Chapter 3 - The Corrupt Badge
The crowd scattered as the armed deputies moved swiftly down the center aisle.
"Commander Vance, keep your hands where I can see them," Chief Miller ordered loudly.
I slowly raised my hands, feeling the tension in the room spike to a dangerous level.
"Chief Miller, what do you think you are doing?" the Navy officer demanded aggressively.
"I received a distress call about a disgruntled former soldier making terrorist threats," the Chief replied.
Gladys let out a dramatic sob and hid behind her terrified husband.
"She is crazy, Chief, she brought fake documents to extort us!" Gladys cried out.
I realized immediately that the local police were already in on the massive scam.
"You are making a massive mistake, Miller," I warned him calmly.
"You are under arrest for fraud and domestic terrorism," he said, pulling out a pair of steel handcuffs.
He reached out to grab my wrist, but I swiftly sidestepped his clumsy advance.
The Navy officer stepped between us and pulled a federal badge from his interior pocket.
"If you touch a federal agent on an active investigation, you will spend your life in Leavenworth," the officer growled.
Chief Miller hesitated, his eyes darting nervously toward the front row.
I followed his gaze and saw the town Mayor sweating profusely in his expensive suit.
The Mayor gave the police chief a subtle, desperate nod to proceed with the arrest.
"This is my town, and federal jurisdiction does not apply to a local charity dispute," Miller argued weakly.
"It applies when the stolen funds were federal grants issued by the Department of Defense," I clarified loudly.
The Mayor stood up abruptly and tried to quietly slip out the side exit.
"Nobody leaves this room," I shouted with all the commanding authority of my rank.
The two deputies looked confused and slowly lowered their weapons.
May you like
Chief Miller took a step back, realizing he had just walked into a trap.
Then my father suddenly collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest in agony.
