, the weight of his failures pressing down on him with crushing force. "I tried to find another way," he said quietly, his voice hollow. "I was a coward. I let fear make my decisions for me."
Vance stood up slowly, looking Arthur dead in the eyes. "At least you stopped before it was too late. Davis! Get the bolt cutters from the trunk. Let’s get her inside."
