Chapter 6 – Seventy-Two Hours Expire
The third morning arrived cold and gray.
Exactly seventy-two hours after Grant had shouted his ultimatum from the mansion steps, federal agents and local investigators drove through the Holloways’ front gates.
Search warrants were served before breakfast.
Employees watched in stunned silence as boxes of financial records, computers, and phones were carried from the family offices.
News helicopters circled overhead.
Television stations interrupted their morning broadcasts.
Holloway Select Markets Under Federal Investigation.
Margaret stood on the front porch demanding answers.
“No one enters my house!”
An FBI agent calmly handed her another warrant.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“We already have.”
Across town, Carter’s Table was packed with customers.
Someone turned up the television.
Everyone watched the live coverage.
Hannah sat beside Evelyn, her hands shaking.
“I can’t believe this is real.”
Evelyn squeezed her hand.
“It’s only the beginning.”
James entered carrying another folder.
“The divorce petition has been filed.”
“And the videos?”
“They’re now official evidence.”
Outside, reporters crowded around Grant as he was escorted to an unmarked vehicle.
He spotted the television cameras and tried to hide his face.
It was too late.
The image of the confident businessman who had threatened to destroy two women had vanished forever.
As the police car pulled away, Evelyn quietly stirred a pot of chicken-and-dumpling soup.
The diner buzzed with laughter again.
Life had returned.
May you like
Not because justice erased the pain.
But because courage had finally ended the silence.
