Chapter 5 - The Web Tightens
Over the next twenty-four hours, the illusion of peace at the Sterling household began to crumble from the edges.
At 8:00 AM the next morning, Arthur drove his luxury sedan to the township police station to ensure Sergeant Miller had filed the incident as a "domestic civil disturbance with minor accidental damage."
He walked through the glass doors with his usual chest-puffed swagger, expecting the desk sergeant to snap to attention as always.
Instead, the lobby was dead silent.
Chief Higgins—a man Arthur had known for twenty years—stepped out of his corner office. His face was gray, his tie slightly askew, and he was holding a stack of red-stamped manila folders.
"Arthur," Higgins whispered, grabbing Arthur’s arm and dragging him into an interrogation room away from the bullpen. "What in God's name did your son do?"
Arthur pulled his arm away, affronted. "What are you talking about, Bob? It was an accident! Clara's boy got unruly, Travis tried to hold him back—"
"Shut up!" Higgins hissed, slamming the door shut. "Just shut your mouth, Arthur! Two hours ago, my terminal was locked out by the Department of Justice. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, just filed an emergency jurisdictional override on the Sterling incident!"
Arthur froze, his heart skipping a beat. "CID? Why would military investigators care about a broken cabinet in a private residence?"
"Because your son didn't just push some random kid!" Higgins barked, slamming a thick stack of papers onto the metal table. "Garrett Vance isn't just an infantry officer on rotation, you idiot! He was confirmed as Deputy Director of Special Operations Command Europe three months ago! His family is classified as a Critical Strategic Asset under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Title 18 Federal Protections!"
Arthur’s mouth opened, but no words came out. The blood drained from his face. "Deputy... Director?"
"When a deployed senior combat commander's immediate family is subjected to physical violence while he is engaged in an overseas theatre of operations, it isn't treated as a domestic squabble, Arthur," Higgins said, his voice trembling with panic. "It is treated as an active attempt to compromise a strategic commander! The local prosecutor’s office has already been served with federal subpoenas. They took Miller’s dashcam, his bodycam, and the ER triage logs. Miller is in tears in the back room right now because CID threatened him with federal obstruction of justice if he lied on his report!"
Arthur felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over him. "Bob... you can fix this. You're the chief. Talk to the county judge—"
"I can't fix anything!" Higgins yelled, throwing his hands in the air. "The county judge just recused himself thirty minutes ago! There are three black Suburbans parked outside the county courthouse right now with federal plates! If you have any sense left in that arrogant skull of yours, you'll hire the best defense attorney in the state, because Travis is looking at felony child abuse, aggravated assault with a deadly instrument, and domestic terrorism enhancement charges!"
Arthur stumbled back against the wall, clutching his chest. "No... no, Travis is a good boy. He has a future. He's my son!"
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"Then your son is going to federal prison, Arthur," Higgins said coldly, opening the door. "Now get out of my station. Before they list me as a co-conspirator."
***
