Chapter 13
By midday, the autumn sun had finally broken through the heavy fog, casting a pale, warm golden light over Arthur’s ranch home. The local news channels were already broadcasting breaking headlines about a massive municipal corruption scandal involving city planning officials and offshore development kickbacks, though Julian’s name had not yet been formally released to the public pending arraignment.
Rebecca sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of tea while Leo slept soundly in his bassinet nearby. The swelling on her lip had begun to subside, though a faint purple bruise remained as a physical marker of the night's trauma.
Arthur walked in from the garage, carrying a cardboard box filled with legal documents and personal paperwork he had retrieved from her abandoned home earlier that morning under federal escort.
"The marshals cleared the property," Arthur said gently, setting the box down on the floor near the table. "Julian’s attorney has already filed for a preliminary bail hearing, but given the federal conspiracy charges and the offshore wire trails, the judge isn't likely to grant it."
Rebecca nodded slowly, tracing the rim of her ceramic mug with her thumb. "I don't care about what happens to him in court, Dad. I just want our lives back."
"You have them," Arthur said, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her. "The lawyers are already drawing up emergency custody and sole guardianship filings. Julian won't have a legal leg to stand on once the federal indictments are processed."
The front doorbell rang, breaking the quiet afternoon air.
Arthur stood up, walking cautiously to the entryway and peering through the peephole before unlocking the deadbolt. A young federal courier in a dark suit stood on the porch holding a manila envelope stamped with the seal of the U.S. District Court.
"Delivery for Ms. Rebecca Vance," the courier said professionally.
May you like
Arthur signed for the envelope, thanked the man, and brought it directly to the kitchen table, sliding it across the wood toward his daughter.
Rebecca broke the seal with trembling fingers and pulled out the crisp legal document. It was a certified temporary protection order, prohibiting Julian from coming within five hundred feet of her, Arthur, or Leo, effective immediately.
