The metallic clank of the police cruiser’s door closing rang out like a gunshot through the humid October air, signaling the end of Eric’s reign of terror in the backyard—and the beginning of an entirely different nightmare.

The command roared through powerful megaphones, echoing off the concrete pillars of the bridge. Red and blue strobe lights flooded the structure, blinding Eric’s mercenaries.

The three private guards hesitated for a split second, looking at the overwhelming force surrounding them, before dropping their rifles and putting their hands over their heads.

I stared in absolute shock at Mrs. Gable—our sweet, quiet, golden-retriever-owning neighbor who had lived next door to my mother for five years. She wasn't wearing her knitted cardigans or floral aprons anymore. She wore a black tactical Kevlar vest, a radio headset strapped to her ear, and held a Glock 19 with practiced precision.

“Special Agent Sarah Gable, FBI Cyber and Counterintelligence Division,” she announced, stepping forward with her weapon trained directly on Eric. “Eric Vance—alias Eric Croft—you are under arrest for treason, illegal arms trafficking, attempted murder, and federal child exploitation.”

Eric fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding shoulder, his face twisted in disbelief. “Gable…? You… you were a plant? For five years?!”

“Five years, three months, and twelve days,” Agent Gable replied coldly. “Ever since you faked David Lin’s death and tried to steal the Aegis source code. We couldn’t move on you until we had proof of the biometric encryption key transfer. And tonight, you gave us everything.”

My father stepped over to me, grabbing the specialized disarming tool Agent Gable’s team passed him. Within five seconds, he snapped the glowing tracker off Kevin’s ankle and hurled it into the river below. The device hit the dark water with a sharp hiss before sinking into the depths.

Kevin let out a long breath and slumped into my neck, exhaustion finally taking over his small body.

“It’s over, Maya,” my father whispered, wrapping his arms around us both. “It’s finally over.”

Paramedics swarmed the bridge, attending to Leo’s cuts and wrapping a shock blanket around my mother. Federal agents slammed Eric against the guardrail, hauling his arms behind his back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs over his wrists.

As they dragged him past us toward an armored FBI transport, Eric stopped. His eyes were bloodshot, his lip bleeding, looking like a caged animal realizing the bars were permanent.

He looked at my mother. “You ruined everything, Elena. You think you won? You think you’re safe now?” He laughed, a raspy, unhinged sound. “You don’t even know who you married. Ask your precious husband where the original Aegis drive came from! Ask him who ordered the lab explosion!”

David’s face turned deathly pale. He stepped forward aggressively. “Shut up, Eric!”

“Tell her, David!” Eric spat, blood speckling his teeth. “Tell her who really designed the bio-encryption! Tell her why Kevin was born with that genetic sequence!”

HOOK / CLIFFHANGER:

I looked at my father, then at my mother. David refused to make eye contact with either of us.