At 2:27 a.m., my dad called unexpectedly, "Honey... I'm at the police station. Your sister-in-law beat me with a baseball bat. But she told the police I attacked her because I'm mentally ill. Your brother just stood by and let it happen!" When I walked in, the officer turned pale and stammered, "Ma'am, I... I..."

I stared at the radio in absolute disbelief.

Director Vance was the most decorated man in our entire federal field office.

He had personally recruited me out of the academy twelve years ago.

"Director Vance, I have a compromised local police unit and a forged federal document," I said into the microphone.

"You are currently acting outside of your jurisdiction and exhibiting signs of severe mental distress," Vance's voice crackled back coldly.

"If you do not stand down immediately, you will be arrested for kidnapping an incapacitated adult."

The entire police station fell completely silent.

Priscilla's cruel smile widened into an ecstatic grin.

David actually looked away, ashamed to meet my furious gaze.

The two massive medical orderlies took a menacing step forward.

Officer Miller finally drew his taser and pointed it directly at my chest.

"Put your hands on your head, Agent Lin," Miller ordered with newfound confidence.

I looked at my trembling father, who was barely able to stand.

I knew that if they took him tonight, I would never see him alive again.

I grabbed the heavy metal fire extinguisher resting on the wall beside me.

Without a second of hesitation, I hurled it directly at the precinct's main electrical breaker box.

The heavy cylinder smashed into the panel, sending a shower of bright blue sparks into the air.

The entire police station was instantly plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.

"Move!" I yelled, grabbing my father's arm.

I shoved him blindly through the swinging doors leading toward the rear holding cells.

I heard the distinctive crack of Miller's taser deploying behind me.

The electrical prongs hit the wooden doorframe just inches from my ear.

We stumbled through the dark corridor and burst out of the emergency exit into the freezing night air.

I threw my dad into the passenger seat of my armored federal SUV and slammed on the gas.

We tore out of the parking lot just as the precinct's backup generators kicked on.

I glanced in the rearview mirror and breathed a temporary sigh of relief.

“Which daughter is yours?” should have been a harmless question

The first wineglass shattered at 8:07 p.m

The moment the mafia boss’s wife called me “an illiterate servant,”

Then, a blinding red light illuminated the interior of my vehicle.

A highly advanced military-grade laser targeting system was locked directly onto my chest through the windshield.

Chapter 3 - Federal Betrayal