Chapter 15 - Shadows from the Past
Just as peace seemed permanently established across our lives, a dark cloud appeared on the horizon. Two weeks after the Apex Quantum collapse, a black sedan began lingering outside the community center, parked across the street for hours at a time with tinted windows rolled up tight.
I first noticed it while rolling down the wheelchair ramp after an afternoon coding class. The heavy vehicle didn't move when regular traffic passed; it sat completely still, like a predator waiting in tall grass.
When I mentioned it to Marcus, his face turned pale.
"Victor Sterling was released on a multi-million-dollar bail pending his federal trial," Marcus whispered urgently in my office. "And according to my contacts in federal intelligence, he blames you and Sammy personally for his downfall. He lost everything overnight, Ethan. Desperate men with nothing left to lose do dangerous things."
My blood ran cold. The thought of Sammy—bright, innocent, brilliant Sammy—being targeted by a vindictive corporate criminal made my stomach churn with terror.
"We need to beef up security immediately," I demanded, grabbing my phone. "Private guards, cameras, direct lines to local law enforcement."
"Guards won't stop someone who wants to operate in the shadows," Rebecca said calmly as she walked into the office, her face set with grim determination. She had overheard our conversation. "Sterling knows he can't win in court anymore. He’s going to try to destroy us where it hurts most."
That evening, as dusk settled over the south side, the streetlights flickered on, casting long, eerie shadows across the pavement. I sat by the living room window, keeping watch while Sammy finished his homework at the dining table.
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Suddenly, every light in the house flickered and went completely dark.
Power outage. Or worse—a manual grid cut.
