Chapter 10 - The Light After Darkness
The heavy red cylinder connected violently with the back of Marcus's skull.
He instantly lost consciousness, but Hannah lunged forward to grab his hand before his thumb could slip.
She clamped her own hands tightly over his, keeping the detonator perfectly depressed.
The FBI bomb squad rushed forward immediately, swiftly cutting the wires to disable the deadly explosive vest.
Marcus was dragged away in heavy steel chains, finally facing the justice he deserved.
Victoria was also arrested on the spot, her tearful apologies doing nothing to stop the handcuffs.
Doctor Evans was found and taken into federal custody, securing the final piece of the criminal conspiracy.
Arthur provided the FBI with the micro-SD card Leo had bravely protected.
The undeniable audio evidence quickly restored all the stolen funds back to the Sterling empire.
Months later, the dark shadows of the past had finally been washed away.
Arthur officially adopted Hannah into the family, not as an employee, but as a beloved sister and guardian.
They moved into a beautiful, sunlit new home far away from the painful memories of the city.
Leo was finally able to be a normal, happy seven-year-old boy again.
He laughed loudly as he chased his new golden retriever across the bright, expansive lawn.
Arthur watched them from the porch, his heart completely healed and full of genuine peace.
The nightmare was officially over, and their loving family was whole once again.
Hannah walked out to the front gate to check the afternoon mail.
She flipped through the standard envelopes until she stopped completely cold.
There was a blank, black envelope addressed specifically to Leo, written in a very familiar handwriting.
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Hannah carefully opened it and pulled out a single photograph of Leo playing in this very garden just moments ago.
Written on the back, in his deceased mother's elegant script, were the words: "I am coming back for him."
