Chapter 7 - THE FEDERAL ARRESTMy mother finally managed to push herself up from the floral stand, her face twisted in hysterical, venomous rage as she pointed a shaking finger at me.
“You vile, ungrateful little monster!” Eleanor screamed, her aristocratic composure completely shattering. “Your own sister! You ruined her night! You humiliated our family in front of the entire elite of South Carolina! Security! Throw this treasonous bitch out of here right now!”
Not a single security guard moved.
Instead, the side doors of the ballroom swung open, and four federal marshals in dark tactical suits stepped into the room, their heavy boots thudding against the floor.
The lead marshal walked straight up to Elowen, stopping two inches away from her.
“Elowen Whitlock,” the marshal stated coldly, pulling a pair of heavy steel handcuffs from his belt. “You are under federal arrest for identity fraud, unauthorized access to classified military computer systems, forgery of government documents, and wire fraud.”
“No! No, you can’t do this! Do you know who my parents are? Do you know who my sponsors are?!” Elowen shrieked, thrashing wildly as the marshal grabbed her wrists and snapped the steel cuffs around them with a sharp, echoing click.
“We know exactly who you are, Lieutenant,” the marshal replied flatly. “And right now, you’re federal property.”
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As the marshals dragged a kicking, sobbing Elowen toward the exit, her pristine cap fell from her head and rolled across the polished marble, coming to a rest against the base of the champagne fountain.
My mother let out a primal wail of despair and slumped back down onto the floor, clutching her head as the high-society guests began grabbing their coats and scurrying for the doors like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
