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The hallway clock downstairs struck 12:48 AM, a low, hollow chime that seemed to stretch through the empty rooms of Cedar Hollow. / Chapter 6 / 20

Chapter 6 - The Federal Raid

Dawn had barely broken over Coulter Ridge when the low, ominous rumble of heavy diesel engines shattered the morning peace of Cedar Hollow. Three federal transport commission SUVs, accompanied by local county sheriff cruisers, rolled up the gravel drive and parked in a semi-circle across the front lawn.

Elijah stood on the wide front porch, his jacket buttoned, his face an impenetrable mask of absolute calm.

Imani stood just behind him in the doorway, holding Zoe tightly. “Elijah, what’s happening?”

“Someone just tried to blow up my company,” Elijah said quietly, though his eyes burned with lethal precision.

An overweight federal inspector named Miller stepped out of the lead vehicle, holding a thick manila folder. He flashed a badge as he mounted the porch steps.

“Elijah Brooks? I’m Agent Miller, Federal Transport Safety Commission. We have a federal warrant to search these premises and your main logistics servers. We received verified documents indicating systemic safety violations and illegal fund transfers originating from this estate.”

Elijah didn't flinch. “Do your job, Agent Miller. Every server, every file, every cabinet is open to you. But if you damage a single piece of antique furniture in my house, I will personally sue the federal government into the next century.”

As federal agents swarmed through the grand doors of Cedar Hollow, carrying hard drives and filing boxes, Imani watched from the foyer. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She recognized the timing. The leak had happened less than twelve hours after Vivian Vance had stormed out of the house, furious and humiliated.

“Elijah,” Imani whispered, stepping toward him as he observed the agents cataloging his office. “It was Vivian.”

“I know,” Elijah replied smoothly, not taking his eyes off the lead agent. “She thought backing me into a corner would force me to crawl back to her, begging her to fix the board and clear my name.”

“Can she do it? Can she destroy you?”

Elijah finally turned to look at her, a faint, razor-sharp smile touching the corner of his mouth. “Vivian thinks she knows everything about my business. But she forgot one golden rule about billion-dollar empires.”

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“What’s that?”

“You never leave your backup generators running on the same network.”

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